The Globe and Mail reports in its Wednesday edition that B.C. Liberal leader Christy Clark wants to slap a $70-a-tonne
carbon levy on exports of thermal coal from B.C.
ports. The Globe's Brent Jang quotes the Premier as saying Tuesday while campaigning for re-election, "I think in the fight against climate
change, we all have a responsibility."
She is linking her coal-levy proposal
to the Trump administration's decision last week to collect countervailing duties on
Canadian softwood lumber exports south of the border. British
Columbia is Canada's largest lumber exporter into the United
States. Ms. Clark's position has drawn ire in coal-rich Alberta.
"It would apply to all because we don't intend to just single out
American coal," said Ms. Clark, whose party is in a close race against the NDP led by John Horgan. Both parties are fending
off a challenge in some ridings from Andrew Weaver's B.C. Green Party. Most of the thermal coal exported last year from Westshore Terminals' export operation near Vancouver originated from
U.S. mines in the Powder River basin in Wyoming and Montana. By contrast, federally owned Ridley Terminals on British Columbia's north coast handled
thermal coal mined in Alberta.
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