Wildrose calls for referendum on Alberta carbon tax

TheWildroseis calling on the Alberta government to hold a referendum before implementing its carbon tax.

The tax, which comes into effect on Jan. 1, 2017, is one of the controversial measures contained in theNDP'sclimate-change plan.

WildroseLeader Brian Jean said Thursday the NDP didn't mention the carbon tax during the 2015 election campaign, so they need to win approval for the idea before moving ahead.

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"Put it toAlbertansand let them have the opportunity to clearly give the Alberta government a mandate on that," he said.

"We have time now, because the federal carbon tax will not be in place for some time. And I would suggest that would be a great way to make sure that her social licence has the legitimacy from taxpayers."

The federal government has introduced a national carbon tax that is more aggressive than the Alberta plan. Under the federal plan, the price on carbon will increase to $50 pertonneby 2022.

Jean said the province should abandon itstax because it will only take money out of the economy before the federal tax kicks in.

Five-point plan

A referendum was one of five points unveiled by the opposition party Thursday to undo what it characterizes as the damaging actions by the NDP.

The government has introduced an avalanche of bills this session to reformthe electricity market and enablethe move away from coal-fired electricity.

Wildrosewants the government to get rid of the proposed100-megatonnecap on emissions from theoilsandsand the10-megatonnecap on new upgrading projects.

They want the province to abandon its plan to move from an energy-only electricity market to what is called acapacity market. They also want to stop Bill 27, proposed legislation aimed at helping the government reach its goal of having 30 per cent of the province's electricity needs come fromrenewablessuch as wind and solar by 2030.

Environment Minister Shannon Phillips had sharp words for theWildrosefive-step plan.

"I think it's five stepson the road to nowhere with respect to the future of the Alberta economy," she told reporters. "It's five steps to stopping a pipeline. It's five steps to having a plan from Ottawa imposed on us instead of making an Alberta plan.

"It's five steps towards slamming the door on all the new investment, all the new opportunity that can come from taking leadership on climate change."

Jean said ifWildrosewins the next election, he is prepared to take the federal government to court over the carbon tax, if legal advice suggests an avenue to pursue.

"If there is the opportunity to set aside and to make clear the jurisdiction between the federal government and the provincial government as far as our resources, I think that is very a legitimate exercise," Jean said, "and I thinkAlbertanswould appreciate it."