• About
  • Join the Co-op / Donate
  • Contact
Tuesday, June 17, 2025
Subscribe
No Result
View All Result
The Brief
NB MEDIA CO-OP
Share a story
  • Articles en français
  • New Brunswick
  • Canada
  • World
  • Environment
  • Indigenous
  • Labour
  • Gender
  • Politics
  • Culture
  • Videos
  • NB debrief
  • Articles en français
  • New Brunswick
  • Canada
  • World
  • Environment
  • Indigenous
  • Labour
  • Gender
  • Politics
  • Culture
  • Videos
  • NB debrief
No Result
View All Result
NB MEDIA CO-OP
No Result
View All Result
Home *Opinion*

Hey New Brunswick government, check your carbon tax facts! 

by Greg Goubko
April 5, 2021
Reading Time: 2min read
Hey New Brunswick government, check your carbon tax facts! 

Flooding in downtown Fredericton during the historic 2019 spring flood. Photo by James West for the Conservation Council of New Brunswick.

We are all living in a climate emergency. The purpose of the carbon tax is to immediately reduce emissions and fund clean energy projects. The way the New Brunswick government is spending carbon tax revenue is absurd! And these are the facts.

The recent $5 million disbursed to nuclear developers, ARC, to subsidize the potential development of a nuclear reactor (SMR) highlights obvious program deficiencies. Not only is the technology expensive, but there is no guarantee that it can even be developed, and if it can, the timelines to develop SMRs don’t match-up with the immediate need to reduce emissions. Not to mention, it infringes on Indigenous rights (see Wolastoq Grand Council Resolution on Nuclear Energy and Nuclear Waste on Traditional Wolastoq Territory).

In addition to spending money poorly, New Brunswick left more than a quarter of the revenue ($10 million) unspent. Seems a bit fishy when there are literally tens of thousands of people in the province living in energy poverty (making trade-offs between heating their homes and putting food on the table). Investing in energy efficiency retrofits for these folks would not only reduce emissions and improve quality of life but also be a significant saving for the healthcare system by improving the mental and physical health of those living in energy poverty. And if not energy efficiency, why not spend the money on utility solar PV, wind, and storage solutions, or rebates on electric vehicles?

There’s no excuse. Carbon tax money is needed and needs to be better managed. An independent social and environmental body should oversee disbursements and/or the feds should better enforce provincial spending. It would also make sense to re-examine carbon allowances and prices. Big polluters need to pony up significantly more money per tonne to adequately curb emissions. Hey NB government, this is getting ridiculous!

Greg Goubko has co-developed capitalization strategies for community-benefitting projects since 2014. They currently work at Sierra Club Canada Foundation as the Clean Energy Campaigner for Atlantic Canada, and is collaborating with diverse groups of people to co-produce and co-execute a just and inclusive energy transition. Greg also participates as a core representative of the Coalition for Responsible Energy Development in New Brunswick (CRED-NB).

Tags: carbon taxClimate Changeclimate crisisGreg GoubkoNew BrunswicknuclearWolastoq Grand Council
Send

Related Posts

Province’s lakes at risk to metal mining effluent
Indigenous

Sisson mine and other ‘nation building projects’ require Indigenous consent: Wolastoq Grand Council

May 6, 2025

The mining company Northcliff Resources says it has secured $20 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Defence to...

NB Power review: few details and no climate action requirement
Energy

NB Power review: few details and no climate action requirement

April 14, 2025

Ongoing concerns about energy poverty and spikes in NB Power bills sparked public protests earlier this month. On Monday, Premier...

Canadians must push for ‘energy democracy’ amid U.S. threats, says climate activist [video]
Climate change

Canadians must push for ‘energy democracy’ amid U.S. threats, says climate activist [video]

March 21, 2025

The grassroots advocacy group Maritimes Against Climate Change held a march and rally in Moncton on March 15 drawing attention...

Tantramar Council orders annual glyphosate testing of Sackville and Dorchester drinking water
Environment

Tantramar Council orders annual glyphosate testing of Sackville and Dorchester drinking water

February 7, 2025

Tantramar Town Council resisted advice from Town Engineer Jon Eppell on Tuesday and ordered that drinking water in Sackville and...

Load More

Recommended

Local News Matters — Incubating local news in the Maritimes [video]

Local News Matters — Incubating local news in the Maritimes [video]

3 days ago
The Millennium Scoop: an ongoing crisis for Indigenous families

The Millennium Scoop: an ongoing crisis for Indigenous families

7 days ago
Délai prolongé! COOP Média NB offre d’emploi : Journaliste vidéo autochtone

Toujours pas de justice cinq ans après le meurtre de Chantel Moore

7 days ago
New Brunswicker deported from Egypt following crackdown on March to Gaza [video]

New Brunswicker deported from Egypt following crackdown on March to Gaza [video]

3 days ago
NB Media Co-op

© 2019 NB Media Co-op. All rights reserved.

Navigate Site

  • About
  • Join the Co-op / Donate
  • Contact
  • Share a Story
  • Calendar
  • Archives

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • About
  • Join the Co-op / Donate
  • Contact
  • Share a Story
  • COVID-19
  • Videos
  • New Brunswick
  • Canada
  • World
  • Arts & Culture
  • Environment
  • Indigenous
  • Labour
  • Politics
  • Rural

© 2019 NB Media Co-op. All rights reserved.

X
Did you like this article? Support the NB Media Co-op! Vous avez aimé cet article ? Soutenez la Coop Média NB !
Join/Donate