BC Needs a Carbon Tax!

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Basic Info

Type:
Common Interest - Politics
Description:
The carbon tax announced in February 2008's budget was truly remarkable: it covers all fossil fuels, it contains a clear schedule of future increases, there are GST style rebates for low income families, and revenue neutrality is laid out in a clear and transparent fashion.

This was a true leadership move by BC in the fight against climate change and this province is now at the forefront of environmental price reform in North America.

There is a continuing need for public support on this measure, and we want to ensure that a broad audience finds this site a useful portal for information and action in support of the tax.

Please keep our CODE OF CONDUCT in mind as you make use of this site.

1. Please do not engage in personal attacks, or the use of rude or abusive remarks in order to make your point.
2. Please consider taking extended debates private so that others can make their points heard.
3. This group is based on the assumption that climate change is happening and is caused by human activity. If you don't agree, please find another venue to express your concerns directly.

Contact Info

Email:
Website:
http://www.vtacc.org
Office:
Voters Taking Action on Climate Change

Recent News

This measure still needs a show of public support!

There is an ongoing backlash, as well as misrepresentation -- intentional or otherwise -- of what these changes mean, so please consider registering your support with the major newspapers:

* letters@tc.canwest.com
* letters@globeandmail.com
* sunletters@png.canwest.com
* provletters@png.canwest.com

Please also write to your local newspaper to express your support for the measure. British Columbians need to hear directly from people they know and respect that the carbon tax is a good idea.

The NDP opposition has also been highly critical of the carbon tax. Please take a minute to let the opposition leader and finance critic know you support this tax shift, and ask them to be specific and factually correct in their criticisms of the carbon tax so that we can all work to improve it to best serve the needs of all British Columbians.

* carole.james.mla@leg.bc.ca (NDP leader)
* bruce.ralston.mla@leg.bc.ca (finance critic)

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Discussion Board

Displaying 3 of 42 discussion topicsSee All

An alternative to carbon tax

28 posts by 10 people. Updated on May 27, 2009 at 11:20pm

Fact instead of Propaganda

7 posts by 3 people. Updated on May 8, 2009 at 12:47am

Support the Canada Needs a Carbon Tax Facebook Group Too!

1 post by 1 person. Updated on July 4, 2008 at 4:21pm

The Wall

Displaying 5 of 407 wall posts.See All

J.D. wrote at 3:08pm on June 30th, 2009
Twitter: Pedal4thePlanet
Jurgen wrote at 8:05pm on May 18th, 2009
I think "no". There are a lot of things this government hasn't done well when it comes to the environment. But at least it's taken a very important stand on the carbon tax. That's in sharp contrast to pretty much all governments everywhere else that have focussed on talk and "objectives" instead of on implementation. The carbon tax is great, but alas, it's too small to really make much of a dent compared to everything else that's going on in this province. From estimates I've seen on the cost of climate change, it needs to be about 10x larger. But who knows... maybe over the next 4 years, we'll see it cranked up a bit.
Gregorio wrote at 10:15pm on May 14th, 2009
So the Liberals are back in for another four years. The good news is the carbon tax is here to stay. The bad news the Liberals will be putting B.C. deep in debt courtesy of the Olympics, allowing wild salmon to get wiped out, and probably BC Hydro as well.

We all agree the carbon tax is a good thing - well, most of us do. But what about the provincial government? Are they good for B.C.? Will cuts to B.C.'s carbon emissions actually be achieved under this government?
Jurgen wrote at 12:28am on May 8th, 2009
2. You say that the market fluctuations of the price of gas have done more than the carbon tax has. Yes, I think we all agree. The market fluctuations have an effect: when gas prices rise, people change their behaviour. The carbon tax adds to that (though not much, presently, since it is so small).

Now consider the cost that market rises in gas prices had. It was a very large transfer of wealth from BC to Saudi Albertia. BC consumers lost a lot of money. And oilsand investors lost a lot of money when the price dropped again... all those machines now working at or below break-even.

Compare that to the carbon tax. It raises the price of gas BUT the money comes back to you.

You speak of not wanting to waste your hard-earned dollars, and I sympathize. But are you actually losing out with the carbon tax? You got $100 plus you got an income tax cut. How much more have you spent on that 2.4c/L on gas?
Jurgen wrote at 12:21am on May 8th, 2009
Craig: a couple of things:

1. Your heroin example: it would be a complete analogy if we were talking about taxes paid on heroin. Junkies would find their heroin bills climbing, and other people would be getting the heroin tax dollars they pay. More expensive heroin means it becomes less fun to be a junkie (not that it's a lot of fun in general to begin wth). Simply that price increase will reduce heroin consumption. Building rehab centers also helps, but that means raising taxes on people who don't use heroin, and so is [sadly] met with objection.

Links

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BC Needs a Carbon Tax!

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