Fuel Prices Displaces Environment as #1 Issue (Poll)

[Leafless]

Well if the Liberals can make that argument to the public or it actually happens, he will have some splainin to do but a consumption tax puts no onus on industry only the consumer.

What is the sense of any plan with all those coal burning hydro generating plants in the U.S. with their pollution that blows into Canada.

Why burden Canadians with something no one can afford?

Edited June 28, 2008 by Leafless

[bush_cheney2004]

What is the sense of any plan with all those coal burning hydro generating plants in the U.S. with their pollution that blows into Canada.

No to mention the sense of any plan while Ontario's Nanticoke plants remain the largest source of coal fired pollution in North America.

[capricorn]

You have to consider people's fears as well. Will climate fears temper anger.

Good question. I expect that as Canadians take to the road for their summer holidays and feel the pinch at the pump, the environment (specifically fears associated with global warming) will slip further down the list of prioritized worries. One columnist addressed this today:

The first is disturbing news from the top of the world, where, scientists report, the Arctic Ocean is covered with only a thin layer of ice, which may completely melt this summer — evidence that climate change is proceeding faster than anticipated, with potentially grim consequences.

The second is disturbing news from the deserts of Arabia, which means consumers will pay more to fill their gas tanks this summer, more to fill their oil tanks this winter and more to buy food at the supermarket, with potentially grim consequences.

Which story is more important to you?

----

The bad news for Mr. Dion, according to Nanos Research, is that this year health care and the economy overtook the environment as the most pressing issues for Canadians.

He intends to spend the summer selling a plan that depends on people worrying about the North Pole at a time when all they can think about is the gas pumps.

http://thechronicleherald.ca/Opinion/1064676.html

As many are musing, the next election is gearing up to be a contest between the economy and climate change.

Between honing his English language skills, party fundraising and selling his Green Shift Plan, Dion will be a very busy dude this summer. If he decides to topple the government this fall, he may be very exhausted by the time he enters the leaders' debate.

It already looks like the Conservative will have the edge over the Liberals.

[jdobbin]

It already looks like the Conservative will have the edge over the Liberals.

That is if the Tory plan is revealed not to increase gas as much as the Liberal plan is. At the moment, some experts are not so sure.

[Wilber]

As many are musing, the next election is gearing up to be a contest between the economy and climate change.

I think that what some are missing is that the change in the economy is already starting to deal with the climate change issue all by itself. The present market in energy has done what no politician would have dared to do just a few months ago. My fear is that they will screw it up by crippling the economy further without making any appreciable difference.

[blueblood]

That is if the Tory plan is revealed not to increase gas as much as the Liberal plan is. At the moment, some experts are not so sure.

That can be another broken promise for all we know as well.

[Jerry J. Fortin]

Energy prices are going up, period. No amount of government meddling will change that. They will contribute to the increase, bet on it. Consumption is going up, get used to it. Even if it decreases here in the entire western world from Europe to North America, consumption will increase anyway due to the rise of the Asian economy. China and India are in rapid expansion, and that requires energy. If you are looking to point a finger, that is where to point.

Alternative energy will not bring the price down but it will ease supply issues and may provide some price stability.

The thing to consider is changing the the fuel we use for transportation, that is where you can attack emissions successfully. If we changed over to electrical power from carbon based fuel for internal combustion engines it would make a large difference in our footprint. Vehicle emissions represent a huge portion of our problem. Once again the tree huggers and business types have hijacked the agenda and gotten folks headed down the wrong path.

[capricorn]

The present market in energy has done what no politician would have dared to do just a few months ago.

It's not often that a "do nothing" approach to a problem by politicians unintentionally ends up being the best course of action. Who would claim the credit? The Liberals who did nothing for 13 years while in power or the Conservatives with their piecemeal environmental plan?

My fear is that they will screw it up by crippling the economy further without making any appreciable difference.

If the environment or climate change or global warming, pick your poison, continues to slip in the polls as an issue of concern in favour of the economy, then Dion's Green Shift plan won't get off the ground. The fact is, the main concern this summer for Canadians will be the price of gas at the pump, especially for BC residents.

[Jerry J. Fortin]

The price of gas is high, but the government could do something about it. Especially here in Alberta with our newly announced surplus. Government can cut its tax load on gas. Now why wouldn't they is another issue altogether.

Gas is going to keep going up, and the citizens are going to have to pay for it if they want it, its that simple. The reality is that this single expense cuts into our play time budgets not just our working expenses. It costs us more to do what we want to do. In other words its crimping our style. However, in order for the governments to do anything about it then the shoe would have to be installed on the other foot and it would crimp the governments style. I would suggest that cutting into their play money means more to them than it does to us. It won't happen, taxes are not going away because it cuts into their operating revenues.

[madmax]

Once again the tree huggers and business types have hijacked the agenda and gotten folks headed down the wrong path.

That is a very interesting opinion. How did you come to it?

[madmax]

I am starting to appreciate why the people of BC are frustrated.

http://www.bclocalnews.com/vancouver_islan...s/22782289.html

He noted that while oil and gas companies are making record profits, they are not only exempt from the gas tax, but also received $365 million subsidy from the provincial government, a situation he said is just not right.

Similarly, he said, while BC Ferries passengers will likely soon be lumped with higher costs to cross the water, cruise ships are exempt. Similarly, logging trucks transporting logs to B.C. mills will have to pay, but log trucks taking their cargoes for export will be exempt.

Logging trucks travelling further are exempt. Rigs going to local mills are stung.

Sure stick it to the locals and the local mills.

I don't believe that $100 is going to buy enough love.

Edited July 2, 2008 by madmax

[stevoh]

I am starting to appreciate why the people of BC are frustrated.

http://www.bclocalnews.com/vancouver_islan...s/22782289.html

Logging trucks travelling further are exempt. Rigs going to local mills are stung.

Sure stick it to the locals and the local mills.

I don't believe that $100 is going to buy enough love.

While I think the carbon tax is basically pointless given the cost increase of gas over the recent months, it still amazes me that I have heard so much more squawking about a 2.4 cent increase just because its from the government, but so much less complaining about a 60 cent increase in the last year.

If you are going out of business due to high gas prices, its not because of a 2.4 cent increase, its because of a 60 cent increase.

[madmax]

While I think the carbon tax is basically pointless given the cost increase of gas over the recent months, it still amazes me that I have heard so much more squawking about a 2.4 cent increase just because its from the government, but so much less complaining about a 60 cent increase in the last year.

If you are going out of business due to high gas prices, its not because of a 2.4 cent increase, its because of a 60 cent increase.

I agree with you comments. I want to point out an interesting quote from this article.

http://www.bclocalnews.com/surrey_area/sur...s/24028519.html

Fuel that will be burned outside B.C. is therefore untaxed, he said, because B.C. only takes responsibility for the greenhouse gas emissions that happen within its borders.

As a result, trucks and trains heading outside B.C. will be charged carbon tax only on the diesel it takes them to get over the border.

The arrangements were reached by former finance minister Carole Taylor after lobbying from groups like the Chamber of Shipping that warned B.C. could lose business.

"We don't have the ability to tax internationally destined cruise ships," Hansen said.

Asked why the province can't simply charge the tax when visiting ships buy fuel, he said: "Then they won't buy here."

The last sentence is either phoney Bullshit, by a government that can't explain why they aren't applying the tax, or it is so truthful as to put into question, how much a difference that 2.4 cents makes on top of the 60 cent increase.

Essentially they get to buy at 2.4cents cheaper while BC ships and destinations pay.

I think the BC libs are really going to pay a price over their Tax as more people become aware of who gets the free ride and who shoulders the burden.