November 21, 2016

Ten good reasons a carbon tax won’t work

By KERRY DIOTTE

We’ve heard a lot about carbon taxes lately. 

In Ottawa, the Liberal government and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau have enthusiastically touted imposing a carbon tax nationwide as a way to actually create scores of new jobs (believe it or not).

In reality, a carbon tax will cripple our economy and lead to job losses. 

My Conservative colleagues and I are fighting tooth and nail to stop this ill-conceived tax grab. 

Here are my Top 10 good reasons Canada’s federal government shouldn’t impose a carbon tax. 

  1. Day-to-day costs will increase for Canadians, adding up to more than $2,500 annually for the average family. 
  2. It will be especially painful for people in northern communities who already pay dearly for home heating, vehicle fuel and groceries including milk. 
  3. A carbon tax tilts the economic playing field in favour of our competitors that don’t pay carbon taxes.
  4. Canada is already in an economic downturn and this will cause a further weakening of our economy when we can least afford it. 
  5. Liberals say it’ll create jobs. Yeah right. Maybe for tax collectors and solar panel salespeople but not for other sectors. 
  6. Canadians weren’t crying out for a carbon tax. In oil and gas producing provinces, such as Alberta and Saskatchewan, the majority of people are opposed to a carbon tax.
  7. The tax will have a negligible effect on reducing greenhouse gases on the planet.
  8. While Canadian prosperity would suffer under a tax on carbon, countries like China would see an economic boom spurred by continued construction of greenhouse gas producing coal-fired power plants. 
  9. Canada produces just .001 of greenhouse gases. Even if we were to meet our carbon reduction targets as hoped by 2030, all of our efforts and sacrifices would be nullified if the world’s biggest greenhouse gas emitters continue to increase their emissions.
  10. Taxing Canadians won’t reduce greenhouse gas emissions. There are efficient solutions to battling climate change including investing in carbon capture and storage projects, offering Canadians incentives to reduce their carbon footprint and encouraging industries to come up with cleaner technologies.

What are your thoughts on this issue? I want to hear them. E-mail [email protected].

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One response to “Ten good reasons a carbon tax won’t work”

  1. Ella says:

    The carbon tax is a good idea.