Atlantic premiers want federal government to postpone new clean fuel rules
Federal minister's office says refineries shouldn't have to pass new costs on to buyers
The provincial leaders, including P.E.I. Premier Dennis King, said in a news release Thursday that they want a pause until a plan can be developed to address what they call "the disproportionate impact of the regulations on Atlantic Canadians," where many goods needed by consumers and businesses have to be trucked in.
The Council of Atlantic Premiers met virtually Wednesday with Steven Guilbeault, the federal minister of environment and climate change, to discuss the issue.
King, who currently chairs the council, had voiced his concerns about the timing of the new regulations this week in the Prince Edward Island legislature. He said inflation is hitting Atlantic Canadians hard, and the prospect of two federal initiatives raising the price of gasoline this year is not a pleasant one.
Both the Clean Fuel Regulations and the carbon tax increase are scheduled to come into effect on July 1.
The premiers are concerned about the impact of the regulations on fuel prices and fuel supplies. They also worry it will increase the costs of other goods imported to the region.
"Atlantic premiers are encouraged by the minister's commitment to work with them to address concerns expressed by producers and consumers in the region," they said in a release Thursday.
A spokesperson for Guilbeault sent a statement reacting to the premiers' call later in the day.
It said in part that refineries handling petroleum products in Atlantic Canada will face "very small, incremental costs" as a result of the new regulations, and should be able to cover those costs out of their profit margins while making changes to reduce their environmental footprint.
"Between 2019 and 2022, the margins of refineries in Atlantic Canada went from just over 10 cents per litre to almost 50 cents per litre," the statement said.
"There is simply no reason that they need to push costs onto consumers on July 1."
Reply to Byron Prior
"Reply to @Barry Winters: I’d just like to thank the Radar Group for having my back here. I truly appreciate it. "
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David Amos
Methinks the plot has thickened within this tragicomedy unfolding
within Higgy's circus N'esy Pas?
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Ray Oliver
Reply to @David Amos: Nope. Same as always
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Barry Winters
Reply to @Ray Oliver: Methinks the only thing to thicken here would be
the bootmarks on our fierce unethical animal yessy plants?
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Byron Prior
Reply to @Barry Winters: I’d just like to thank the Radar Group for
having my back here. I truly appreciate it.
Tony Mcalbey
Reply to @David Amos: Higgy hopefully shows up to answer questions he
dodged last week
Michel Forgeron
Reply to @Byron Prior: Byron, can you tell me who did all those posts
during the night? I see most of them are gone this morning. Thanks.
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Reply to Chris Besters
This will either be Alberta or Mr. Poilievre's fault.
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Reply to Jimmy Cocerell
The sooner this government gets turfed, the sooner our country can start on the road back to less government, more action, less taxation and restoring our national pride.
Because all countries don't.
Not elsewhere.
Reply to @Al Clark: The last thing yesterday in the article about the stranded Green Party Granniei you asked me the following Correct?
"so does Twitter have your email blocked like every political entity and remotely public figure on the planet? Btw, Google altavista. I think that's what I was using in 1994, LONG before I was making money off Bernie's fiasco."
Feed A Family, Harbour Lights raise over $300K for N.B. food banks
New Brunswickers dig deep to help food banks
So far CBC Saint John's Harbour Lights Campaign, in conjunction with the Saint John Port Authority, has raised $156,953 to help 15 food banks in southern New Brunswick.
"It's been tremendous," said Paula Copeland, the chair of the Harbour Lights board.
"When we all spoke about it in the summer, we were, you know, wondering what it would be like this year, considering that we weren't going to have the usual elements that we have with the campaign. But we've been blown away by the support from individuals."
Meanwhile, Fredericton's Feed A Family campaign has raised $144,528 to help district 3 food banks.
"The need will never be met entirely but this sure helps the food banks a lot," said Jane Buckley, the chair of district 3 food banks.
"It replenishes what they're using right now this month to do the Christmas dinner and to do the Christmas hampers, to provide gifts for the children."
Big spenders
Both shows saw their fair share of big donations during the live programs this morning.
In Fredericton the LeBrun family donated $10,000 to the campaign.
"I want to thank all the employees and volunteers that do such amazing work helping people who find themselves in need... people working in our food banks, homeless shelters, out of the cold shelters, soup kitchens, downtown health clinic and more," said Marcel LeBrun in an email to Information Morning Fredericton.
"They do incredible and difficult work, so thank you."
Christmas past and predictions
Two familiar voices joined Information Morning Saint John for the show, which would normally have been held at the Saint John City Market, with live bands and a charity breakfast put on by city council.
CBC News at 6 host Harry Forestell stopped by to reminisce about what Christmas was like for him growing up in Saint John.
"Growing up in Saint John, one of the things I anticipated most as a kid was seeing the lights uptown, because no matter how tough things were economically in Saint John, the city always put up Christmas lights and it always made uptown look magical," said Forestell.
"I can just imagine what it's like right now with a few centimetres of snow on the ground. It must look magical there right now."
As well, CBC reporter Robert Jones looked into his crystal ball for some predictions for what 2021 has in store, along with a few wisecracks.
"I always kind of suspected that eventually the Christmas at the Market show would be shut by a public health emergency, but always thought it would be related to the mayor's breakfast," said Jones.
"You know, room temperature sausages, I could see that. A pandemic, never saw that coming."
Carrying a tune
Of course, the Feed a Family campaign would not be complete without a little bit of live music.
While most years feature an audience, Fredericton born singer/songwriter David Myles had to settle for a physically distant performance.
"Music puts me in the spirit of Christmas, but nothing puts me in the spirit, like seeing people's generosity," said Myles.
"It just is so moving."
With files from Information Morning Saint John & Fredericton
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