EDITORIAL: The carbon tax — a stubborn affair
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The federal carbon is a contentious affair. There are at least four provinces that don’t support it. Public opinion is sharply divided with many Canadians strongly opposed to it. And the Saskatchewan Court of Appeal is currently ruling on whether or not Prime Minister Justin Trudeau even has the legal authority to impose this tax on unwilling provinces.
You’d think with all of this drama, the Liberal government would step away from this much maligned process or at least pause it.
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EDITORIAL: The carbon tax — a stubborn affair Back to video
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Nope. Not Trudeau. He’s doubling down.
On Monday, Canadians in Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and New Brunswick will wake up to find the price of gas increased by about 10 cents per litre. And that’s just the most immediate and visible price hike. The cost of just about every consumer good will rise as manufacturers include the carbon tax in their products and services.
Life is about to become much more expensive.
A report from Alberta economics professor Jennifer Winter that was presented to the Senate last year used Statistics Canada data to figure out the average hit against people’s wallets per household.
Nova Scotians and Albertans will pay the highest ($1,120 and $1,111 respectively) while Ontarians are at the lower end at $707. Regardless, Canadians shouldn’t have to shell out hundreds of dollars for an unpopular tax we don’t need.
The government has tried to sell Canadians on the notion that the tax will make many households better off. Canadians will later receive a refund for the tax and the government claims some people will get more than they shell out.
This will be almost impossible to prove though. The rebates will be based on income. It’s not like Canadians will be asked to keep their receipts and then government bean counters figure out how much they contributed, then give it back.
Everyone could end up paying more and there would be no way to prove it. We just have to trust Trudeau and take him at his word. There is good reason to be cynical about that.
The Liberals have been needlessly stubborn with the carbon tax, forcing it down people’s throats.
There are far less contentious ways to be responsible stewards for the environment that they should be employing instead.
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