Following up yesterdays post on the video of Michael Adam's remarks at the "Decoding Carbon Pricing" a global warming conference in Vancouver, the Environics poll he referenced is posted. It is part of their "Canadian Environmental Barometer" that they do monthly.
B.C. already has a carbon tax and Alberta has a de facto carbon tax of $15/tonne on heavy emitters but it is intensity based which does not reduce carbon in absolute terms. The Harper Conservatives have recently come forward and are suggesting a Cap and Trade model response to carbon emissions. I personally prefer a tax for reasons I will explore in subsequent posts.
Here is what the Environics poll found about attitudes towards a carbon tax. First B.C. residents initially and pre-recession, were supportive of a carbon tax with 54% Strongly or somewhat support for the tax. That combined support dropped to 40% in July 2008 as the recession was upon us, even though Harper was denying the fact. In May 2009 the B.C. combine support is back to 48% for this example of Premier Campbell leadership on climate change.
The support for a carbon tax in the rest of Canada is approaching 50% as of May 2009. The more interesting poll results are from Alberta and Saskatchewan, the home of oil sands a.k.a. "dirty oil" where support for a carbon tax is growing. In Alberta the Feb 08 combined support was 38% and 57% opposed. By July 08 support had fallen to 27% with opposition growing to 69%. Now the Alberta numbers are 44% in support with 53% opposed. The remarkable jump in Alberta support is 17% in less than a year and the recession is not over yet.
Saskatchewan has gone from an early supprrt of 42%, dropping to 29% and rebounding to 42% now.
I can do no better than Environics VP Keith Neuman who is quoted as saying "this latest survey demonstrates that it is premature to 'write off' carbon taxes as a failed climate change policy in Canada."
Harper is touting Cap and Trade in anticipation of a pending election - my betting in is a Nov 9/09 election BTW. I wonder if Harper is picking the right option for fighting climate change given this shift in sentiment about a carbon tax alternative. Keith Newman again: "Taxes of any kind will never be vote-winners, but the outcome of the recent B.B. provincial election validates Premier Gordon Campbell's decision to stick with a tax-based approach to fighting climate change in the face of serious opposition."
Will any federal party, other than the Greens, will have the courage and character to advocate for a carbon tax as policy in the next federal election? I wonder if this poll result will at least get the parties re-thinking their positions.
I am not sire Cap and Trade really has much to do with the environment but more so as a new investment trading scheme. I would prefer a tax where there might be some hope that a governement would put it to some good social use.
ReplyDeleteWill the Green Party's persistance in a carbon tax be viewed as the most consistent (therefore honest) response by Canadians? Will the Liberal's backing away from a carbon tax for political gain... and the Conservatives new embrace of some scheme (any scheme) look like more political shenanigans?
ReplyDeleteWith the USA moving so quickly towards more sustainable energy, and Canadaa playing catch-up, perhaps the Green Party will be seen as the only party with environmental integrity.
Stephane Dion's green shift lost. Time to move on.
ReplyDeleteIf the US Senate comes to it's senses and kills the US Cap and Tax Bill, I'm sure Harper will quickly back away from the Carbon Market scheme. It looks like New Zealand and possibly Australia are killing their similar bills, and hopefully Canadians will listen to these leaders and find the courage to do the same thing here. Wise up folks. It's all just a scam foisted upon us by Gore, Suzuki, and Progressives who wish to destroy our economies.
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