Evil carbon tax in BC is coming
Carole Taylor:
Carbon tax will start July 1, 2008 at a rate of $10 per tonne of associated carbon, or carbon‑equivalent, emissions. That works out to about 2.4 cents a litre at the gas pump and 2.8 cents a litre for diesel and home heating oil. Leading economists and scientists agree: Seeing that cost, and making it real, will give us new incentives to change the habits that created global warming in the first place.
Kevin:
Let me get this clear. Today we pay say, $1.20 per litre, and with the tax it will be $1.224 per litre? Am I correct?
Carole Taylor:
Yes, for every litre of gas an additional 2.4 cents will be charged as the carbon tax.
Kevin:
And why do you think this is the right thing to do?
Carole Taylor:
Because we have to act on the environment. The green house gases …
Kevin:
Yes, yes, that I understand. What I am struggling to get is those two numbers. Why do you think price $1.20 does not work as incentives to change people’s habits, but $1.22 does? Do you have any scientific study proving that idea?
Carole Taylor:
Of course, not. It is not about the exact price people paying at the gas stations. We believe that the carbon tax will be an additional reason for people to start thinking green. And do not forget, the carbon tax is absolutely revenue neutral, so all the money will go back to the people and the corporations.
Kevin:
Does that mean I can request back those 2.4 cents per litre right at the gas station?
Carole Taylor:
No, Kevin, it does not work this way. It means every dollar raised will be returned to the people of B.C. in the form of lower taxes. The general corporate income tax rate will be reduced from 12 per cent to 11 per cent and, over the next three years, we expect it to fall to 10 per cent — on par with the lowest corporate tax rates in the country. That puts B.C. on track, by 2012, for a total combined corporate tax rate — the federal plus the B.C. rate — of 25 per cent… the lowest among the world’s major industrialized economies, and 10 points lower than the U.S. federal rate.
Kevin:
Right, lower taxes. That’s what I wanted to ask you about. Firstly, introducing new tax to cover reduction in existing one is not lowering taxes at all. Secondly, 25 per cent corporate tax will place Canada into the 21st position in the world. In order to be in the first ten we need to reduce it to at least 17%. So can we really reduce taxes to 17% and can we do it now, not in ten years?
Carole Taylor:
17% combined? I do not think so. In order to get there we would have to set the carbon tax in the range of $30-$50 per tonne or even more.
Kevin:
Minister, you don’t get the concept of tax reduction right. Tax reduction means less taxes, not less some taxes but more other taxes. Do we have any chance here?
Carole Taylor:
I don’t know, Kevin… theoretically… if we increase the GST…
March 14th, 2008 at 9:11 am
WoW, is this the actual interview? How dumb could the minister be???
Poor us… we need to learn from the French!
March 14th, 2008 at 9:13 am
This tax is radiculous! First of all how many elecric cars or other “green technologies” car we have - name it- just few. And don’t forget who killed electic car - not regular people but large corporates. And now they blame us for using gasoline or diesel cars?
“Think green” means to push industrial corporations to clear their system. Pollutions from cars is less then 1 % of all pollution.
Don’t be greedy and think realy “green”!
Thanks.
Alex
March 14th, 2008 at 10:19 am
This is totally outrages! What is the government is this? Let’s stop driving all, and what alternative would we have? This will directly impact to low-budget living people already surviving between taxes and ‘payments’.
Let’s face it: the ‘Greenhouse Effect’ problem is no more than new ‘Environmental Bubble’ for leaders wanting to squeeze more money for fixing holes in poorly developed budgets. Does anybody remember ‘Ozone Hole’ problem? It disappeared somehow by itself when it became obviously that there nothing relative between ozone layer of the planet and all freon chemicals of the world. Now it screams again on every corner: save the planet! save the planet! While even between scientists there is no single opinion why do we have global warming, is it anthropogenic problem or (most likely) natural causes?
But it is so convenient to find a new enemy of the civilized world - global warming’, and fighting it from our pockets.
I just put it simple: BC government needs money badly before Olympic Games in Vancouver, we need new highways and bridges, we have huge and terribly expensive Gateway program. Why don’t they call things by their real names? Why do not come up to people with the problem and ask us for help? No, they hypocritical call it local ‘global warming’. Sure, it’s easier than face the drugs and crime problems that actually real growing monster here. It’s a lot easier than stop the housing bubble.
Of course there are huge environmental problems in China and Eastern Europe but it hardly can be solve by new BC gas tax policy. It’s hard to believe that politicians can be so incompetent and unprofessional!
Bo-o-o-o-o… too bad…
June 29th, 2008 at 6:10 am
Great article… and don’t forget the benefits that planting a tree will have on the environment. Each one will soak up 20kgs of CO2 every year and put enough Oxygen back in the atmosphere to support 2 people.
October 2nd, 2008 at 2:55 pm
to be truly surprised and pleased:) Do not be believed, that even this happens:)
November 5th, 2008 at 8:45 pm
Hmm … even this happens.