An open letter to federal transport minister Marc Garneau.
As I understand it from the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, you stated to the media that you have never received any information from any Canadian person on their concerns about Canadian business competitiveness and carbon tax.
I have problems with that, unless you do not have a TV, radio or any other communication tool. Regardless, we must grant you that communication.
As you well know any tax imposed on the people removes money from circulation by the people. Money taken in such a manner usually goes into government general spending and much of it finds its way offshore through various government programs for activities which often give no return to the Canadian people.
In any case that tax money becomes unavailable for the people to buy goods and services, because unless you are a member of the elite most people have a limited disposable income. So goods and services will not be bought and domestic sales of optional purchases will decrease. Canadian business will suffer. Every time the government increases a tax it takes money out of normal circulation and therefore limits short term purchases, which are an important component of GDP. So GDP drops.
Now if that tax was to be used to advance something of value to the people of Canada, it would return that something of value to the people. However if it had no measurable value at all, as is the case with carbon tax, it would represent a complete loss.
I know that your argument will include the value of a healthy environment and reference to green technologies etc., without being specific of course, however, the bottom line is that the carbon tax will impact adversely on business sales and the GDP, and will make no difference to the world’s climate whatsoever, and I know that you and the rest of your government know that. Please admit it and get on with figuring out how we can really reduce carbon dioxide emissions!
So now you have my thoughts and if you listen carefully to the whispers of those millions of people who are not special interest groups you might just hear these thoughts again and again. I have an old TV if that might help.
Michael Lee, SALEM