The carbon tax is not a villain
Canadians, let’s get a grip, look at facts and reject the fear-mongering and false claims we have been hearing via the near-hysterical utterances from Conservatives lately.
Unfortunately, we also have several Conservative premiers in this federation who don’t get the size of the threat either, and are afraid of bold action even when the fate of Earth is in the balance.
The attacks come loudest from the federal party leader, Pierre Poilievre, and our scrappy local member, Michelle Ferreri. They seem pathologically focused on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. The opposition party manufactures outrage at every step.
Canadians, in spite of a majority doing quite well, seem to be in a funk. One psychologist has said we didn’t process our COVID -19 grief. Certainly, the high number of deaths in long-termcare homes has not been addressed.
Our Peterborough-Kawartha MP is adept at a negative kind of political discourse, shown in her frequent video clips on Facebook, standing and scolding the House of Commons, while hectoring the actual problem-solvers about the cost of living.
National Post columnist Stuart Thomson said: “I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Conservatives blame every traffic jam, mosquito bite and stubbed toe on the machinations of the Liberal government.”
It has gotten tiresome, this blaming of every incident of human woe in Canada on the prime minister. I suppose that gains some votes. Scapegoating works for a while. But it never leads to positive change. These politicians might do well to rewatch the remarks at the funeral of former prime minister Brian Mulroney, whose politics, while spirited, never resorted to personal contempt.
The official Opposition denies the proven value of taxes put on emissions of greenhouse gases, ignores the facts of the rebates and casts scorn on the NDPLiberal alliance, while voting against forms of social assistance. Not a creative idea emerges from this party: It is all attack.
So, let’s look at the data, develop a considered opinion and then adopt a voting intention for the next election. Our newspaper, the Examiner, offers facts. A column by Susan Koswan on March 28 stated: “Market-based policies targeting industrial emissions are having the biggest impact,” and “The amount of carbon tax you pay is based on the amount you drive, heat your home and power your appliances.” Behaviour modification is what is sought here.
Importantly, the Bank of Canada estimates only 0.15 per cent of inflation can be attributed to the carbon tax. “Four times a year you receive a federal rebate to ease the increased cost of paying to burn oil and gas.” Koswan concludes that “The cost of inaction compared to the incremental expenses is a world of hurt.” That hurt we are seeing and feeling.
We have to develop a skeptical attitude toward political ranting. “Axe the tax” is a mindless slogan, not a reasoned argument.
Our high standard of living as Canadians with many benefits is the result of the collection and redistribution of taxes. Eighty-two per cent of us are deeply worried about global heating. At the very least, we expect a developed and costed program from the Opposition, not the demonization of individuals. Adopt a serious attempt to nation-build. Propose, propose!
The present Liberal government, as Tricia Clarkson showed in her Examiner column of March 20, has absorbed the troubling climate data and initiated many paths, programs and incentives to a better future.
Let’s not be misled by the Opposition and by the oil and gas industry, but be reasonable adults, and accept that we have to alter our habits and pay more to save Earth.