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While there are many in our community and across Canada who will applaud the call from conservative premiers and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre to cancel the “carbon tax” (as they call it), there is little doubt that those calling the loudest are motivated, not by a concern about climate change, but by seeing opposition to the carbon pricing program as a political wedge issue at this time.
In short, they’re busy playing politics with the future of our world and the world of our children.
A recent message from the David Suzuki Foundation points out that “the governor of the Bank of Canada estimates that (carbon pricing) adds about 0.15 per cent each year to inflation.” In spite of this, those opposed to the carbon tax (hello, big oil and supporters) are calling for cancellation of the program on heating oil and natural gas for affordability reasons — conveniently forgetting that oil and natural gas are prime sources of the emissions that are responsible for the changes in our climate, changes bringing catastrophic damages to places around the world along with the huge costs of these weather-related events.
Meanwhile, all Canadians are receiving a four-times-a-year dividend payment from the carbon pricing program. Also meanwhile, Canada’s oil companies are recording record profits as war pushes the price of oil and gas higher around the world. (Yet another reason to be ending their use?) Shouldn’t we be asking these very oil companies to use some of their profits to reduce emissions? Some voices are suggesting that Canada should be taxing these ‘windfall profits’ and using the revenue to move more quickly to cut fossil-fuel use in our country.
Meanwhile, the Suzuki Foundation also notes the following: “A national carbon-pricing system is a cornerstone of Canada’s climate policy. It will account for up to one-third of the emissions reductions projected by 2030, according to the federal government. Economists say it’s one of the most effective ways to reduce emissions. While it’s been poorly communicated, most households in provinces under the federal policy, and especially those that struggle the most with affordability, are better off thanks to quarterly rebates.” (Bold lettering mine.)
And those conservative ‘leaders’ calling the loudest? Where are their plans to reduce carbon emissions? Where are their calls for action to tackle the causes and consequences of increasing heat in our atmosphere?
What’s the message? Save a few dollars now — and to hell with the future of the planet?
Recent reports now show the world likely will not hold the temperature increase to the 2015 Paris Agreement’s 1.5 degrees above the pre-industrial average; instead, we now will have difficulty meeting a two-degree cap. More aggressive action is called for from governments everywhere. And against this background we hear loud cries for less action from many of Canada’s so-called ‘leaders.’
Surely, we should expect better from our leaders as the consequences of climate change grow ever clearer — and more damaging. Is it any wonder our children are growing increasingly anxious about their futures in the face of such cowardice from the representatives of their elders?
Fred Larsen
Oro-Medonte
