Green Shift Debate New Free Trade Debate

Before Stephane Dion introduced the carbon tax polls showed the majority of Canadians supported it. But it's a huge risk for the Liberals. Dion's acceptance of a carbon tax is the biggest risk by a major Canadian political leader since Mulroney's embrace of Free Trade. It's a wise move by Dion who needed something bold to reassert his leadership and in the next election the major issue will be fought on his idea.

The majority of Canadians believe high carbon dioxide emissions are a problem. It's makes sense to tax carbon as sin tax. We tax smoking, speeding, and alcohol. Reducing income tax and shifting taxation against excessive carbon consumption is a great idea in principle.

Canadians support carbon reduction but if the implementation of a carbon tax is flawed the Liberals will lose. The biggest drawback to the carbon tax is the reality that poorer Canadians will be punished more severely. That is why the NDP doesn't support a carbon tax and why the Liberals plan on offering more tax credits to lower income Canadians. The other drawback to a carbon tax is the timing. Right now oil is already at record prices and Canadians are making adjustments to lower consumption. Conservatives predictively are comparing it to the National Energy Program in order to sweep Alberta again, and Canadians across Canada who value lower gas prices rather than the environment will not be persuaded by the liberals argument. But for Canadians who have blamed the last 3 governments for just talking about the environment and offering very little solutions against climate change. Finally they will feel motivated to vote for the Liberals.

Climate Change needs to be combated now. The Conservatives need to stop avoiding any serious action for decades. The NDP must stop cherry picking which industries will be exempt from carbon taxes (eg. Ontario auto industry). The Liberals have usually been the nation's most cautious party but the sponsorship scandal forced them into opposition and if they want a serious shot at government they must be bold.