The carbon tax after the first phase has been introduced in New Brunswick at the beginning of 2018 could turn out to be a big election issue for Premier Brian Gallant in the fall of that year.
That’s the feeling of John Williamson, a former Conservative M-P who, at one time, was head of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation.
Williamson points out NB Power has said the phase out of coal with the closure of the Belledune generating plant will result in a 38 per cent increase in the cost of electricity. He reasons if electricity costs more then pretty much everything you buy will be more expensive.
He says the experience in Ontario with rising electricity rates has prompted companies to close up shop and move to the U.S. and soured the popular support for the government of Kathleen Wynne.