EDMONTON — Alberta Premier Rachel Notley says her government will keep tight controls on a multibillion-dollar carbon tax to make sure the money goes only to environmental programs and incentives.
Notley says none of the money is to go to broader or unrelated expenditures such as paying down the deficit and debt.
Opposition parties say the broad parameters of the new tax run the risk of it becoming a slush fund for pet government projects and priorities.
The tax on emissions, to begin in 2017, will affect everything from the price of gas at the pump to home heating and power bills.
It's expected to bring in $3 billion a year when fully implemented in 2018.
Notley says the carbon tax could be used for other priorities far down the road, but only after her government is convinced it has served its purpose in transforming Alberta to a green economy.
