Jack Layton: Carbon tax would hurt the poor

Suzuki dumbfounded by Layton's environmental position












NDP leader Jack Layton was at a fundraiser for an Ottawa homeless shelter yesterday where he made a few interesting comments about poverty and how carbon taxes would be harmful to the poor:

"Those advocating a carbon tax suggest that by making the cost of certain things more expensive people will make different choices, but Canada is a cold place and heating your home really isn't a choice," Mr. Layton said. "We shouldn't punish people, and that's what a carbon tax does."

[Layton's] remarks yesterday were preceded by a wake of left-wing discontent where environmentalist David Suzuki told CTV's Question Period this past Sunday that he was "shocked" by the NDP's opposition to the possible implementation of a carbon tax:

"I thought that they had a very progressive environmental outlook," Mr. Suzuki said. "To oppose [the carbon tax plan], it's just nonsense. It's certainly the way we've got to go."

The way we've got to go? Well, it would seem that only Stephane Dion (and a few other environmental alarmist) would like to see this tax rammed through parliament and become reality. Not exactly an overwhelming majority in the house, is it Mr. Suzuki? But wait.

With all that being said, it would still seem that one individual , or party, on the home front here is mulling over whether or not to implement a similar regressive "carbon tax" at the provincial level.

And with global economic uncertainty at an all-time high and provincial income taxes through the roof, just why does our finance minister believe this is a good time to sneak in a permanent new tax on gas, electricity and everything else that NBers buy. And to think, I thought they were supposed to be looking into ways to make our tax system more competitive? Clearly, if Dion and Boudreau get their way, it will mean that NBers will be "double taxed" on fuel and electricity consumption. How's that for competitive? Sucks pretty bad, huh TJ?

I guess your party has absolutely no regard for middle to lower income earners who will not only be gouged by such a tax, but in some cases, be without electricity or heat in the dead of winter.

Not to mention, as in BC and with Elizabeth May, with a carbon tax always comes the promise of it being revenue neutral. We all know that, in the end, this never ends up being the case.

Update: No mention of the 12 cents per litre tax on gasoline which her proposal would include (see the above link), however, Ms. May did continue to tout the carbon tax on CTV's Question Period as "revenue neutral, or as she calls it now, a "tax shift". See 1 minute mark here.

Related: Carbon taxes have little impact on environment: think tank, Suzuki slams NDP, Tories, backs Dion's carbon tax, Harper slams Liberal carbon tax as foolish, Disloyal Grits hurt their own chances, MP warns, Screwing up Canada #2, Suzuki shocked by Layton.