[Dion]

Calgary rec centre eyes turning off arena heaters due to carbon tax

Hockey fans at a southeast recreation centre are being advised to bundle up and bring blankets to games as the non-profit facility looks at ways to cope with Alberta's new carbon tax.

Les Turner, general manager of Cardel Rec South in Shawnessy, said the new provincial levy enacted New Year's Day will have a massive impact on the facility's bottom line, and operators are looking at several efficiencies to ensure the extra costs aren't passed along to users.

"We're pretty concerned about making sure recreation is affordable to all — that's our goal," he said.

Turner said operators have estimated the impact of the levy would increase the facility's annual natural gas bill, which last year was about $60,000, by about 33 per cent without any changes. More troubling is on the electrical side of the bill, also powered by natural gas, which is expected to see an estimated 20 per cent hike on its annual $360,000 bill.

"Right now we're taking the approach that the carbon tax is here and how are we going to deal with it," he said.

"We know we're going to be affecting the customers' experience. We're already trying to run with a thinner staff without degrading the facility."

The government has already promised a number of energy efficiency programs, including incentives for high-efficiency retrofits for businesses, non-profits and institutions, though the details won't be hammered out until the spring.

"We haven't recouped that investment and we're concerned there won't be any retroactive funding," Turner said.

Brent Wittmeier, press secretary to Alberta Environment Minister Shannon Phillips, said the province is ironing out the details on its rebate programs for both households and organizations, but there's still work to be done.

http://www.calgarysun.com/2017/01/04...-to-carbon-tax