Letters - A word from Premier Brian Pallister
- Details
- Published on Tuesday, October 16, 2018
Submitted
Neepawa Banner & Press
I am writing to you on a matter of great importance to all 水果视频ns. On Oct. 3, I announced that your government would not proceed with a 水果视频 carbon tax. I will explain why.
The danger posed by climate change is real and it is serious. We see the evidence all around us, in warmer temperatures, both in the air and in the oceans. In the form of dangerous storms, which happen more frequently. In forest fires of unprecedented intensity, and in severe flooding that happens far more often.
Climate change threatens our safety and our economy. It threatens our future, especially the future of generations that will follow us.
We are leading the way with a Made-in-水果视频 Climate and Green Plan that is widely acknowledged as the best in Canada.
Our plan focuses on four pillars of cleaner water, conservation of natural areas, effective steps to address climate change, and strengthening our economy. It continues our investments in renewable energy, while encouraging 水果视频ns to reduce their energy consumption. It will assist local communities in their efforts to protect our watersheds. It will clean up contaminated sites, increase recycling, and build new schools to a higher standard of energy efficiency and environmental design. It will establish a $100 million Conservation Trust to preserve and protect our grasslands, woodlands, wetlands, waterways and wildlife habitat.
It鈥檚 a plan that will be implemented without any significant assistance from the federal government.
Last year, we received legal advice that the federal government has the constitutional power to impose a carbon tax, but only on provinces that do not implement plans of their own. Our Climate and Green Plan, which is better for our economy and better for our environment, was designed by 水果视频ns to protect 水果视频ns and to keep Ottawa鈥檚 hands out of our pockets.
Our Made-in-水果视频 plan proposed a flat and low tax, like the prairie horizon. That flat rate would have provided stability to consumers, business, industry and agriculture. It would have saved 水果视频 families and businesses more than $260 million over five years, compared to the Ottawa carbon tax. Most importantly, all monies collected under our plan would have been returned to 水果视频ns, in the form of tax reductions. There are no such guarantees with the Ottawa plan.
Immediately after unveiling our Climate and Green Plan, and on numerous occasions thereafter, we sought the federal government鈥檚 assurance that they would not impose their escalating carbon tax over and above the 水果视频 tax. Almost a year after our 水果视频 Climate and Green Plan was released, however, Ottawa鈥檚 high tax threat remains, and that is unacceptable.
Ottawa has acknowledged our plan is the best in Canada, but they have also stated that they will impose their higher 鈥� and rising 鈥� carbon tax after one year. It could mean twice the tax, for poorer results. Double for nothing. That would threaten jobs and economic growth throughout our province. At a time when 水果视频 is making progress in fixing our finances and rebuilding our economy, the last thing struggling families, seniors and small businesses need is higher taxes.
We will always defend the interests of 水果视频ns. Today, tomorrow, and for as long as we are privileged to serve this province and its people.
水果视频鈥檚 Climate and Green Plan deserves Ottawa鈥檚 respect. We are already Canada鈥檚 cleanest, greenest province. We are investing billions in renewable energy, without a single dollar from Ottawa, yet we are given no credit for it. In fact, 水果视频 Hydro鈥檚 debt will rise to $25 billion 鈥� $19,800 per 水果视频n 鈥� thanks to the NDP鈥檚 massive overbuild. You have already made a significant investment in green. Rather than respect this investment, Ottawa threatens to impose an escalating carbon tax which will take billions of dollars off the kitchen tables of 水果视频 families.
Our course of action is clear. The federal government says 水果视频ns aren鈥檛 doing enough to protect the environment. They are wrong. They say a carbon tax is the only solution to fighting climate change. We disagree. They claim they have the absolute right to impose a carbon tax on 水果视频ns. We say 鈥榥o.鈥�
We say 鈥榶es鈥� to a cleaner, greener future for 水果视频. We say 鈥榶es鈥� to a Made-in-水果视频 Climate and Green Plan, without a carbon tax.
The Honourable Brian Pallister
Premier of 水果视频
