B.C. currently has the highest in North America, and its unique lack of protection for export industries like mining and smelting is making it more likely that new copper and steelmaking coal mines are built elsewhere, the Mining Association of B.C. warns.

B.C. currently has 14 operating mines and two smelters, the Teck smelter at Trail and the recently expanded Rio Tinto Alcan aluminum smelter at Kitimat. In a new , the mining industry notes that B.C.91裸聊视频檚 copper mines has lower emissions than Chile91裸聊视频檚, its metallurgical coal is produced with half of the greenhouse gas emissions of Australia91裸聊视频檚, and its aluminum is seven times less carbon-intensive than Russia91裸聊视频檚.

That advantage is largely a result of abundant hydroelectric power, and the B.C. industry has been using it to reduce emissions further. But in a price-sensitive world market, mine investment is likely to go to countries that don91裸聊视频檛 have carbon tax. The industry calls it 91裸聊视频渃arbon leakage,91裸聊视频� where a higher carbon tax costs jobs locally and produces more emissions globally.

If B.C. doesn91裸聊视频檛 offer exemptions to export industries like metal mining and production, 91裸聊视频測ou91裸聊视频檒l reduce emissions in B.C. because you91裸聊视频檒l close mines,91裸聊视频� Michael Goehring, CEO of the Mining Association of B.C., said in an interview. He emphasized that the industry supports a price on carbon and isn91裸聊视频檛 asking for the B.C. carbon tax to be eliminated, just modified to match Ottawa91裸聊视频檚 protections for export industries. The Canadian government and all other provincial governments have such protections, and they91裸聊视频檙e not alone around the world.

91裸聊视频淎ll of the Northern European nations do it,91裸聊视频� Goehring said. 91裸聊视频淐alifornia does it.91裸聊视频�

Asked about the issue at a campaign stop in Langley Oct. 21, B.C. NDP leader John Horgan said he91裸聊视频檚 working on the exemption issue, which was first raised in B.C. as its cement makers started losing business to U.S. and China imports.

91裸聊视频淭his is an issue that we91裸聊视频檝e been working on inside of government, and if we91裸聊视频檙e re-elected on Saturday we91裸聊视频檙e going to be focusing on making sure that our traditional industries don91裸聊视频檛 suffer, in fact they benefit from our leadership on climate action,91裸聊视频� Horgan told Black Press.

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The B.C. Liberal election platform calls for industrial carbon tax exemptions, committing the party to 91裸聊视频渨ork to ensure that our carbon tax system for job-creating export industries does not increase global greenhouse gas emissions by driving investment to higher-emitting jurisdictions.91裸聊视频�

B.C. Liberal leader Andrew Wilkinson said the issue has to be dealt with 91裸聊视频渧ery soon91裸聊视频� or B.C. will lose industry and jobs.

91裸聊视频淭his has been done in many jurisdictions around the world, and it91裸聊视频檚 high time it was dealt with in B.C.,91裸聊视频� Wilkinson said in an interview Oct. 21. 91裸聊视频淲e can91裸聊视频檛 see our exports losing competitiveness against jurisdictions where there is no such tax.91裸聊视频�

Most people see the carbon tax when they fuel up vehicles, with the B.C. tax currently at 8.89 cents a litre on gasoline and 10.23 cents on diesel on top of federal and provincial fuel. It also applies to natural gas, currently at 7.6 cents per cubic metre, as well as propane and industrial fuels like coal. The NDP government increased the tax from $35 to $40 per tonne of emissions in April 2019, then delayed the next increase due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is due to rise to $45 in April 2021, moving to the federal target of $50 after that.

B.C. NDP highlights:

91裸聊视频� Reduce B.C.91裸聊视频檚 total greenhouse gas emissions by 40 per cent in 2030

91裸聊视频� Fast-track B.C.91裸聊视频檚 industrial electrification strategy for natural gas and other industries

B.C. Liberal highlights:

91裸聊视频� Work with Ottawa to review scheduled carbon tax increases in light of the COVID-19 recession

91裸聊视频� Encourage retrofitting of B.C. homes and businesses to reduce emissions

B.C. Green Party highlights:

91裸聊视频� Commit B.C. to be carbon neutral by 2045, matching California

91裸聊视频� Implement a moratorium on hydraulic fracturing for natural gas

tfletcher@blackpress.ca
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