Alberta environment minister says carbon levy talks in early stages

EDMONTON – Alberta’s environment minister says the province is a long way from imposing higher carbon levies on its energy industry.

Responding to a story in the Globe and Mail, Diana McQueen acknowledges she’s working with her federal counterpart on a new climate change policy.

But she says those talks are only in the early stages and a wide range of options are being considered.

McQueen has said several times that she’s considering raising the province’s $15-a-tonne levy on greenhouse gas emissions.

Most independent experts agree that neither Alberta nor the federal government will achieve their reduction targets without substantial change, including a higher price on carbon.