Bay of Quinte MP Ryan Williams is giving his support to Belleville City Council after they called on the federal government to provide rebates on the Carbon Tax.
At its meeting on Monday, council received a report that it had paid over $1.5 million in carbon tax since it was introduced in 2019.
After receiving the report, council approved a motion calling on the federal government to create a program for municipalities to be fully reimbursed on direct carbon tax costs incurred providing essential and public safety programs and services.
The amended motion was brought forward by Councillor Paul Carr who says that governments taxing other governments without a rebate doesn’t make sense.
In a release sent out on Tuesday, MP Williams says he is giving council his full support on the issue adding that his party is committed to axing the tax altogether.
He says the carbon tax increases each year on April 1 with an annual increase of $15 per tonne until 2030.
Based on this number, Williams’s office provided the estimated projected costs for the City of Belleville from 2025 to 2030.
- 2025: $596,125
- 2026: $707,898
- 2027: $840,629
- 2028: $998,247
- 2029: $1,185,418
- 2030: $1,407,684
“Belleville has already spent $1.5 million on the carbon tax. Meanwhile, our city is grappling with an overdose crisis, and these funds would have been far better spent on critical initiatives like ‘The Hub’ which offers emergency shelter, medical aid, and addiction and mental health support,” MP Williams said in a release.
“This money could have gone to police, mental health services, or other areas facing funding shortages as we battle addiction challenges in our community. Our community needs housing and that money could be better served getting people off the streets and into a home.”
He says municipalities across the country are facing similar pressures as he says they are forced to cover rising fuel and heating costs for essential infrastructure.
“Municipalities shouldn’t be forced to choose between cutting essential services and raising taxes,” Williams said in the release.
“This is yet another example of how the carbon tax is unfairly burdening Canadian families and communities. It’s time to put an end to these harmful policies and bring relief to local governments.”
