Tuesday, September 16, 2008

The full (carbon) monty, courtesy the Green Party

Following up on my post yesterday on the issue, I noticed that Senator Elaine McCoy of Alberta (who I had the pleasure of meeting last weekend, and who presently sits as a Progressive Conservative) has now posted on the subject of charging pollution sources more and lowering income taxes. My previous commentary linked only to an executive summary, here is the full report from the Green Party website about carbon tax cost that Harper was and is so determined to bury (but was available through a FOIA request).

One may think based on what the media says that all Conservatives oppose a carbon tax. Not necessarily. It's easy to forget that Joe Clark had the right idea back in 1979 when he tried to raise the gas tax 3.5 cents per litre. That was an early form of a carbon tax and was designed deliberately to encourage energy efficiency in an era when the price of gas was around 29 cents (yes I remember that!). People revolted, Clark's government fell.

In those days, unfortunately, many people didn't think about the fact we couldn't keep drilling forever. After all Hibernia had just been discovered as well and there was hope other bonanzas were looming too. In the era of peak oil, however, I think most of us have gotten it. To prove the point, just look at Hummer -- which GM is officially putting up for sale in the next few weeks.

It's time for Harper to admit he knew the truth all along: That the future is encouraging more efficient consumption and creating the technologies that will make Canada a huge player in the world in the future. Harper can keep burying his head in the sand like many on the hard right do, or he can watch idly by as yet another ice shelf breaks off Ellesmere or Baffin Islands.

Harper is not a leader.

(Sidebar: Ms McCoy is one of only three left in the Senate that are Progressive Conservatives -- the others are both from Ontario: Lowell Murray and Norman Atkins. Three of the sanest voices left in the Senate. That tells you something about the huge gap left when the right was allegedly "united.")

Vote for this post at Progressive Conservative.

3 comments:

penlan said...

It was a Black Day for Canadians when Mackay sold out the PC to the Reform/Alliance. And sold out is the truth - after putting his signature to a piece of paper stating he would not form any alliances or break up the PC's he did the complete opposite, as we all know.

That was the beginning of the complete "breaking of promises" in the newly formed CPoC that continue to this day. We should have been warned/known at exactly that point.

Having parties that work "together" in Parliament is key to a more balanced Canada with fair policies for the country & it's citizens. The last 2 1/2 yrs. have been a nightmare with the iron-fisted, freakish Harper control & I never thought I would want to see the old PC Party still with us. I do now.

Good post Robert - thanks for the reminder that there are still 3 old PC'ers still around.

BlastFurnace said...

Thanks for your comment, Penlan. If I had to be pinned down on what I am, I'd have to say I'm more of a "Blue Liberal" than a Red Tory.

But the loss of the PCs left a huge gap in the national dialogue. I regret this very much not just because there was a nice ring to the phrase "progressive conservative" but it actually meant something. Promoting the best interests of business while also looking after the least of us is not a contradiction -- it should not be.

penlan said...

You are absolutely right Robert.

Dialogue is now non-existent. Harper's totalitarian way of governing, even within his own Party, is scary. It's megomaniacal & is extremely dangerous for our rights & freedoms - across the board. With him there is really only one acceptable "class" in our society. The wealthy & big oil & big business, with the occasional nod given to the so-called middle class & this only, really, during election campaigning time.

I have always considered myself an independent, going for what I think is best for this country regardless of political affiliation.

I support the Liberals fully, at this time, as they do have the best policies/platforms, are open to making changes where needed to benefit the populace, will listen to other parties ideas, & I really like Dion. He IS a man of integrity & honesty, as far as I can tell.