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Griffith, who owns 50 head of cattle with her husband on their ranch near Jumping Pound, about 40 minutes west of Calgary, also addresses Trudeau in the letter. “You spent my tax dollars buying that non-existent line and so I personally beseech you to do whatever it takes to get the line finished so it can be sold and get our money back,” she wrote.

“Once the line is in and operating, oil prices will increase and people in Alberta will be working again.”

Photo by THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

Alberta’s struggling economy has had huge effects on farm and ranch operations, Griffith told Postmedia, saying prices for feed have skyrocketed in the past year while prices for beef have come down.

“My colleagues and I are always talking about this and people are very frustrated. We can’t wait for a new government to fix this.

“So, for now, I won’t be paying carbon tax. It’s something I can do personally to take a stand.”

But officials with the Alberta government have argued carbon tax dollars allow the province to invest in green initiatives that also work to diversify the economy.

“Over the next three years, $5.3 billion will be invested in initiatives like public transit, including the Green Line in Calgary, and to support energy efficiency and infrastructure programs,” said Shannon Greer, deputy director of communications with the Office of the Premier.

“Our energy efficiency programs have already helped Albertans to invest in measures in their own homes, buildings and businesses. These measures will save Albertans more than $400 million in energy costs.”