Truckers across the country, including Groupe Robert, are having to charge their customers extra for transporting their goods. This is due to Ottawa’s carbon tax, which goes into effect on January 1stah April 2023.
Le Journal has received a communication from Groupe Robert to its customers stating that “Following these imposed cost increases (…), Groupe Robert will impose a carbon surcharge on shipments sent to or from British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. This charge will appear on your invoice as a separate line entitled CARB “Carbon Surcharge”. The effective date is April 1, 2023.”
Increase of more than 5%
The note states that total loads of 10,000 pounds and over cost 5.5% more and ‘fewer lots’ or loads of a few pallets totaling less than 10,000 pounds are up 2.3%.
“For example, a broken lot can be a truck doing four jean coutus in the morning and an SAQ,” explains Marc Cadieux, CEO of the Quebec Trucking Association.
The note recalls that, effective April 1, 2019, the Canadian government imposed a tax on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from burning fossil fuels.
“Their plan included annual carbon tax increases to be applied to each province under their program on the anniversary of the program’s launch. The Government of Canada has amended this plan to include annual increases every year from 2023 to 2030. The amount of these annual increases imposed by the government will be greater than before 2023,” said Groupe Robert.
source of inflation
Specifically, it is about a large number of products that are now becoming more expensive. From raw materials, fruits and vegetables to televisions and luxury products. Truckers we spoke to say they deliver whatever you can think of across the country.
“All companies are going to have to levy surcharges because of this tax, not just Groupe Robert,” said Guy Parent, a full-time trucker for 30 years. “Companies that receive taxes are their reflex to pass them on to customers. The end customer pays, it’s an inflation game,” he says.
Canada’s carbon pollution floor price is set to increase by $15 per year to reach $170 per tonne in 2030, according to the federal government.
Collected at the pump in Quebec
Quebec’s carbon tax is levied directly at the pump here, as the province is part of a carbon market with California.
But provinces that don’t have a plan, like Quebec, have to pay a surcharge, like British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba.
– With the collaboration of Francis Halin
A growing tax each year
Year / Minimum price of CO2 pollution (CAD$/tonne of CO2 equivalent)
- 2023: $65
- 2024: $80
- 2025: $95
- 2026: $110
- 2027: $125
- 2028: $140
- 2029: $155
- 2030: $170
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