Business groups push back ahead of Vancouver ‘carbon tax' on commercial buildings
Carbon taxes are falling out of style, with the federal and provincial governments recently pulling back.
But in Vancouver, stricter emissions rules are coming for commercial buildings starting next year.
It's part of the city's efforts to cut carbon pollution in half by 2030.
'What the City of Vancouver is planning to implement here essentially amounts to a second carbon tax being implemented at the municipal level,' Ryan Mitton with the Canadian Federation of Independent Business told CTV News in an interview on Friday. 'And what this is going to be a charge of $350 per tonne of CO2 that each building emits over a certain level set by the City of Vancouver.'
The new rules take effect in January and include a $500 permit fee.
Business groups fear buildings in violation could be hit with fines in the range of $14,000.
'The landlord will then take that invariably and pass that on to the tenants,' Ian Tostenson with the BC Restaurant and Foodservices Association told CTV News.
While restaurant emissions are exempt according to the city, if a large building is penalized for emitting too much, Tostenson fears landlords will pass that cost on to all tenants in the building, including restaurants.
Given the federal and provincial governments recently eliminated carbon taxes, businesses are calling for Vancouver to follow suit and back away from this plan.
'I just really hope that Mayor Ken Sim and council look at this proposal and decide to walk it back,' Mitton said.
The city believes 84 per cent of buildings will be in compliance, based on 2024 figures, and says financial penalties only kick in by 2027 – which it says will allow enough time for building owners to prepare for the new regulations.
This is a phased program that was initially voted for in 2022, and given how much has changed economically, some of these business groups believe city council would be willing to press pause on this, but there is no formal indication at this point that will happen.
The city stresses this plan is about reducing emissions, not about generating revenue, and says based on reporting to date, most large buildings will be in compliance when the rules kick in.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CTV News
12 minutes ago
- CTV News
‘I'm going to blast him': Ford slams Stelco's U.S. owner for supporting U.S. tariffs
Ontario Premier Doug Ford speaks to the media during a funding announcement in Hamilton, Ont., Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Carlos Osorio Ontario Premier Doug Ford says that the U.S. owners of Hamilton-based Stelco don't give 'two hoots' about the company's thousands of workers in Ontario. Ford made the comment during a news conference on Wednesday afternoon where he detailed a $70 million investment in expanded training and employment services supports for workers in industries impacted by U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs. ADVERTISEMENT During the news conference, the premier accused Lourenco Goncalves, chairman and CEO of Cleveland-Cliffs, of 'signing away' Canadian steel to the United States and cheering on Donald Trump's 50 per cent tariffs on steel and aluminum — policies Ford says put Ontario workers directly at risk. Cleveland-Cliffs acquired Stelco for $3.4 billion in 2024. '…not the workers at Stelco, because I love the workers, but their owner... I got a problem with that guy,' Ford said. Goncalves has expressed support for Trump's tariffs on numerous occasions, going so far as to call on Canadian government officials to place similarly punitive tariffs on foreign steel imports. Earlier this week, Cleveland-Cliffs also issued a statement applauding a decision by the U.S. Commerce Department to add more than 400 new product categories to the list of derivative steel and aluminum products subject to a 50 per cent tariff. A 'Team Canada' defense Speaking with reporters, Ford framed his comments as a defense of Canadian industry and workers, saying Ontario steel employees can compete on a level playing field without interference. Ontario Premier Doug Ford Ontario Premier Doug Ford speaks to the media during a funding announcement in Hamilton, Ont., Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Carlos Osorio (The Canadian Press) 'We're on one team. It's called Team Canada. We work together because we have the greatest workers in the world, and we can compete,' Ford said. The premier then accused Goncalves of backing Trump's policies at the expense of Ontario jobs. 'He's signing all these forms… Cleveland-Cliffs, or whatever the heck their name is. 'Bring this deal down to the U.S,.'' Ford said. 'That's the owner. He doesn't give two hoots about his workers at Stelco when he's signing all these letters, because I've seen these letters.' Ford suggests new ownership Ford escalated further, even musing about the province intervening if Cleveland-Cliffs continues to undermine Stelco's Canadian operations. 'Maybe they should find a new owner for Stelco. Maybe we (the province) should just buy em,' Ford said. 'Why doesn't he just stay in the U.S.? ...I'm done with this guy. 'I look forward to getting a phone call from him because he has my cell number. I'm going to blast him.' $70 million investment to protect workers The premier's remarks came as part of a broader announcement on worker protection and retraining programs. The government will spend $70 million on training and employment services, including $20 million to launch new 'Protect Ontario Workers Employment Response.' Ontario Premier Doug Ford Ontario Premier Doug Ford deaparts after delivering a funding announcement in Hamilton, Ont., Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Carlos Osorio (The Canadian Press) 'These centers will provide workers with immediate access to training and employment services, and we're doing this proactively, so these centers are ready to go when workers need them,' Ford said. An additional $50 million will go to the Better Jobs Ontario program, which helps displaced workers pay for tuition, transportation, and child care while they retrain for in-demand jobs. 'I get passionate about this because I want to protect our country and our province,' Ford said. 'I love the frontline workers, and if I don't kick back, no one else is going to kick back at these guys.'
CTV News
12 minutes ago
- CTV News
Canada Post union tables new offers seeking higher wages
OTTAWA — The Canadian Union of Postal Workers says it presented new offers to Canada Post today seeking higher wages than the Crown corporation's latest proposal. Unionized workers rejected Canada Post's most recent offers in a direct vote earlier this month. ADVERTISEMENT This is a breaking news update. More information coming. Original copy from The Canadian Press follows. OTTAWA — Canada Post and the union representing postal workers are set to return to the bargaining table today. Plans to rekindle talks late last week were delayed due to a lack of federal government mediators. The Canadian Union of Postal Workers claimed labour unrest at Air Canada was pulling attention from the postal service's dispute, which has stretched on for more than a year and a half. A few weeks ago, unionized postal workers rejected the Crown corporation's latest offer that would have included wage hikes of around 13 per cent over four years and added part-timers to the workforce. Canada Post is seeking a formal response from the union on those proposals and has warned the postal service is bleeding millions of dollars in business daily tied to uncertainty around collective bargaining. The union says it has prepared offers that meet members' demands and is upholding a ban on overtime work in the meantime. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 20, 2025.
CBC
13 minutes ago
- CBC
Ontario's education minister tells CBC News he would consider eliminating school board trustees in the province
In an interview with CBC's Kate Porter at the Association of Municipalities of Ontario conference in Ottawa, Paul Calandra said the way schools are governed in the province is 'outdated' and 'old.' He says if the province determines they can deliver a better product without trustees, they will.
