• 50% of Manitoba homes heat with natural gas, their costs set to increase 32% by 2022 thanks to Liberal’s so-called “carbon price” (aka carbon tax)

• The impact of the carbon tax will not be the same for everyone. Those who use natural gas and suburban/rural families who drive long distances will be most affected.

Canadians for Affordable Energy: Starting Monday, April 1, Manitoba families and businesses will be paying the federal carbon dioxide emissions tax. A new report shows, the federal government’s carbon tax is set to have a big impact the ability of working families to afford to heat their homes, drive their cars and will raise the prices of goods they need.

A consumer and household report on energy affordability for Canadians for Affordable Energy shows that homes using natural gas – the largest single source of energy used in Manitoba households – is set for a large price increase thanks to the federal government’s carbon tax.

Five in ten Manitoba homes use natural gas for their heating and appliances. When a federal carbon tax is imposed, those natural gas costs would rise by 32% by 2022. This price increase is of particular concern because natural gas represents 53% of energy used by the typical household.

“Manitoba home owners should be prepared for an increase in their tax bill when the carbon tax is introduced," said report author Richard Laszlo. “The impact of the carbon tax will not be the same for everyone. The increase will be particularly heavy on natural gas customers and those who drive greater distances to work or to get their kids to activities.”

Natural gas is not the only energy source that will see costs going up. The carbon tax will also increase gasoline costs in Manitoba by 12% by 2022.

Numbers contained in this news release and report are based on a $50 per tonne of carbon dioxide emissions tax by 2022 as mandated by the federal government.

The federal government’s so-called carbon pricing backstop (aka tax on carbon dioxide emissions) will take effect April 1, 2019. The tax will start at a minimum of $20 a tonne in 2019, rising by $10 each year to $50 a tonne by 2022.

A copy of the full report can be found HERE.

Canadians for Affordable Energy is a national non-profit organization. We promote the benefits of affordable energy by informing Canadians about it, advancing policies that encourage it, and building a national constituency to support it. Keeping energy services affordable must be an ongoing public policy priority.

This report was developed by Richard Laszlo and his team at Laszlo Energy Services (LES). LES provides customized energy policy, strategy and communications expertise to natural gas, thermal and electric utilities, real estate property managers and developers, technology and service providers, and government clients. www.laszloenergy.com