Just as many people have concerns about the role the new carbon tax will play in everyday life, Mayor Terry Yemen has also publicly voiced his worries.
Shortly after the carbon tax was implemented January 1, 2017, Mayor Yemen sent a letter to Premier Notley regarding the new carbon tax on behalf of Drumheller’s Town Council, residents and businesses.
Mayor Yemen said, “I would like to express my concerns regarding the impact the 2017 carbon tax will have. Most notably, this impact will be felt at the fuel pumps as prices increase.”
In his letter, Mayor Yemen challenged the NDP government on the impact it will have, not just on municipalities but on the residents of Drumheller. Mayor Yemen states in his letter that municipalities could have difficulty providing services to their residents with this new expense.
“Municipalities provide the bulk of services aimed at achieving sustainable communities. The difficulty of achieving this is that the carbon tax will impact the cost of municipal operations particularly in the use of our equipment and transportation. Ultimately, these costs will be borne by the taxpayers through property taxes and other fees collected by municipalities. I urge your government to ensure that this tax does not become a financial burden to municipalities.” Mayor Yemen said in his letter.
Mayor Yemen previously told The Mail that the town will be looking at an additional $10,000 per year based on an initial assessment that was calculated from the annual average consumption of fuel and natural gas used by the town.
“Please continue with consultations and engagement with local government, business and the general public on how to disburse funds realized through the carbon tax program for the betterment of Alberta as a whole.”