If not a carbon tax, then what?

RE: CARBON TAX FUNDAMENTALLY FLAWED (APRIL 13)

I realize Aaron Wudrick, as spokesperson for an antitax group, is paid to argue against taxes, as he does in this commentary. But what he fails to address are alternative methods to combat the effects of climate change, which is what the “carbon tax” purports to do. It doesn’t surprise me that a search of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation website brings up articles referencing “climate change hysteria” and that “the consequences of global warming are vastly overstated.” In other words, we can’t pay for it, and it’s not true anyway.

We can’t stick our heads in the sand forever. To use another cliché, the longer we kick this can down the road, the greater the cost will be. Bank of England Governor Mark Carney — hardly a raving leftist — warns of the “catastrophic impact” climate change could have for the financial system unless companies do more to address it.

I am not paid for my opinions. I’m a father of two young kids who worries about the world we are leaving our children. I’m not the only one; as Mr. Wudrick acknowledges, most Canadians “think governments should take action to combat” climate change. I’m not thrilled to pay more tax, and frankly think the more well-off should pay a larger share. But we can’t do nothing. If no carbon tax, what should we do to combat climate change?

Jeff Zuk, Hamilton