Georgina
August 26, 2008 03:44 PM
By: John Slykhuis, Staff Writer
York-Simcoe MP Peter Van Loan said he has serious concerns about the Liberal Party’s proposed new carbon tax on gas, oil and energy as Liberal leader Stephane Dion toured the riding last week promoting his tax plan.
“Dion’s new carbon tax will drive up the cost of gas, electricity and diesel fuel. These higher costs will, in turn, drive up the cost of groceries, household goods and consumer products,” said Mr. Van Loan. “The tax hike will especially hurt those who can least afford it, including seniors living on fixed incomes and families on tight budgets.”
“York-Simcoe families and businesses need a strong economy – and are counting on lower taxes,” Mr. Van Loan said. “A new tax on everything is something our local families and economy cannot afford.”
The proposed carbon tax will destroy existing jobs in key industries such as manufacturing and agriculture, drive up business costs and hurt competitiveness. It will make it difficult for Canada to attract new jobs, especially with emerging competitors like Mexico and China, he charged.
The Liberal plan will almost triple the tax on diesel fuel, he added and this will increase the cost of everything transported by truck or train – including essential items like food, clothing and gasoline.
The Liberal carbon tax plan could only produce reductions in greenhouse gases if people stop heating their homes, farmers stop using their tractors or if manufaturers stop using electricity to run their equipment. No actual greenhouse gas reduction figures are in the plan, Mr. Van Loan said.
In contrast the Conservative government has reduced taxes over 100 times including cutting the GST from 7 to 5 per cent, reducing personal income taxes, introducing the Children’s Fitness Tax Credit and the $100 per month choice in childcare benefit, he said.