Nova Scotia spent $56,000 on federal carbon tax ad campaign: Minister
HALIFAX — The Nova Scotia government is campaigning against the federal carbon tax, which goes into effect Saturday in the province.
Gas prices in Nova Scotia will rise about 14 cents per gallon that day, and could rise even more by July 7 as the province’s energy regulator approved a 3.74 cent increase due to Ottawa’s clean fuel regulations.
Environment Secretary Tim Halman said on Thursday his department spent $56,000 on the two-week radio, print and social media campaign now underway.
Halman says the aim is to give the public “correct information” and make it clear who is responsible for enforcing the fuel price increase.
Liberal leader Zach Churchill says the government is trying to fool the public and his party will ask the Auditor General and the Speaker’s Cabinet to investigate what he believes is misuse of taxpayers’ money.
NDP leader Claudia Chender calls the ads one-sided partisan advertising masquerading as public communications.
The two opposition parties point out that the ad campaign makes no mention of the federal rebates expected to start in July.
Every three months, a family of four receives $184 in New Brunswick, $240 in Prince Edward Island, $248 in Nova Scotia, and $328 in Newfoundland and Labrador. Rural residents receive an extra 10 percent.
This report from The Canadian Press was first published on June 30, 2023.
