Premier Andrew Furey says he takes exception to suggestions from the federal minister that it’s all or nothing when it comes to the Carbon Tax, set to start being charged on fuel products July 1.

Furey and his Atlantic Canadian counterparts have long called for Ottawa to re-examine federal policies that they say could result in a heavier cost burden for people in the region.

The Atlantic premiers met in PEI yesterday and the Carbon Tax was high among the topics discussed.

Premier Andrew Furey says Newfoundlanders and Labradorians are not climate change deniers and they’re willing to do their part to address climate change and reduce carbon emissions, but he disagrees with the approach taken by the federal government.

Furey didn’t mince his words on Your VOCM Mornings today. “I take great exception to the federal minister always forcing this into a dichotomous issue ‘either you believe in exactly what we say or you don’t believe in climate change.’ That’s completely illogical, it’s a false dichotomy, it’s a false dilemma, and it’s as insulting to us as it is simplistic.”

Furey says he and his Atlantic counterparts are asking Ottawa what kind of an impact will the Carbon Tax, and the Clean Fuel Standard have on the price of goods and services in Newfoundland and Labrador.

He uses the Clean Fuel Standard as an example because of known issues supplying fuels to this province.

“So we think that we are in a different position given the pressures of both security of supply and price of supply” says Furey. “The impact of the Clean Fuel Standard is unknown,” he continues “when you ask the federal minister…what impact will this have? He admittedly says it won’t be zero, but doesn’t understand the true impact on the economy of Newfoundland and Labrador.”