MONCTON — Atlantic truckers are hoping New Brunswick’s government got the message about carbon taxes in this past week’s federal election.

The province was considering its own carbon tax legislation before the election, but opponents are warning the Premier’s office to back off after the clear rejection of the federal Liberal party’s Green Shift carbon tax, according to the New Brunswick Business Journal.

Various industry groups, including the Atlantic Provinces Trucking Association and the New Brunswick division of Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters have spent months campaigning against the plan.

And it’s not just businesses that oppose a new fuel tax in these troubling economic times. APTA executive director Peter Nelson noted that New Brunswickers also reject the idea, which was Liberal leader Stephane Dion’s campaign centerpiece.

The Conservatives picked up three more seats in the province at the expense of the Liberals.

Nelson said the APTA will continue to educate the public on the strides trucking has made to clean up equipment and reduce emissions. He cited the 2007, EPA-mandated smog-free trucks, as an example.

"That’s what angered us about the carbon tax: the lack of recognition by both the federal Liberals and the Green Party of what we’ve done in the last 18 months."