Letter to the Editor: Carbon tax an important and necessary step to combat climate change
Last month the government of British Columbia introduced a carbon tax, made it the cornerstone of their budget, and hopefully may have changed Canadian public policy forever. The tax will start at $10 a tonne and increase by $5 a year until it reaches $30 a tonne by 2012. The tax will raise about $1.8 billion dollars which will be returned to consumers and businesses in the form of lower taxes on corporations and incomes.
As Jeffrey Simpson, Globe & Mail columnist said recently, "Federal Environment Minister John Baird, the Harper government's pit bull, can keep fulminating about carbon taxes as a dangerous federal Liberal "tax grab." Alberta and its oil industry can keep their heads in the sand. The federal and B.C. New Democrats can keep running and hiding, paralyzed by the fear of being accused of always wanting to raise taxes. It won't matter.
The Campbell-Taylor (BC) budget will ripple across Canada, as the first jurisdiction in North America to introduce a carbon tax, effective July 1, 2008. The tax will be denounced by some, parsed by many, and in due course, imitated by all governments serious about climate change."
Last week Angel Gurria, the secretary general for the international organization known as the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), said that climate change is mankind's most important challenge. He says "We know the enemy: It is named carbon."
Apparently by 2030, the world's population -- currently about 6.5 billion people -- is expected to hit 8.2 billion, and the global economy could double in size, largely due to growth in countries such as Brazil, Russia, China and India. If unchecked, growth in energy consumption in those countries could be 72 per cent by 2030, compared to 29 per cent for all 30 of the OECD's member nations.
If no steps are taken, the world gross domestic product will grow 99 per cent between 2005 and 2030, with severe environmental consequences. However, the report stated that with proper environmental measures, growth would be nearly the same (97 per cent), but with a much healthier environment.
This report also suggested that governments must create such policies as "green taxes" to encourage sound technologies and practices, and that the rich world must help poor countries develop without spewing pollution, by providing technology and expertise.
Yesterday the Auditor General gave the federal Conservative government a failing grade in nine of 14 chapters in its environmental watchdog's latest status report, raising concerns for the planet's future.
Although it was praised for its handling of an assessment of toxic chemicals and management of contaminated federal sites, the government was chastised by Environment and Sustainable Development Commissioner Ron Thompson for showing unsatisfactory progress and weak leadership in several areas, including water pollution in the Great Lakes, endangered species, federal operations and Canada's international environmental commitments.
The Conference Board of Canada joins a growing list of research and business groups calling for taxes or other financial policies to reduce emissions from coal, oil, gas and other fossil fuels. The Pembina Institute said yesterday that carbon dioxide and other gases that contribute to global warming should cost at least C$30 a ton next year, and reach C$75 a ton by 2020.
These think tanks and research organizations believe all companies and individuals should pay a tax that stings enough to make them change their behavior and adopt less-polluting technologies. The recommendation includes measures far tougher than what the report calls the federal government's "modest" climate change plan.
Think about it. Canadians pay nothing to churn out greenhouse gases, even though the pollution will cause floods, droughts, storm damage, physical and mental health problems and many other potentially irreversible disruptions, since there is no price on these practices. Canada's annual greenhouse emissions now total about 750 million tonnes. A $25 tax per tonne would raise nearly $19 billion that could be used to promote the real alternative... renewable sources of energy.
Today is the day for intelligent and concerned people to start looking at realistic policies such as those being put forward by the Green Party. Take a look at their policies (www.greenparty.ca) so you know for yourself. The cornerstone of the Green Party plan is an immediate $50/tonne carbon tax which would add 12 cents to the cost of a litre of gas at the pump. I know that sounds like a lot, but that revenue would be strictly used to progressively reduce other taxes, including income and payroll taxes, and to provide tax incentives for reducing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. Wouldn't you rather have more money in your pocket (by paying less income tax) to spend? Let the polluter pay the full price, including the hidden costs of fossil fuels. Gas guzzlers and energy wasters should be responsible for their decisions. Encouraging people to make good environmental choices through their pocketbook seems like a logical idea to me.
A carbon tax is only a matter of time, and time is something we really can't afford to waste if there is to be any hope for tomorrow.
Joanne French
Stirling, Ontario
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