Canada’s carbon tax alone on natural gas would nearly triple the current Alberta market price of the commodity as of 2030 if the Liberal-led federal government that won re-election Sept. 30 enforces its announced schedule for annual increases.

The tax would jump to about C$9.00, or $7.20/MMBtu, according to Atco Gas’ Greg Caldwell, energy systems innovation director. He made the projection at a Calgary industry conference on adapting to global and national energy transition policies.

The rising consumer levy results from federal climate change policy that the Supreme Court of Canada upheld in March with a verdict that rejected provincial rights challenges by the Ontario, Alberta and Saskatchewan governments.

The policy schedules carbon price increases, with the aim to