Dear Editor,
I am amazed and shocked (and not only me) how much distortion of facts, half truths and outright lies about the Alberta’s NDP policies and actions we are bombarded with weekly in the province’s newspapers.
Every vocal right wing politician, from local MLA Ron Orr, to Wildrose leader Brian Jean, Jason Kenny, MP Blaine Calkins, or right-wing writers such as Lome Gunter or Stu Salkeld have condemned the NDP implementing the carbon tax next January: “It is the wrong time in such poor economic times, more taxes for Albertans who are struggling,”etc.
The fact, however, is Rachel Notley doesn’t have a choice, as the federal environment minister and our Prime Minister have stated many times: if the provinces don’t implement the carbon tax it will be legislated federally. They signed the Paris climate change agreements, there will be no going back on that. The provinces have some choice on how they like to do it, but not if they are going to put a carbon levy in place.
It is always a good idea to do your own research, in this case the Alberta government site www.alberta.ca/climate-carbon-pricing.aspx is an excellent source to find the truth and facts. Just one important point; those who have a net family income (two children) of $101,500 or less, or $100,000 or less for a couple, are reimbursed come tax time, so no carbon tax for you. Frankly, everybody who makes more than that can contribute, as well as the corporations, which can afford and should contribute their share, no question there.
British Columbia has incorporated the carbon tax successfully since 2008. It hasn’t resulted in fewer jobs, the green house gases have been greatly reduced and taxpayers are better off.
Like it or not Albertans the “western world” has changed and many countries, such as the European Union and the United States are more and more reluctant to import goods from countries/provinces who have not done their part with climate change. There is nothing Rachel Notley or any Albertan for that matter can change about that.
Ilse Quick