This is because we bear the cost of oil companies extracting fossil fuels from under our feet, burn it to pollute our air, pollute our water with direct and down-chain products, making us sick and costing taxpayers again. These are called externalities, which in effect becomes a socialized cost and privatized profit. Bankrupt shell companies put the cleanup for their operations on us and the fees Alberta charges to cover end-of-life costs are far too small.

So, a carbon tax is the free-market, economic solution to use price signals to accurately appraise the cost to humanity, which Smith's government is distorting.