Environment Minister Catherine McKenna touts Canada´s carbon price at international summit
(The Star Food)

OTTAWA—Every Canadian in every province now pays for carbon emissions that cause climate change. That is the fraught, politically-charged reality since April 1, when Ottawa imposed its carbon tax “backstop� in four provinces that refused to match the federal minimum of $20 per tonne of emissions. Federal Conservatives and their ideological companions at Queen’s Park argue this hurts the economy and isn’t necessary to reduce emissions. New Democrats and the Green party contend Canada is lagging on climate action and should, among other things, eliminate federal subsidies to the oil and gas industry.But Canada’s price, even as it climbs to $50 per tonne in 2022, is smaller than similar taxes in some of the 24 other countries that have set national carbon prices. Sweden’s tax is roughly $189 per tonne. In France, it’s $83 per tonne. And in its landmark report from October, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change said global carbon prices may need to be as high as several thousand dollars per tonne in 2030 if the world is to keep warming below 1.5 degrees C by the end of the century. This week, Liberal Environment Minister Catherine McKenna attended the “Carbon Pricing Leadership Coalition� in Washington, D.C., a summit of governments and private industry on the sidelines of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund governors meetings. She spoke with the Star before leaving the U.S. capital. Read more:Economist clears the air about carbon taxes ahead of Alberta election: ‘Political debates don`t always stick to the facts’Doug Ford attacks media for ‘mocking us’ over his opposition to federal carbon pricingOpinion | Heather Scoffield: All eyes on Conservatives for alternatives to carbon taxWhat message did you hope to send by attending this conference? The purpose of this group… is to talk about carbon pricing, to see what’s going on, also to share lessons learn ...