Reason #2931 Canada is better than your country: We have MAGIC taxes.

[Kuciwalker]

MAGIC taxes

[Asher]

I've never been a fan of the conservative government but I may be out campaigning for them AND voting for them next election if Dion keeps with this plan.

[Ninot]

Federal Liberals

I hate Canadian Federal politics in general though.

[Asher]

Like seriously.

Conservative MP Jason Kenney said Dion's change of heart might be his "most spectacular flip flop to date."

The tax will mean higher fossil fuel costs for oil producers, higher electricity costs for manufacturers, and increased diesel costs for trucks transporting products, which will translate to higher prices for consumers, Kenney said.

DUH.

Christ, the conservative MPs look like geniuses in this mess.

The most frustrating bit of all is all of the left-leaning east-coast newspapers keep talking about DION IS CUTTING TAXES.

**** off, jesus.

[CrONoS]

Originally posted by Mr Snuggles
I've never been a fan of the conservative government but I may be out campaigning for them AND voting for them next election if Dion keeps with this plan.

[Ben Kenobi]

Libin is my old boss.

I should give him a call. Glad to see he picked up work with the national post.

[Asher]

And he quotes Atkins, my macroeconomics prof from school.

What a small world!

[notyoueither]

Coal, natural gas and oil dug out of Alberta, Saskatchewan and B.C. soil are, after all, just as vital to the productivity of Ontario factories and Quebec's truckers (nor will either be soothed by the insinuation in the "Green Shift" handbook that goods traded between Canada and its largest trading partner, the U.S., will "likely not" face tariffs under his plan, provided that the Americans are willing to impose comparable carbon taxes of their own).

Roh oh.

[Kuciwalker]

Uh, wouldn't that be a bit of a NAFTA issue?

[Asher]

http://www.thestar.com/News/Canada/article/446868

PM: Dion carbon tax will 'screw everybody'


Jun 20, 2008 02:45 PM
THE CANADIAN PRESS

SASKATOON–The prime minister had some uncharacteristically blunt words today for a carbon tax proposal by Stephane Dion’s Liberals, saying it would “screw” the country.

On a visit to Saskatchewan, where oil is helping to drive a booming economy, Stephen Harper suggested the plan would be worse than the old national energy program.

That program, brought in by the federal Liberals in the 1980s, is still criticized for draining money from the West — especially Alberta — and sending it to Central Canada.

“(The carbon tax plan) is like the national energy program in the sense that the national energy program was designed to screw the West and really damage the energy sector — and this will do those things,” Harper told a small crowd in Saskatoon.

“This is different in that this will actually screw everybody across the country.”

The Liberal plan would impose a carbon tax worth $15.4 billion a year — to be offset, the Liberals say, by an equivalent cut in income and business taxes and a boost in tax breaks for poor, elderly, northern and rural Canadians who stand to be hardest hit by the increased cost of necessities such as home heating fuel, electricity, food and travel.

It would initially peg the price of greenhouse gas emissions at $10 per tonne, rising to $40 per tonne in the fourth year.

The policy is not only bad for Western Canada, but “will recklessly harm the economy and the economic position of every Canadian family,” Harper said.

Standing next to Harper, Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall said the carbon tax could hurt the province’s economic development. Wall suggested such a plan could potentially force Saskatchewan back to ``have-not” status once again.

“We’re going to see wealth and opportunity and growth transferred under this kind of a fiscal tool from our province to elsewhere,” Wall said. “We will see the effective knee-capping of our economy.

“It’s important for us to stand up and say look, this is going to come at a great cost to a part of the national economy that’s working right now and working very well.”

[Victor Galis]

Originally posted by Mr Snuggles
It is starting...

I love how that article mentions Quebec hydro, but neglects to mention BC, Manitoba, and Newfoundland also generate their electricity mainly through hydro.

[Asher]

Originally posted by Victor Galis


I love how that article mentions Quebec hydro, but neglects to mention BC, Manitoba, and Newfoundland also generate their electricity mainly through hydro.

Why does that matter at all?

First of all, the scale is tremendous -- Quebec is far more of a hydro-producer than the other provinces.

Second of all, it has nothing to do with anything...

It's all nice for Quebec politicians to wonder why other places need to use fossil fuels for electricity, but the reality is hydro isn't possible in Alberta. This law would massively increase electricity bills in Alberta and actually lower overall costs in Quebec.

Are you making the claim that Manitoba and Newfoundland are in Western Canada?

It is true that BC has hydro and is in Western Canada, but that is the exception.

[Ben Kenobi]

33,000 MW--- QUEBEC

54,000 MW--- BC

127,000 MW---ONTARIO

BC >>> Quebec.

but the reality is hydro isn't possible in Alberta

You've got a 100 MW project on the go for Dunvegan. There's no reason why AB can't generate more hydro then Saskatchewan.

Pound for pound, BC is the biggest beneficiary.

[Arrian]

Is it windy out there in Alberta?

-Arrian

[Ben Kenobi]

Not as much as Hydro. Wind kinda sucks.

Only 500 MW of Wind.