SKEPTICAL ABOUT CARBON tax CLAIMS

I am a little skeptical about our federal government’s plan to implement a carbon tax in Saskatchewan. I’m supposed to trust the government that this tax will reduce carbon emissions and be revenue neutral. According to Liberal MPS, this carbon tax is going to benefit me; as a lower middle-class family, I’m told I will be getting back more than it costs me.

Really? This is from the government that gave us the Phoenix pay system that was supposed to save $78 million/ year, but instead is going to cost over $540 million just to fix.

This is the government that bought Kinder Morgan’s Trans Mountain oil pipeline and its controversial expansion project for $4.5 billion — making Kinder Morgan shareholders very happy. Of course, if the Canadian government had done its due diligence in the first place and adequately consulted affected groups before the energy board review, perhaps this purchase would not have been necessary. Now, we have to trust our government that the pipeline will actually be completed.

This is a government led by a prime minister whose family getaway to the Aga Khan’s island cost taxpayers over $125,000. The jet (a CC 144 Challenger) used about 2000 L of fuel from Ottawa to the Bahamas (and back), probably far more fuel (thus more carbon emissions) than I use in a year for home heat, home power and car fuel — fine example, Mr. Prime Minister.

No wonder I get skeptical about government.

Bryan Ferguson, Spiritwood