Health Care, Energy Costs To Be Focus Of Premiers Meeting In Halifax

Premier David Eby continues meetings in Halifax today with his provincial and territorial counterparts.

Nova Scotia’s Tim Houston is hosting the session with health care the main item on the agenda.

However, carbon pricing is also expected to take up a lot of time.

The federal government announced last month it was pausing the carbon tax for those who heat their homes and businesses with oil.

British Columbia, the Northwest Territories, and Quebec have their own form of carbon tax, so the federal move is no benefit to British Columbians.

“I don’t begrudge Atlantic Canadians the ability to get off home heating oil and not to have to endure those huge bills that come when the fuel truck shows up,” Eby said at a news conference.

“But I sure am unhappy that there’s not a clear path yet for British Columbia on co-delivery of free heat pumps for British Columbians that are in the exact same situation.”

Other premiers are also calling for the carbon tax to be scrapped on all forms of heating fuel.

Bail reform and Alberta’s proposal to exit the Canadian Pension Plan are also on the agenda.