It's interesting that you asked the question, because just last week our federation, which represents 27 unions and 160,000 unionized Albertans—I underline that, “Albertans”—passed a policy statement, a policy paper, on carbon taxes.
Our unions, including those representing energy workers, are 100% in support of the introduction of a more aggressive carbon tax. The Alberta carbon tax, at only $15 a tonne, is not doing the job of providing an incentive to clean up the industry's act.
Interestingly, one thing we included in our policy paper was the fact that industry itself is asking the provincial and federal governments to act. In fact, some people in industry are saying that they would accept a carbon tax as high as $100 per tonne, which is eight times higher than the current level.
Industry says they've already been working it into their plans and their projections about cost. Honestly, it would allow us to get rid of the black eye the Canadian energy industry has abroad. That black eye is significant. Politics matters when some of our potential markets might be closing themselves down to access by Canadian products.
So it's in our best interest. Industry wants it. It will improve our reputation. It will help with market access.
Let's get on with it and have a really significant carbon tax in this country.