Ralph tries selling Green Shift with real Corinthian leather
WEEKLY COMMENTARY
By Ralph Goodale, M.P.
SASKATCHEWAN WILL BE AN INVESTMENT WINNER
One inescapable reality of the 21st century is the world-wide battle against climate change and the man-made greenhouse gas emissions that cause it, especially carbon dioxide.
As a consequence, constraints on carbon pollution are inevitable.
This is not an “optional” state of affairs. Even both of the candidates for the U.S. Presidency, John McCain and Barack Obama, are committed to “putting a price” on carbon as a key way to slash American emissions.
The good news for Saskatchewan is that world markets will still want our valuable fossil fuels. They’ll just want them cleaner, with less pollution. For Saskatchewan, this can be a big opportunity. To take advantage of it, we need to get out in front of the carbon issue.
We need to be leaders, not followers.
The first step is “carbon pricing” – i.e., charging something when carbon pollution is dumped into the atmosphere, and then using all the revenue raised in this way to cut income taxes, both personal and corporate.
As respected experts like Jack Mintz from the University of Calgary and Don Drummond from the TD Bank point out, this will lead to a stronger economy.
Such a fiscal framework will also help position Saskatchewan as a clean energy powerhouse – one that’s built to last.
We’ll need to focus on three priorities.
First, greater energy efficiency and conservation in everything we do. This is just common sense and it saves money for everyone through lower energy bills.
Secondly, more renewable green-power sources, like cellulosic ethanol, bio-diesel, and wind, solar, geo-thermal and small-hydro projects.
And thirdly, new technologies to develop our fossil fuels in cleaner ways.
The level of high-quality “green” investment flowing into Saskatchewan, to cut harmful emissions, could rival past Canadian mega-projects, like the building of the St. Lawrence Seaway.
By Ralph Goodale, M.P.
SASKATCHEWAN WILL BE AN INVESTMENT WINNER
One inescapable reality of the 21st century is the world-wide battle against climate change and the man-made greenhouse gas emissions that cause it, especially carbon dioxide.
As a consequence, constraints on carbon pollution are inevitable.
This is not an “optional” state of affairs. Even both of the candidates for the U.S. Presidency, John McCain and Barack Obama, are committed to “putting a price” on carbon as a key way to slash American emissions.
The good news for Saskatchewan is that world markets will still want our valuable fossil fuels. They’ll just want them cleaner, with less pollution. For Saskatchewan, this can be a big opportunity. To take advantage of it, we need to get out in front of the carbon issue.
We need to be leaders, not followers.
The first step is “carbon pricing” – i.e., charging something when carbon pollution is dumped into the atmosphere, and then using all the revenue raised in this way to cut income taxes, both personal and corporate.
As respected experts like Jack Mintz from the University of Calgary and Don Drummond from the TD Bank point out, this will lead to a stronger economy.
Such a fiscal framework will also help position Saskatchewan as a clean energy powerhouse – one that’s built to last.
We’ll need to focus on three priorities.
First, greater energy efficiency and conservation in everything we do. This is just common sense and it saves money for everyone through lower energy bills.
Secondly, more renewable green-power sources, like cellulosic ethanol, bio-diesel, and wind, solar, geo-thermal and small-hydro projects.
And thirdly, new technologies to develop our fossil fuels in cleaner ways.
The level of high-quality “green” investment flowing into Saskatchewan, to cut harmful emissions, could rival past Canadian mega-projects, like the building of the St. Lawrence Seaway.
What's missing in this piece is how Goodale is going to replace the estimated $3 billion of taxes on Saskatchewan each year as a result of Green Shift.
And no Ralph, we don't want the rust proofing...
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