Friday, June 20, 2008

Judy Sgro Questions the Government on their Response to The Green Shift

Hon. Judy Sgro (York West, Lib.):

Mr. Speaker, in reference to our green plan, University of Calgary economics professor Jack Mintz said:

I don't think the plan will be negative on growth.

In fact, it will probably be quite positive.

Given the fact that the Prime Minister has a master's in economics from Professor Mintz's own department, does the Prime Minister also think that Professor Mintz is crazy?

Hon. Peter Van Loan (Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and Minister for Democratic Reform, CPC):

Mr. Speaker, all I know is that Jack Mintz went on television last night to say that he had nothing to do with the construction of the Liberal plan. Apparently he is embarrassed about a plan that says absolutely nothing about reducing greenhouse gases, a plan that the Liberals' leader promised he would never, ever implement, saying to elect him as leader and he would never give them a carbon tax.

A few months later, they have a carbon tax. That is why Canadians do not trust this tax trick. It is nothing but one great big tax grab from the Liberal leader.

Hon. Judy Sgro (York West, Lib.):

That was more fearmongering, Mr. Speaker, and they keep it up.

Doug Porter, deputy chief economist of BMO Capital Markets, believes that carbon taxes are “about as efficient a way as there is out there” to battle climate change

Economists know that when we cut taxes on income and investment, we get more jobs and increase productivity. That is our green plan. When we tax pollution, polluters will find cleaner ways to dispose of their waste. What is so crazy about that?