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John Turley-Ewart: Is Liberal MP Mark Holland a secret Tory agent?
Posted: May 02, 2008, by John Turley-Ewart
National Post
Whose interests Mr. Holland serves is a question many in Liberal ranks must be asking themselves this morning after the Liberal MP made it known that Stéphane Dion "will be championing a bold idea — tax shifting — that will encourage industry and individuals to make green choices." This "bold idea" essentially means Mr. Dion wants to make buying fuel more expensive than it already is by imposing even more taxes on it. Now there is a campaign issue for the Liberals that would make Stephen Harper and the Conservatives a bunch of happy campers – especially if its is modeled after the BC carbon tax plan that will take effect this July.
In B.C., consumers will see a new tax applied to gas, diesel, home heating fuel, coal, propane and natural gas. The tax will be applied gradually until 2012 and will see 2.7 cents tacked onto a litre of home heating oil this year. By 2012 that amount will reach 8.2 cents. For drivers, which comprises the majority of workers in this country, they will see a new gas tax of 2.4 cents per litre this year that will grow to 7.24 cents by 2012.
B.C.'s government is looking at an additional $1.8-billion for its coffers, money it says will be given back to the good people of that province in the form of cash and tax credits. But those who will benefit will be DINKS (dual income, no kids) living in condos who walk or talk public transit to work. Those who will subsidize their lifestyle with an increased cost of living will be suburban families dependent on cars to get them to and from work, daycare, school and the shopping mall.
Keep in mind as well that Canadians already pay outrageous amounts of tax on fuel at the pumps, imposed by both provinces and Ottawa. In Ontario, for example, only 47% of the provincial tax will find its way into road improvements that reduce congestion. For a breakdown of just how much tax is imposed by both the federal and provincial governments on a litre of fuel, read this.
To apply the B.C. carbon tax model across Canada, as Mr. Holland says his leader may be considering, would give the growing suburban belts around urban areas in Ontario and Quebec one more reason to vote for Mr. Harper's Conservatives who have built their brand on being family friendly. And it is those suburban belts that Mr. Harper, especially in central Canada, needs to make a breakthrough in order to win a majority government.
Mr. Dion running on a platform that would make life more costly for people in suburbs is a dream the Conservatives would love to realize.
Mr. Holland — who you will recall is the fellow who suggested the Liberals would take control of Alberta's oil sands and cut production if elected — undoubtedly presents himself as an eager Liberal MP. But he has a knack for jumping up at just the right time and embarrassing the Liberals.
The Conservatives could hardly ask for a better friend.
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He did win the Liberal leadership on his environment platform, so this should be no surprise. If he's going down, then so be it on a carbon tax proposal.
Are Canadians willing to pay a carbon tax, like the B.C. proposal?
Posted: May 02, 2008, by John Turley-Ewart
National Post
Whose interests Mr. Holland serves is a question many in Liberal ranks must be asking themselves this morning after the Liberal MP made it known that Stéphane Dion "will be championing a bold idea — tax shifting — that will encourage industry and individuals to make green choices." This "bold idea" essentially means Mr. Dion wants to make buying fuel more expensive than it already is by imposing even more taxes on it. Now there is a campaign issue for the Liberals that would make Stephen Harper and the Conservatives a bunch of happy campers – especially if its is modeled after the BC carbon tax plan that will take effect this July.
In B.C., consumers will see a new tax applied to gas, diesel, home heating fuel, coal, propane and natural gas. The tax will be applied gradually until 2012 and will see 2.7 cents tacked onto a litre of home heating oil this year. By 2012 that amount will reach 8.2 cents. For drivers, which comprises the majority of workers in this country, they will see a new gas tax of 2.4 cents per litre this year that will grow to 7.24 cents by 2012.
B.C.'s government is looking at an additional $1.8-billion for its coffers, money it says will be given back to the good people of that province in the form of cash and tax credits. But those who will benefit will be DINKS (dual income, no kids) living in condos who walk or talk public transit to work. Those who will subsidize their lifestyle with an increased cost of living will be suburban families dependent on cars to get them to and from work, daycare, school and the shopping mall.
Keep in mind as well that Canadians already pay outrageous amounts of tax on fuel at the pumps, imposed by both provinces and Ottawa. In Ontario, for example, only 47% of the provincial tax will find its way into road improvements that reduce congestion. For a breakdown of just how much tax is imposed by both the federal and provincial governments on a litre of fuel, read this.
To apply the B.C. carbon tax model across Canada, as Mr. Holland says his leader may be considering, would give the growing suburban belts around urban areas in Ontario and Quebec one more reason to vote for Mr. Harper's Conservatives who have built their brand on being family friendly. And it is those suburban belts that Mr. Harper, especially in central Canada, needs to make a breakthrough in order to win a majority government.
Mr. Dion running on a platform that would make life more costly for people in suburbs is a dream the Conservatives would love to realize.
Mr. Holland — who you will recall is the fellow who suggested the Liberals would take control of Alberta's oil sands and cut production if elected — undoubtedly presents himself as an eager Liberal MP. But he has a knack for jumping up at just the right time and embarrassing the Liberals.
The Conservatives could hardly ask for a better friend.
-------------------
He did win the Liberal leadership on his environment platform, so this should be no surprise. If he's going down, then so be it on a carbon tax proposal.
Are Canadians willing to pay a carbon tax, like the B.C. proposal?