It appears the federal Liberals are showing favoritism again to the new carbon tax. Ontario and Quebec are nearly exempt from such a tax. It’s the western provinces that carry the brunt of this tax. Have you visited Ontario and Quebec lately? Look who the polluters are. As a reminder of favoritism are the transfer taxes the provinces pay to the feds. As an example, Alberta had paid more than $12 billion in transfers. At the same time,Quebec, being a have-not province, took in $12 billion in aid.
This is the amount paid in one calendar year. They have the best health care and social programs in all of Canada.
Old Pierre Trudeau created a tax against Alberta and western oil producing provinces under the National Energy Program and almost caused the western provinces to go bankrupt. Now, Justin is playing the same game. We are least able to manage another tax. He held out a carrot to the western provinces to approve in theory, not principle, the two pipelines to B.C. If the pipelines don’t go Christy Clark, look out below.
Now the feds have announced new energy board members. Again another one is from Quebec, where they oppose pipelines. The others are from N.B. and Ontario. Forget about the Energy East pipeline. We have a very poor spokesperson from B.C representing our province in Ottawa. If they were to speak out, they would be reprimanded.
We will be in dire straits if we cannot get product to Asia and beyond. Donald Trump is playing protectionism and the end result may be the beginning of the end for us. Canada currently is one of their biggest trading partners and this may end soon. This will be all but a pipe dream.
Bill Luchak
Vernon
