If you want to present yourself as a pro-business politician, remember that there are plenty of assets and investments dependent on the GHG policy here in Alberta just as there are in Ontario. Let's talk about a couple of those. 1/N
Under the industrial carbon pricing regime in place since 2007, facilities can bank emissions credits. Those have value insofar as they cover future compliance costs. Right now, firms have no idea what those credits will be worth after 2019. 2/N
Under the carbon pricing regime in place since 2007, firms including farmers have been able to sell offsets. These only have value insofar as they can be used to cover comomiance costs. They are now worth double what they were two years ago. What will they be worth in 2019?
Many Alberta firms have looked to procure renewable power, understanding that the value of the power and the carbon offset combined is worth more than the cost of building these facilities in Alberta. Should they proceed? Unlikely they will under uncertainty.
Suppose you've developed a new technology which could reduce oil sands GHGs at a cost of $15/tonne. Would you start your business today banking on a market for your tech here in 2019 with no information on ghg policy from @jkenney? I wouldn't.
Let's stop pretending that the only businesses in play here are ones with a competitive advantage from having no ghg policies in place. There's a spectrum and politicians proposing to scrap GHG policies would do well to keep that in mind.
