Earth Equity News

British Columbia Premier Confronts Carbon Tax Backlash. CTV, July 6, 2008. "One week into B.C.'s contentious carbon tax plan, Premier Gordon Campbell said he's willing to pay a political price at the polls to lower the province's future greenhouse gas output... Campbell says that over his five-year plan, three million tonnes of carbon will be taken out of B.C.'s environment, the equivalent of taking 750,000 cars off the road. He named a number of environmental problems that are already hitting British Columbians in the pocketbook, such as flooding, the pine beetle infestation and drinking water problems. Still, Campbell promotes his carbon tax plan not only as revenue neutral, but as beneficial to B.C's economy. He has promised that B.C. residents will actually have more money in their pockets at the end of the year because of new income tax cuts. He also says the economy will be more competitive and productive because of business tax cuts. B.C. became the first province to implement a carbon tax July 1. The new tax cuts went into effect the same day. Liberal Leader Stephane Dion has pinned his prime ministerial hopes on the back of his party's carbon tax plan with the introduction of his 'Green Shift' plan. Campbell said Dion and himself have spoken of their respective tax plans, and that B.C. would not be double-taxed under the federal Liberal plan."