[ridenrain]

The BC government is using a schime like this to buy votes and it's a damned hard selll. That's a strong party that's been in power with a strong economy with a weak and disorganized opposition.
Dion is that weak opposition and this is the only topic he has, as pathetic as it is.
Obviously, there's a deal in the works with the Libs and the greens.
Wonder what elections Canada is going to make of that?

[Robair]

sasquatch2 sasquatch2:

Estate taxes are revenue negative as the costs of assessing and collection vastly outstip revenue.

If you can prove that, I'd be very interested in reading about it.

[sandorski]

Some are missing the great advantage to this type of Tax, simply because it is a "Carbon" Tax. Since they deny the seriousness of CO2 emissions, they oppose any Tax or other thing that will affect Them.

However, the great thing about a "Carbon Tax" on Fuel is that it is largely a Voluntary Tax. Not entirely mind you, because almost everyone is going to Pay it, but how much they pay can be controlled by the Consumer. You can buy a more Fuel Efficient vehicle to lessen your Taxes, take Public Transit to lessen them, or bike/walk.

There are 2 big problems with it though:
1) It favours Urban Dwellers and disfavours Rural Dwellers. Those in Rural areas can lower their Tax, but not nearly as much as Urbanites who have the advantage of Mass Transit.

It's not easy to address either, as certainly an exception for Rural areas may sound. Rural Areas surround Urban areas, a simple exception would merely promote Urban sprawl as people would gravitate towards the Tax Free Rural Communities. OTOH, Rural Areas far from Urban areas may have an unfair Competitive advantage with Rural areas surrounding Cities, maybe.

Despite all that, the disparity needs addressed in some fashion.

2) As Consumers change their Fuel Consumption habits and Revenues from the Carbon Tax falls, it may result in Governments simply increasing the Carbon Tax to make up the shortfall or restoring some of the other Taxes that were originally cut. Perhaps not, but we all know how Government can be about these types of things, especially when they are long established and the original implementors are long gone from the Political scene.

A Carbon Tax meant to change Consumer behaviour can work to do just that, but the moment Politicians quit looking at it as Behaviour Modification and regard it as a Revenue Stream, is the moment that the scheme ceases serving its' original purpose. Such schemes require a clearly written out Purpose Statement before hand, one that is binding and even allows Legal challenges to Government policy by an Ombudsman or Citizen Organization.