Chapter 4 - Government in Canada

Article: http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/business/story.html?id=54a58cb2-f2a4-4698-9410-daf70649af50&k=25600

Summary
This article I have chosen talks about a group of 80 B.C. business which call on Finance Minister Carole Taylor to adopt a revenue-neutral tax to help confront the climate change. There was a letter that was sent to Taylor, regarding to the changes of taxes from the income and corporate earnings to the carbon emissions. They say that it will be an incentive to help out reducing carbon emissions while ensuring that B.C. firms remain competitive and wage earners are not badly impacted. There was a group of economists that sent a letter similar to the businessman to finance minister concerning this matter. With the revenue used to help reduce gas emissions, Carole told The Vancouver Sun that she is thinking of a new tax on gasoline. Esther Speck, Mountain Equipment Co-op's director says, "We know we need to do this, and we believe this is the most efficient and cost-effective way of getting to it." However, it has not been specified if B.C. will initiate this carbon tax in the provincial budget in February 2008. Carbon taxes are seen to be the best ways to support energy conservation. The tax could go against greenhouse gas emissions at any stage in the manufacture or distribution of a consumer good.

Connection

This article is related to Chapter 4 because it is mainly about taxes. Many Canadians think that they are paying too much money towards taxes to the government. Taxes such as PST, GST, Income tax, Direct tax, Indirect tax, and now the government would issue a Carbon tax. The government hopes that this Carbon tax can help the people use less gas so that the environment can be more clean. This carbon tax is also to help gain a revenue to the government because people who have to drive, will need to pay the tax whether they want it or not. People are also unaware of what the government would choose to do with money new source of revenue. Would the government spend it to help equalize the offset caused by the carbon tax by fixing up other parts of the system which need money? Parts such as helping the homeless because the homeless rates have risen from last year. This new tax also puts many people onto the edge. People who are tight with money who need to drive, have to be able to deal with the new tax, even though they also have enough trouble trying to keep up with their income in society.

Reflection

I personally think that the carbon tax is a good thing. So far I've noticed that the air in Vancouver isn't as good as it use to be. I hope that one day, it wont turn out like many other populated places where the air can even seem yellow from all the mess in the air. I have so far practiced with my L license and and soon going to be getting my N. These carbon taxes will effect me, but i still think that keeping the environment nice and clean is an important issue. An important reason as to why the carbon tax is first implicated, is because of the issue Global Warming. To stop global warming, the government wants people to drive less just like who there is a tax on alcohol to stop drinkers. Even if this is a reason, i am not too sure that this is actually helping to world, or just creating more problems. With more money needing to be paid, it makes the economy worse, but since the government can do good things with the money like help other parts of the system which needs help, it could help the economy.