PETERS – How did the carbon tax become such a controversial policy?
(Image: CFJC Today)
IT’S BIZARRE to see how much of a political football the carbon tax has become when its introduction 15 years ago was relatively free of drama.
B.C. was the first jurisdiction in North America to introduce a broad-based carbon tax in 2008.
When former Kamloops mayor Terry Lake was promoted to the environment ministry by Premier Christy Clark in 2011, he championed the carbon tax, which applies to the fossil fuels that create 70 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions in the province.
The policy was revenue neutral, meaning in theory, every dollar that a person spent in carbon tax was returned in various other rebates and tax breaks.
The NDP were in opposition at the time and had been pressing the government to put a price on emissions, so they certainly raised no major complaint.
As the B.C. Liberals continued in government, the tax gradually rose.
James Peters is the radio anchor at CFJC, coming to Kamloops in 2006. He anchors the afternoon news on B-100 and 98.3 CIFM, and contributes weekly editorials to the CFJC Evening News. He tweets regularly @Jamloops.
ArmchairMayor.ca 
This severe fumble does have a chance to completely destroy the carbon tax regime. It has exposed that political considerations – pandering to votes – not virtuous pursuits to improve the planet, are what come first. If you care about emissions, this should bother you. If you care about the fair and equal treatment of yourself as a taxpayer, this should bother you. If you care about logic, this should bother you.
It’s really no surprise to anyone, but rarely do we see such a blatant play for votes at the expense of a signature platform.
Wouldn’t it be exquisite to witness the man child follow in his father’s footsteps in a poignant but utterly forgettable exit? February 29 is not that far off. Give it some thought, pal.
One can only hope.
In Kamloops, I’m Denny Law.
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What is completely missing is a serious and comprehensive discussion about energy (in its various forms) conservation. In case of motor vehicles we drive excessively large ones and way too often. And that puts an excessive toll on the environment via the manufacturing, the maintenance/use of the vehicles and the infrastructure supporting them. Maybe the carbon tax is going to be rescinded however its reason to be will not.
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