Latest news with #ICBAEconomics
Edmonton Journal
22-07-2025
- Business
- Edmonton Journal
Opinion: Looking west from Alberta has never been more precarious
Article content It can be easy to think that nothing past the Rockies really matters to Albertans, but what's happening in British Columbia is deeply troubling. Government mismanagement of B.C.'s finances, economy and natural resources should be a warning to us all. Article content B.C. Premier David Eby has introduced economic and energy policies that are catastrophic for workers, families and businesses across his province. The provincial deficit for 2025 is at least $11 billion — and more likely to pass $15 billion, once Eby updates the numbers this fall. Article content Article content Article content Leading the parade of bad NDP ideas is Eby's CleanBC plan, which shows what happens when political ideology is placed ahead of common sense and economic reality. A recent ICBA Economics report delivered a shocking assessment, based on the B.C. government's own analysis: CleanBC will strip away $109.7 billion in economic activity from its economy by 2029 — more than 2.5 times the damage that U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff war and Prime Minister Mark Carney's retaliatory trade barriers could inflict. Article content Article content That's not a future Alberta should aspire to emulate. Article content CleanBC is forcing B.C. to decarbonize too much, too fast — without realistic transition plans for people, businesses or industries. It may sound virtuous from a political podium but, on the ground, it's driving up costs, deterring investment, slowing construction and making it nearly impossible to build needed housing, infrastructure and energy projects. Meanwhile, global emissions keep rising and B.C. grows poorer, not greener. Article content Article content Could Alberta NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi — whose municipal track record was defined by ballooning spending, tax hikes and a wariness of business voices trying to bring practical, on-the-ground insight to policy conversations — bring similar policies and thinking to Alberta? If handed the keys to Alberta, would he follow Eby's lead: adding red tape, building massive bureaucracies and punishing the very industries that fund our hospitals, schools and roads? Article content If not, let's hear him say it: Say that Eby's policies are dangerous and destructive. Article content Make no mistake, we support smart, balanced, common-sense climate policy. But CleanBC isn't that. It's more effective at cleaning out taxpayer coffers than it is at cleaning the air. Article content Albertans should take that as a warning, not a blueprint. Article content The ICBA report also exposed another inconvenient truth for Eby and his allies: the B.C. NDP's much-touted move to eliminate the consumer-facing carbon tax is a political stunt with almost no economic upside. The real economic pain comes from escalating industrial carbon taxes — the hidden costs, buried deep. Those are taxes that Nenshi would likely support, and they are the ones hurting job creators and workers the most.
Calgary Herald
22-07-2025
- Business
- Calgary Herald
Looking west from Alberta has never been more precarious
B.C. Premier David Eby's CleanBC plan could strip away $109.7 billion in economic activity from that province's economy by the end of this decade, according a report from ICBA Economics. Photo by Darryl Dyck / Postmedia Network It can be easy to think that nothing past the Rockies really matters to Albertans, but what's happening in British Columbia is deeply troubling. Government mismanagement of B.C.'s finances, economy and natural resources should be a warning to us all. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Calgary Herald ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Calgary Herald ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors B.C. Premier David Eby has introduced economic and energy policies that are catastrophic for workers, families and businesses across his province. The provincial deficit for 2025 is at least $11 billion — and more likely to pass $15 billion, once Eby updates the numbers this fall. Leading the parade of bad NDP ideas is Eby's CleanBC plan, which shows what happens when political ideology is placed ahead of common sense and economic reality. A recent ICBA Economics report delivered a shocking assessment, based on the B.C. government's own analysis: CleanBC will strip away $109.7 billion in economic activity from its economy by 2029 — more than 2.5 times the damage that U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff war and Prime Minister Mark Carney's retaliatory trade barriers could inflict. Your weekday lunchtime roundup of curated links, news highlights, analysis and features. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again Let that sink in: B.C.'s self-inflicted climate scheme is two-and-a-half times more economically destructive than one of the most feared threats to Canadian trade and prosperity in generations. That's not a future Alberta should aspire to emulate. CleanBC is forcing B.C. to decarbonize too much, too fast — without realistic transition plans for people, businesses or industries. It may sound virtuous from a political podium but, on the ground, it's driving up costs, deterring investment, slowing construction and making it nearly impossible to build needed housing, infrastructure and energy projects. Meanwhile, global emissions keep rising and B.C. grows poorer, not greener. Could Alberta NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi — whose municipal track record was defined by ballooning spending, tax hikes and a wariness of business voices trying to bring practical, on-the-ground insight to policy conversations — bring similar policies and thinking to Alberta? If handed the keys to Alberta, would he follow Eby's lead: adding red tape, building massive bureaucracies and punishing the very industries that fund our hospitals, schools and roads? If not, let's hear him say it: Say that Eby's policies are dangerous and destructive. Make no mistake, we support smart, balanced, common-sense climate policy. But CleanBC isn't that. It's more effective at cleaning out taxpayer coffers than it is at cleaning the air. Albertans should take that as a warning, not a blueprint. The ICBA report also exposed another inconvenient truth for Eby and his allies: the B.C. NDP's much-touted move to eliminate the consumer-facing carbon tax is a political stunt with almost no economic upside. The real economic pain comes from escalating industrial carbon taxes — the hidden costs, buried deep. Those are taxes that Nenshi would likely support, and they are the ones hurting job creators and workers the most.
