Canada's Alberta province introduces climate-change legislation

Canada's Alberta province on Tuesday introduced an ambitious climate-change bill, which will tax purchases of all fossil fuels, including gasoline and natural gas.

The bill would enable the use of carbon levies on transportation and heating fuels and amend the Alberta Personal Income Tax Act to allow for consumer carbon-levy rebates.

The bill would also amend the Alberta Corporate Tax Act to reduce small-business taxes from 3 percent to 2 percent next year, to help smaller firms adjust to the carbon tax changes.

The bill is a major step by the Alberta government to formalize the climate-change plan unveiled last November, with a view to significantly reducing or capping the province's greenhouse gas emissions.

The provincial government and some energy industry leaders believe the new bill will help attract investment in the oil and gas sector, put greater emphasis on technology and renewable energy.

"The Climate Leadership Plan will diversify our economy, create new jobs, improve the health of Albertans and erase any doubt about our environmental record," Alberta Environment Minister Shannon Phillips said, adding that it will also open up new markets for products from the province.

According to the new legislation, a new government agency will be set up to deliver energy-efficiency programs and help develop an energy-efficiency service industry. Endi