After one year, the NDP government has yet to come out with clear, credible evidence the carbon tax has had any impact.
It is supposed to get people to change their behaviour and use less fossil fuels. It’s really just hitting their pocket book at a time when many Albertans are still feeling the effects of the recession.
The true cost of the carbon tax is not just in higher prices for gasoline, diesel or natural gas. Anyone who drives will end up paying more and home heating or power bills will go up. The cost will trickle down to consumers in other ways. Businesses will pass higher cost on to their customers.
Yes, the Province is handing out rebates and cheques should be in the mail this month. They aren’t enough to cover the actual cost.
The Province pegs the cost to the average a four-person family at $508, which would be eligible for $540 in rebates. According to provincial numbers, this family would be using 4,500 litres of gasoline a year. This works out to filling up a 65 litre gas tank 1.3 times per week. For many the amount of gas needed to get to work, grocery stores, hockey practice is much more.
Slapping a tax on carbon is taking the easy way to try to reduce carbon emissions and combat climate change.
There needs to be other ways to reduce fossil fuel consumption that don’t involve picking taxpayer wallets.
