B.C. reaches carbon-pricing deal with Oregon, Washington states

VICTORIA – British Columbia’s carbon tax will soon have two new American cousins, prompting Environment Minister Mary Polak to suggest B.C.’s groundbreaking tax is helping fuel a green-powered West Coast economic juggernaut.

Polak is in San Francisco to participate in the announcement that confirms Washington and Oregon states will soon move to a carbon-pricing system that is similar to B.C.’s seven-year-old carbon tax.

The minister says the agreement follows a meeting of the Pacific Coast Collaborative, which includes California, Alaska, Oregon, Washington and B.C., an area with a combined gross domestic product of $2.3 billion.

Polak says B.C.’s successful environmental and economic implementation of its carbon tax influenced the West Coast states to embrace carbon pricing to help achieve national and international leadership in fighting climate change without harming economic growth.

California introduced a carbon pricing mechanism earlier this year as part of its cap-and-trade system.

Former B.C. environment minister Terry Lake travelled to Oregon last March where he discussed B.C.’s experience with its carbon tax with politicians, academics and business leaders.