MLA for Dartmouth East and Minister of Environment and Climate Change Timothy Halman.

Nova Scotia’s Minister of Environment and Climate Change is reacting to the federal government’s rejection of their plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, because it lacks a carbon tax.

Timothy Halman feels the federal government has missed an opportunity to join with Nova Scotia to work on reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

“We believe this is very disappointing for all Nova Scotians, there is no doubt that a carbon tax will increase prices in our province. The federal tax will hit low to middle income Nova Scotians the hardest.”

Halman points to the plan’s goals of phasing out of coal by 2030, five major onshore wind farm projects and developments in green hydrogen as better strategies than imposing a carbon tax.

He adds it’s important for the feds to look at these other options considering the current spike in the price of gas.

Halman says the province will now look at their next steps and asks the federal government to take another look at the plan.

“We had hoped the federal government would be open to a made in Nova Scotia solution, they’re choosing to add a tax to address climate change rather than accept a plan that does more for the environment and costs Nova Scotians less.”

The province has three days to respond to the federal government’s decision and submit a plan that meets their standards.