Somehow, despite working 42 hours this week, I managed to put together another bluffer’s guide, for the Liberal carbon tax plan. Liberal leader Stéphane Dion calls it Green Shift, which I guess is not to be confused with this Green Shift. From the video, it seems to have something to do with stock photos of plants and animals, combined with people in suits clapping awkwardly in a white room.
The 48-page plan (PDF), which ironically wastes quite a bit of space by having blank pages and one-word all-green title pages, explains far more details than non-Liberal politicians would have liked, because now they can’t attack Dion for being unclear.
That doesn’t mean they won’t attack the Liberals though. The Tories have already setup a they-think-it’s-funny website mocking Dion and his plan, saying everyone but the tooth fairy and leprechauns will have to pay more taxes as a result of it.
Basically all you need to know about the plan is this:
- It would tax polluting fossil fuels and cut income taxes to balance the money difference
- It exempts gasoline, because politicians are too scared to admit that high gas prices help the environment when suburban soccer moms are griping about how much money it takes to fill up their SUVs. This makes the plan useless for its intended purpose.
- It’s a Liberal plan, and the Liberals have to become the government and get support from a majority of MPs before they can implement it.
I am74 years old and my wife Esther
our income very limited,that we dont pay income tax.how would I get money back from carbon tax?
With the price of gas,we are limited,
The website has a calculator to see how you would benefit. Whether the income tax cuts (or in your case, refund) would be larger than the money you spend on gas or other fuels is a good question.