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Letter: Past Conservative candidate supports carbon taxes

Re: Article “Sudburians join massive climate change event,” which appeared in Northern Life Sept. 23. Kudos to Harneet Gill, a 20-something year old young woman who lead the Peoples’ Climate March in Sudbury.
Re: Article “Sudburians join massive climate change event,” which appeared in Northern Life Sept. 23.

Kudos to Harneet Gill, a 20-something year old young woman who lead the Peoples’ Climate March in Sudbury. Gratitude to the more than 300,000 marchers in New York City.

I was at the People’s Climate March in Sudbury Sept. 21, where more than 130 people were in attendance, including MP Thibeault, a man I ran against in 2008 in the federal 2008 election on the Conservative Party ticket. I am disappointed that PM Harper did not attend the UN Climate Leaders Summit Sept. 23 in New York, City.

Right-wing thinkers have strong market-based beliefs that are challenged by the climate crisis. “Conservatives” need to be reassured of the mounting economic evidence that Canada can use the market to solve the climate crisis: Put a predictable price on carbon pollution and return the revenue back to citizens.

Currently, under the Conservative government, Canada will not meet its international targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Ontario and Quebec have decreased their greenhouse gas emissions.

Meanwhile, Canada’s fastest rising greenhouse gas emissions are from the tarsands. The federal government has not released its regulatory plans for the oil and gas sector of our economy.

Regulation is hugely expensive to the taxpayer and is not a market-based solution. Thus it is surprising that the Conservative government is choosing a regulatory path for our oil and gas sector.

Economic data from the International Monetary Fund, British Columbia Carbon tax data and Regional Economic Modelling Inc, strongly indicate that Canada can re-establish its climate leadership by taxing carbon pollution and not income and that this would be beneficial to our neighbours to the south too.

Political strategists looking at the future of any party should check which way the wind is blowing.

Gerry Labelle
Azilda