N.S. premier, opposition leader call for stop to carbon tax hike

CITYnews halifax / By Mark Hodgins

The premier and leader of the opposition are urging the prime minister to hit the brakes on the planned increase to the federal carbon pricing system.

The federal carbon price is set to rise by $15 a tonne to $80 next month.

Premier Tim Houston said the Apr. 1 increase will add another 3.3 cents per litre of gasoline for a total of 17.6 cents per litre in carbon tax at the pumps.

Liberal leader Zach Churchill meantime said Nova Scotia has gone from one of the most affordable provinces in Canada to one of the least and people here can’t afford the increase.

Both men shared letters to Justin Trudeau on social media. Churchill asked Trudeau to stop the increase, and Houston urged Ottawa to scrap the carbon tax altogether.

Several premiers have voiced concern about the planned increase.