Wednesday, March 07, 2007

Amazing

I can't think of another word to describe a bank advocating taxation. In what amounts to a complete endorsement of Ignatieff's environmental agenda, a "revenue-neutral", "carrot and stick approach", the TD bank offers the following:
Economists from one of Canada's big banks have thrown their support behind taxing industries and consumers who contribute to global warming, saying that government needs to attach a cost to pollution if any fundamental progress is to be made.

In a report released today by the TD Bank, economists argued that industry and consumers will not change their behaviour as long as it's cheap to pollute. They advocate a policy that combines emissions regulations, taxes, subsidies and a trading system for emissions credits – a varied approach they say would mitigate the impact on the economy.

But Drummond says taxing those who actually pollute creates an incentive to change behaviour.

He suggests that the tax should be applied when the pollution is created. Thus, the consumer would pay for car pollution, and industry would pay for pollution associated with the production process.

The revenues would be shifted into cutting taxes in other areas or to finance subsidies that further help the environment.

"You'd recycle every single cent," said Drummond.

The fact that a bank, which relies on economic growth, shows support for a carbon tax makes all the arguments about "economic ruin" all the more ridiculous. The TD's position is completely counter-intuitive, taxes are a drain on the economy. One, the problem must be quite serious. Two, the bank must acknowledge the long term economic impact if we do nothing. Three, there is a way to tax pollution and maintain economic growth.

Put that in your denier hat and smoke it. Who knew, the TD bank, an group of environmental activists, with no understanding of the economy. A good day indeed.

11 comments:

In_The_Centre said...

Are you listening Dion?

Or are you going to flop on the issue again?



-ITC

In_The_Centre said...

The revenues would be shifted into cutting taxes in other areas or to finance subsidies that further help the environment

Bingo. +1 Ignatieff

I know tax is a hard sell politically. But there is a way to do this smart, especially if the tax-shifting portion is emphasized.

Now if only Dion, his campaign team and Liberal MP's in general had balls.

Steve V said...

I only cited Ignatieff because it is essentially his argument, that doesn't translate into slagging Dion, or at least that wasn't the intention.

In_The_Centre said...

Hey Steve

Im not slagging Dion/the party because Ignatieff got this right.

The environment, to me personally, is too important of an issue to be polite and be towing the party line

Ive been a strong advocate of carbon tax and green tax shifting for about two years now

I was very happy when the media reported Dion was considering a carbon tax last thursday. I thought I finally saw real leadership from Dion. I was equally furious when his office backtracked on carbon tax last Friday.

How would you react if a Liberal MP tells you that the reason our leader and party wont go forward with the issue (This happened on the weekend, I will not name the MP) because of fear that the Conservatives and Canadian public will eat us alive on the issue? Too me, thats called chickening out.

We are too concerned with getting back into power in the least bloodiest way possible. The party has really lost its backbone and its a trend that started with Martin and so far, has carried forward with Dion

As you can see, Im a little flustered :)

Steve V said...

Ignatieff had the best environmental platform of all the leadership contenders, and I wish his plan was the Liberal plan.

wayward son said...

Ignatieff's plan matches what has been the central plank of GPC policy for many years. I don't have a problem with that - it is good policy and essential if we are ever going to tackle our environmental problems. The Greens will not be forming a government. The NDP won't touch tax shifting with a ten foot pole (they are too idealogically stagnant). The Conservatives are heading in the opposite direction (with their GST cuts). That pretty much leaves my hopes with Liberals (although I will be voting Green regardless). Come on Dion this makes sense.

Dealing with our GHG emissions will be tough. With the current tax setup it will be like pushing a boulder up a hill. With tax shifting it will be like pushing a boulder down a hill. Still no walk in the park, but a hell of a lot easier.

Susan said...

Somebody needs to dig up that clip of Baird in committee answering McGuinty's question on this issue, saying emphatically that the conservatives were not interested in considering a carbon tax. Might be useful when they try nto get on board.

Karen said...

You mean this?

Anonymous said...

Isn't everyone jumping the gun here? Dion hasn't come out yet with his policies - Rae, Brison, et al are all working on them.

Why not just wait and see and stop this rumour, judgment and MSM nonsense.

We just don't know yet what the Liberal plan will be.

Dion has to save something that the Conservatives can't steal or make a negative.

Anonymous said...

... and I understand Garth's working on them too.

ref. ww.garth.ca/weblog

JimBobby said...

Whooee! An anonny mouse sed --"Dion has to save something that the Conservatives can't steal..."

Everybuddy's stealin' from the Greens. We been pushin' carbon taxin', cappin' an' tradin' fer years before the Grits or Cons knew what it was or that it was an idea worth stealin'. Yer welcome to steal all the Green Party of Canada ideas you want just so long as they get implemented.

JB