Economists from Canada’s Ecofiscal Commission argue that the climate change debate must be based on facts, a reasonable proposition. They then go on to explore 10 popular arguments against carbon taxes and describe them as “myths,” always a sure sign of an even-handed approach. Try as they might, the economists can’t find a single valid criticism of carbon taxes.
The carbon tax is not a cash grab, the commission assures us, because government will rebate 90 per cent of the money to families and spend the rest on environmental stuff. It fails to mention the hundreds of millions of dollars in HST on the carbon tax, which the government will keep. It also fails to consider the concerns of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, which has pointed out the small businesses, municipalities, universities, school boards and hospitals will pay almost 50 per cent of carbon tax costs, but get back only seven per cent as rebates and grants.
The economists say businesses won’t pass on carbon tax costs because “businesses are always looking for ways to make their products less expensive.” Someone please tell Enbridge.
The economists say businesses won’t pass on carbon tax costs because “businesses are always looking for ways to make their products less expensive.” Someone please tell Enbridge.
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