Carbon Tax will be the bane of the BC NDP in 2009

OK so the Liberals are evil, Gordon Campbell is a crappy premier, Kevin Falcon is the Transport Minister from HELL. However, the Liberals have to be at least patted on the back in some small way for bringing in their version of a Carbon Tax.

Is this Carbon Tax the best it can be ? NO Could the Liberals do it better ? YES. However, since this is the first of its kind in North America, who are we to complain about the why's and the wherefores ? Bring it on !

What could do be done much better is sell the tax to British Columbian's is to highlight the carbon tax's revenue neutral benefits, which are lets face it somewhat fuzzy in the legislation. The idea being that British Columbian's see the benefit of paying more tax on their carbon emitting devices, reduce their use and pay less tax. The Liberals are promising to give us all $100 as they rake in millions from the tax. British Columbia's tax payers need to know where the money is going.

Paying off the debt or paying off the 2010 Olympics is simply unacceptable. The point of the Carbon Tax is to change behaviour in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, if the revenue is spent on other things, then this is not a Carbon Tax at all.

Needless to say the BC NDP have totally dropped the ball on the Carbon Tax issue. Instead of dismissing the tax, the NDP should be taking leadership by suggesting amendments in order to garner support with the BC legislature. Once again, as with the Gateway Plan, we see Carole James and the NDP true colours and there is little or no green to be seen.

Carbon Taxes DO work when implemented correctly and the revenues are directed to reduce carbon emissions - hopefully the leaders of the Liberals and NDP will figure this out sooner or later.