Carbon tax

[Topaz]

Since the Tories use the carbon tax issue against the NDP every time they stand up in the House to answer a question, I think we should have a debate on it here. Now, tell me where I'm wrong on this... carbon tax would tax the polluter and the money would go in the general revenue. The Con side says, then the polluter would raise tax on their product to the consumer. So, the way to correct this would be the tax would equal the tax the polluter would impose on the consumer. The end result should be less pollution. Right or wrong?

[Boges]

There are several threads about this already aren't they?

In 2008 Canadians overwhelmingly rejected the idea of a Carbon tax. It's a good strategy to try to label the NDP a party that would saddle the Canadian public with a carbon tax. Or Cap and Trade, whatever, they're not a whole lot different when you think about it.

[Wild Bill]

There are several threads about this already aren't they?

In 2008 Canadians overwhelmingly rejected the idea of a Carbon tax. It's a good strategy to try to label the NDP a party that would saddle the Canadian public with a carbon tax. Or Cap and Trade, whatever, they're not a whole lot different when you think about it.

What's more, these schemes always have clauses like those of the Kyoto Accord, where 3rd world countries and China, India and Russia will get carbon tax credits because "they have been exploited by those evil western countries". Then everybody trades carbon taxes and credits so that there is no need to actually DECREASE carbon emmissions!

It's all just another political game of " smoke and mirrors". Makes the ignorant feel all warm and fuzzy, transfers money from he 1st world to the 3rd world and never actually does what it was supposed to do in the first place!

[WIP]

There are several threads about this already aren't they?

In 2008 Canadians overwhelmingly rejected the idea of a Carbon tax. It's a good strategy to try to label the NDP a party that would saddle the Canadian public with a carbon tax. Or Cap and Trade, whatever, they're not a whole lot different when you think about it.

Harper also claimed to support cap and trade four years ago.....or is that okay because everyone...friend and foe knew a Harper Government represents oil before all else!

The fact that Jack Layton used this issue as a political chit to attack the Liberals and propose a slightly different cap and trade scheme than Harper made me realize that all the major parties considered the environment just one more issue to play political games with. As soon as the election was over, and Stephan Dion was dumped by the Liberals for the saviour-of-the-day - Michael Ignatieff, the Libs never mentioned a carbon tax again! So, whatever Stephan Dion did or did not do in his political career, he goes down in my book on that very small list of politicians who planted their flag on principle, and refused to back off because of the backlash from the oil-sponsored lobbyists and supporters.

[Sleipnir]

Since the Tories use the carbon tax issue against the NDP every time they stand up in the House to answer a question, I think we should have a debate on it here. Now, tell me where I'm wrong on this... carbon tax would tax the polluter and the money would go in the general revenue. The Con side says, then the polluter would raise tax on their product to the consumer. So, the way to correct this would be the tax would equal the tax the polluter would impose on the consumer. The end result should be less pollution. Right or wrong?

Oh god I'm going to have a field day with this topic

Unfortunately I'm tight on time where I am atm - when I get home and start typing...be prepared!

[Boges]

Harper also claimed to support cap and trade four years ago.....or is that okay because everyone...friend and foe knew a Harper Government represents oil before all else!

The fact that Jack Layton used this issue as a political chit to attack the Liberals and propose a slightly different cap and trade scheme than Harper made me realize that all the major parties considered the environment just one more issue to play political games with. As soon as the election was over, and Stephan Dion was dumped by the Liberals for the saviour-of-the-day - Michael Ignatieff, the Libs never mentioned a carbon tax again! So, whatever Stephan Dion did or did not do in his political career, he goes down in my book on that very small list of politicians who planted their flag on principle, and refused to back off because of the backlash from the oil-sponsored lobbyists and supporters.

The reason Stephen Harper supported Cap and Trade was because it was thought that Barack Obama was going to introduce that system basically forcing Canada's hand. Obviously there's no political will in the US to introduce Cap and Trade at this point so there's no reason for Canada to introduce it. Why are people on the Left discussing issues the CPCs policies in 2008? First it was his debt removal strategy and now Cap and Trade. You know something significant happened in 2008 that put these policies in the back burner.

[Sleipnir]

In 2008 Canadians overwhelmingly rejected the idea of a Carbon tax.

Was there a referendum question in 2008 that I wasn't sure of?

The problem with the Conservatives using the carbon-tax line against the NDP...is that the NDP opposed the very same thing that the Conservatives are accusing them off.

Carbon tax and Cap-and-Trade follows two different processes, but ultimately put a price on pollution (something the Conservative currently opposes). I think the Conservatives are experimenting with the idea of carbon sequestration - a poor scheme in my opinion.

I see it as a hyper partisan blunder by the Conservatives to scream at the top of their lungs that the NDP will destroy the economy and the Canadian livelihood with the very idea that the NDP opposed - a carbon tax.

Edited October 26, 2012 by Sleipnir