In reciting the party talking points yesterday afternoon, Jeff Watson charged that Thomas Mulcair would “bring back a risky, job-killing carbon tax.” That basis for this would seem to be that Mr. Mulcair advocates for cap-and-trade.
In reciting the party talking points yesterday afternoon, Jeff Watson charged that Thomas Mulcair would “bring back a risky, job-killing carbon tax.” That basis for this would seem to be that Mr. Mulcair advocates for cap-and-trade.
During the 2008 federal campaign, Mr. Harper said a carbon tax would “screw everybody” and undermine national unity. During last year’s campaign, John Baird described cap-and-trade as “dangerous” and “unCanadian.” Mr. Harper then said cap-and-trade was the same as a carbon tax. And yet…
The Conservatives promised in their 2008 campaign platform to pursue a continental cap-and-trade system. The Harper government repeated the promise in its 2008 Throne Speech. In September 2009, Jim Prentice lobbied the Alberta government on the virtues of cap-and-trade. In December 2009, the Harper government claimed to be “working in collaboration with the provinces and territories to develop a cap and trade system that will ultimately be aligned with the emerging cap and trade program in the United States.” And as recently as last May, the Environment Minister allowed that cap-and-trade “can always be something to consider in the future.”