Article content

Albertans will pay $3 billion more annually in a new economywide tax on carbon, and will likely have to shell out more for electricity as a result of an accelerated retirement of coal-fired power plants under the NDP government’s new climate-change strategy released Sunday.

Premier Rachel Notley said she thinks Alberta families will willingly pay the tax and higher price for power, but some of the tax revenue will be returned to people and businesses that need help.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Alberta launches $3-billion climate change strategy with carbon tax Back to video

“Low- and middle-income families will get support to help them make ends meet,” she said following the announcement of the long-awaited strategy at the Telus World of Science in Edmonton.

“I think that ultimately we’ll be able to manage this in a way that encourages reduced use of high-emission activities, while at the same time ensuring we don’t put an unnecessary burden on families.”

The plan predicts the new tax of $20 per tonne in 2017 and $30 per tonne in 2018 will cost the average household $320 annually in 2017 and $470 in 2018. But 60 per cent of Albertans will receive rebates for some or all of the increased cost of home heating, electricity and gasoline.