Opinions War of Words This Week's Topic- The Carbon Tax Last week, Finance Minister Carole Taylor released British Columbia’s new budget for 2008-2009. Among other proposals, the Liberals used the opportunity to debut a new “carbon tax” that will soon be imposed on all gas purchases across the province. Environmentalists have long lobbied for such a tax to offset the costs that car-related pollution inflicts on the environment. But will this tax actually deliver what it promises? And is it worth it? A small price to pay for a green environment. Pro By Monica Carino Becinning July 1, British Columbia will begin charging a carbon tax on all fossil fuel purchases, amounting to a 2.4- cent tax increase per litre of gasoline. It was announced that as part of the new tax plan, carbon-based fuels—including gasoline, diesel, natural gas and home heating fuels—will be taxed at a rate of $10 per tonne of greenhouse gases generated. (Sigh of relief). Finally, the atmosphere will no longer be a carbon dump. Too many goods that take a heavy toll on the climate are produced without any charge for their associated carbon emissions, and this is one of the largest root causes of global warming. Unlike other forms of pollution, there have been no individual consequences for those Canadians who ruin the environment for everyone else. For instance, while most of us have to pay a fee to dump waste at our local municipal landfill, anyone can dump thousands of tonnes of carbon into the atmosphere absolutely free of charge. It is true that the carbon tax will be a new expense, but in our present economic situation of rising consumption and prices, the government has come up with a way to ease the burden. A $100 “Climate Action Dividend” with Premier Gordon Campbell’s signature, will soon be distributed to all British Columbians. This money will cover the additional gas costs for the next year. In other words, pricing our carbon emissions is not really the gigantic burden that whiny Hummer-lovers claim. The real burden is the imminent global warming that we’ll soon have to deal with because of all the carbon society collectively farts into the air; a very disturbing stinkbomb indeed. Furthermore, corporate and personal income tax rates are set to drop to help make the tax revenue neutral, and lower- income British Columbians will continue to receive an annual climate action credit of $100 per adult and $30 per child. The argument about the carbon tax can be divided into two simple sides; “No to the Carbon Tax because it takes money out of our pockets” versus “Yes to the Carbon Tax because it’s about time we treat nature as a responsibility, instead of a commodity.” Don’t get me wrong. Money is essential, and takes a lot of work to get. As a student, it often takes twice the effort. But unlike money, nature cannot heal itself as conveniently as a “nine to five” job can improve your bank account. The notion that the Earth has bothe renewable and non-renewable sources ought to be debunked: everything is non-renewable. With our current rate of carbon garbage and consumption, even the so called “renewable resources” cannot even renew fast enough to cope with the growing demands of the economy. The only way we will even live to see tomorrow is if we start adhering to sustainable development; starting to pay for our carbon emissions is an effective way to begin. With all this being said, is there any reason to be misers towards the rehabilitation of our environment? What we give nature is ultimately what we get back ourselves, and I strongly believe it’s time we started giving nature what she deserves. A useless tax for an over-taxed province Against By Laura Kelsey Te BC Liberals are attempting to chase the poor and middle class out of the province and make British Columbia an elite centre for the rich. Living in the Lower Mainland, residents already feel the frustration of a ridiculously expensive housing market and pricey car insurance; filling up at the pump is already bank-breaking— but it’s about to get a lot worse. On July 1, 2008, drivers will begin paying a carbon tax on all fossil fuels; this will add 2.4 cents to already skyrocketing gas prices—and the tax will go up in the next few years. But to offset this new cash grab, Finance Minister Carole Taylor promises cuts in income tax and money credits for residents, including a $100 cheque mailed out to all British Columbians this June. Fuel prices already include a lot of SS SSS SS 10 taxes and this additional tax may soon make driving completely unaffordable for many people. Already included in the price of gasoline is a national Excise Tax (in effect since 1995) and the ever- present GST, which add up to about 14.8 cents a litre. Then there’s the BC provincial tax of 14.5 cents. But on top of that, Vancouverites pay an extra 6 cents to cover a special “Transportation Tax” that only two other cities in Canada charge. But even Montreal and Victoria pay less, at 1.5 and 2.5 cents respectively. The amount of money the government is already taking from its residents is substantial; if the BC Liberals want a cut of gas profit to go to the environment, then they can cut it out of the current provincial tax instead. What the Liberals aren’t addressing is the trickle-down effect of the carbon tax; when gas goes up, so do goods and services. By 2012, the carbon tax will bloat to around 7.2 cents a litre. If the current high price of lettuce is the proverbial canary in the coalmine, then not only driving but imported food will soon be unaffordable as well. Although this may encourage people to switch to transit and the 100 Mile Diet, it will also starve others out of the province. Switching to transit wouldn’t be so bad if TransLink would improve their services to accommodate the Lower Mainland’s growing population, especially after the increase in fares this past January. Yet SkyTrain is still a claustrophobic’s nightmare during peak hours and does not accommodate late customers. Bus riders in the suburbs must still wait 30-60 minutes for most routes. But what about AirCare? Isn’t that inspection program supposed to be cutting back emissions? AirCare costs owners of older vehicles (1991 or later) $23 annually, while 1992 vehicles are tested every second year at a cost of $45 per session. The BC Liberals have to decide what they want: a tax of a test, because they can’t have both. BC’s Green Party, who should be be pleased with this initiative, doesn’t even agree with the new tax. Leader of the Green Party, Jane Sterk, claimed the carbon tax “has failed our majorindustries because it provides no incentives to truly innovate and adapt” and it still lacks focus on reducing emissions. The BC government wants to get its cake and eat it too, and on July 1 it will, when the carbon tax comes into effect. Meanwhile, Vancouver and the GVRD’s commuter woes are comparable to death from a thousand paper cuts; but the cuts are pennies and the death is bankruptcy.