Tag Archives: BC’s carbon tax

Pierre Poilievre promises patriotism but stays vague about U.S. tariff threat

Canada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

On the eve of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s meeting with premiers to tackle the threat of looming U.S. tariffs, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre was on the West Coast hosting a packed “axe the tax” rally. 

Poilievre’s speech Tuesday night to the large crowd at Dwight Hall in Powell River was heavy with patriotism but didn’t address how he’d tackle incoming U.S. president Donald Trump’s promise to impose a 25-per-cent tariff on Canadian goods. 

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‘Tis the season for promises ahead of this weekend’s BC election

By Sidney Coles, Capital Daily, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Come election season, politicians seeking reelection or office for the first time make a lot of promises. Some we know they’ll keep. Others? It depends. Politicians make promises because they will impact voters’ beliefs about the policies they will implement if elected and serve as an indicator of their capabilities to govern. Incumbents have the advantage of the rearview mirror. They can ask voters to look at past performance. Even freshmen candidates for an incumbent  party seeking to prove their mettle to constituents can bank on that party’s record, in part or in whole—but that also means being accountable for the promises it has broken. In all cases, promises are a kind of promissory note in exchange for representation.

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On carbon tax, BC Greens stand alone

Canada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

BC Green Party Leader Sonia Furstenau is doubling down on her commitment to the carbon tax before the Oct. 19 election. 

The party will clamp down on the oil and gas industry, close loopholes on pricing carbon pollution, and provide larger rebates to individuals and families, Furstenau announced Wednesday. 

Furstenau criticized Conservative Party of BC Leader John Rustad for denying the climate crisis is a problem and accused the BC NDP of tinkering with the carbon tax system it inherited to grant subsidies to the oil and gas industry. 

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The Quadra Project – Carbon Credits

Environmental scientists have long argued that the most serious of our global climate problems could be solved if we just planted a trillion trees to absorb our excessive carbon dioxide emissions—trees are the best known device for this purpose. Yet, just as we desperately need them, we are busy cutting them down.

Now Mosaic, one of Canada’s largest timber companies, has just announced (Globe and Mail, March 22, 2022) that it intends to end logging in 40,000 hectares of British Columbia’s coastal forests in exchange for carbon credits—at least for 25 years.

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NDP Candidate Rachel Blaney

A dedicated YouTube channel testifies to some of the questions she raised during Question Period in the House of Commons. Prior to becoming our member of parliament in 2015, Rachel was the Executive Director of Campbell River’s Immigrant Welcome Centre. Her husband, Darren Blaney, is a former Chief and council member of the Homalco First Nation. In the second of my interviews with the candidates, I skyped with NDP candidate Rachel Blaney.

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