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Parties offer different tacks on greenhouse gas emissions |
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Written by GORDON HOEKSTRA
Citizen staff
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Monday, 06 October 2008 |
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LIBERALSFORT NELSONCONSERVATIVESWALL STREETNEW DEMOCRATSNORTH CENTRAL MUNICIPAL ASSOCIATION
The Liberal and Green parties are advocating a carbon tax, with a concurrent reduction in income taxes, while the New Democrats and Conservatives have put the emphasis on reducing industrial pollution, the New Democrats in a more aggressive manner than the Conservatives.
The Conservatives have called for reducing emissions by 20 per cent by the year 2020.
Prince George-Peace River Conservative Jay Hill makes no apologies for his party's approach, saying to go faster would cripple the economy, particularly at a time when the economy is uncertain. The region has been reeling from a downturn in the forest sector, led by a collapse in U.S. housing. The downturn has been exacerbated by a U.S. mortgage crisis and the financial fallout on Wall Street.
The northeastern corner of the province that encompasses Prince George-Peace River has seen mill closures in Mackenzie, Chetwynd and Fort Nelson, putting more than 1,700 workers off the job. The oil and gas sector, on the other hand, remains robust in northeastern B.C.
Hill singled out the NDP's push to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40 per cent by 2020 (actually the NDP has a mid-term goal of a 25 per cent reduction by 2020), and also their pledge to put a halt to Alberta oil sands development. There's a half a million high-paying union jobs in the oil sands alone, noted Hill.
He also stressed that until the other major industrial emitters in the world are on side, Canada cannot put its industries and economy at a huge disadvantage.
He dismissed the idea of a carbon tax as untenable in central and northern B.C., pointing out that people drive pickups out of necessity in the region.
British Columbia already has a carbon tax, and there has been resistance to it, particularly in the North. The North Central Municipal Association endorsed a resolution last May calling on the province to give the region a break from the tax.
NDP candidate Betty Bekkering also says there is no need to introduce a carbon tax.
"We think people's lives are unaffordable as it is," she said. "We don't want to add another burden on to the citizens."
Given that industry is responsible for 50 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions in Canada, that 's the place to start, she said.
The NDP plan calls for an 80-per-cent greenhouse gas emission reduction by 2050, instituting rewards for big polluters that reduce emissions and punishes those who don't.
The New Democrats have also promised to create a $600-million industry innovation fund to help businesses reduce energy use. The NDP says that a crucial part of reducing pollution and fighting global warming must be substantial new investments in renewable energy.
The Liberals' green shift plan also sets targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions: 20 per cent by 2020 (growing to 25 per cent if other countries make comparable efforts), 40 per cent by 2035 and 60 to 80 per cent by 2050.
The Liberals' plan also calls for immediately putting in place a price on carbon that rise to $40 per tonne within four years. The party said the price will start low enough not to cause economic hardship, but will progressively increase over time to send industry a clear message that the old ways of polluting no longer make sense.
The green shift plan calls for offsetting these taxes with reductions in income taxes.
Prince George-Peace River Liberal candidate Lindsay Gidney said he's been getting resistance about the carbon tax idea from voters. He said while there's no doubt the carbon footprint has to be reduced, he said a common sense approach is needed that will protect jobs as well.
The Green Party's plan calls for a carbon tax, and limits on major industrial emitters. The Green Party also plans to offset the carbon tax with reductions in income tax and payroll taxes.
The party has set a target of reducing green house gas emissions by 20 per cent by 2020 and by 80 per cent by 2050.
"The reason for the carbon tax is so people who continue to use vehicles and toxic chemicals like herbicides, pesticides -- everything that causes emissions -- they are likely to reduce their use of that," said Prince George-Peace River Green Party candidate Hilary Crowley.
As for the impact on northern residents, Crowley said people can buy smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicles and move towards the use of electric vehicles.
She said it is much better to act now, than pay a steeper price in the future.
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Last Updated ( Monday, 06 October 2008 )
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