shift happens

Liberal leader Stephane Dion's "green shift" carbon tax plan could cut taxes by $15.5 billion, including $11 billion in personal income tax cuts. His proposal is being released today.

The proposed green tax will hit electricity and home heating fuel but exempt gasoline, and would be phased in over four years. The Liberals have acknowledged that oil companies may pass the cost of the tax on to consumers.

A carbon tax plan is seen as risky by many analysts, as Dion is betting on the Canadian public's desire to reduce greenhouse gases to outweigh a potential rise in costs.

Source: CTV News

industry omitted from new carbon tax

British Columbia introduced North America's first full-fledged carbon tax this week, claiming it could lead to a cut in greenhouse-gas emissions of about 3 million tons in the next five years.

"We promised you green and today we delivered green," said Finance Minister Carole Taylor, who presented the changes as a way of encouraging environmentally friendly choices. "If you start to change your lifestyle even modestly ... you will have extra dollars in your pocket."

The tax is expected to bring in as much as $1.8 billion over the next three years by increasing the price of almost all fossil fuels in the province, though it's designed to be revenue neutral and won't raise funds for clean energy like Quebec's carbon tax.

To enhance its appeal, the tax is being paired with a $100 rebate as well as a range of tax cuts this July.

Critics noted that industrial emissions from oil, gas, and cement production will not be taxed under the plan. "It's a great day for banks and big polluters. Banks got a huge tax break and polluters don't have to pay the carbon tax," NDP finance critic Bruce Ralston said.

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