A pre-election carbon tax break on home heating oil will increase the nation’s greenhouse gas emissions by more than a quarter million tonnes, new figures showed yesterday. The Prime Minister called it a break for Atlantic Canada where oil is a mainstay of home heating and Liberals held 24 seats.

“The Department of Finance estimates the temporary pause of the fuel charge on deliveries of heating oil will lead to foregone reductions in greenhouse gas emissions of about 257,700 tonnes,” cabinet wrote in a Regulatory Impact Analysis Statement.

Some 1.2 million households use heating oil, said the Analysis Statement. It confirmed Atlantic Canada was the main beneficiary of the $1 billion tax break. “Approximately 25 percent of households in Atlantic Canada currently heat with oil compared to approximately six percent across the rest of Canada,” it said.