As for the Conservatives, it's party policy to scrap the carbon tax without illuminating what would potentially replace it. Put another way, it's question mark time. To be fair, Poilièvre has said that he'd approve clean energy and emissions-reducing projects and streamline regulation-red tape. So, that's better than nothing. But is it enough? The jury's still out on that one. Voters will decide.
Now here's one that's really rich: Danielle Smith fervently opposes the carbon tax -- not just the April 1 increase -- and is likely to challenge it in the courts. But wait for it. Take all of that in while noting that she's OK with raising the provincial fuel tax! Cognitive dissonance at its finest. Talk about backbone time for your average Albertan: will they drink the double-standard (Kool-Aid®), or will they turn on their government when the provincial hike goes ahead? Don't hold your breath.
Meanwhile, Canadians have largely soured on the tax, or at least the April 1 increase, according to two recent polls from Léger and Angus Reid Forum. In the Léger poll, sixty-nine percent of those polled were against raising the tax, while the ARF poll found that fifty-four percent backed the Saskatchewan government's decision to no longer collect the tax on Ottawa's behalf.
For my part, I favour the carbon tax as a temporary national measure. I would prefer that we move to a provincial-and-territorial-wide cap-and-trade system; like they have in Quebec and BC. However, to raise the tax during such difficult economic times is sheer lunacy. People are already hard-pressed enough. More are likely living pay cheque to pay cheque than ever before. And to have exempted Atlantic Canada from the tax, just to get desperately needed votes? Words fail me, other than obscenities.
