KINSELLA: Lots of reasons why Trudeau should not impose carbon tax now

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A carbon tax.

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Justin Trudeau put it in his election platform, and folks voted for him, twice. The Supreme Court docket of Canada mentioned he might do it.

In polls, many Canadians favour it. They do.

However simply because he can do it — and simply because voters and judges mentioned he can do it — doesn’t imply he ought to do it. As a result of he shouldn’t.

Actually not proper now.

Right here’s 10 the explanation why.

INFLATION: Inflation in Canada is at a 30-year high, and which means Canadians are paying extra — for the whole lot from groceries to bathroom paper. With the price of dwelling changing into more and more unaffordable, the carbon tax improve will solely make life much more costly for you and me.

PRICE AT THE PUMPS: Russia’s invasion of Ukraine — and issues over vitality provide in Western democracies — has despatched the price of fuel skyrocketing. Gasoline is so costly, in truth, that provinces like B.C. and Alberta are issuing rebates to drivers, or eradicating provincial fuel taxes. The carbon tax improve will make fuel dearer than beer!

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AGRICULTURE: Farmers will be hit hard by the carbon tax. Rising gasoline costs — and carbon tax-driven will increase to grain-drying prices — significantly threaten the viability of farms throughout Canada. The tax will make operations much less worthwhile — in an already difficult trade.

HURTS SOME MORE THAN OTHERS: Low-income and rural families disproportionally depend on higher-emissions actions for heating their houses and transportation wants. Rising the carbon tax hurts giant segments of them whereas remaining fairly irrelevant for the rich, who’re the true polluters in society.

NOT JUST A TAX ON THE RICH: The Parliamentary Funds Officer discovered what most of us already knew to be true — the carbon tax doesn’t only tax the rich, and magically return the funds to everybody else. “Most households will see a internet loss,” mentioned the PBO. That’s a quote: “most.”

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SMALL BUSINESS, BIG PAIN: Small companies struggled all through the pandemic — and proceed to face challenges all through the continued provincial reopenings. For businesses like restaurants and shops, the increased carbon tax rate will add more pain, and chip away at their backside strains.

GIG ECONOMY: So-called gig financial system jobs — like rideshare driving and meals supply — are powerful gigs already. A carbon tax makes them harder, by hitting drivers whose total earnings are normally fairly low to begin with. Higher prices at the pump will make it even tougher to survive in the gig economy.

UNPOPULAR: Elevating the carbon tax throughout a time of skyrocketing inflation is giving the Conservatives one of the best speaking level they’ve had since blackface. It’s a poorly calculated political resolution by Trudeau and Co. — who too typically fear about dogmatic ideology greater than good coverage. Not good.

NOT EVERY SIZE FITS ALL AND NOT EVERY CARBON TAX IS FAIR: Greenhouse gases current an advanced coverage downside that wants a nuanced resolution — not a blanket tax that penalizes millions of Canadian families.

WE PAY ENOUGH TAXES: Inflation is crushing us. Proper now could be no time for a carbon tax. Interval.

Certain. You may impose a carbon tax, Prime Minister.

However proper now? You shouldn’t.