You can't legislate environmental responsibility. When we are prepared to stop vacationing somewhere that we need to fly, or staying home instead of driving to visit the family, or using 2 million pounds of fuel to explore space, then we can talk about ways to reduce out carbon footprint. The poor create the least amount of pressure on the environment.

I don't think anything will change untill we face global catastrophies.

Sad, but true

another tax ... in a country that already rakes off about 60% of the GNP? and what will we get for this tax? more lard-arsed bureaucrats, a building somewhere in Ottawa for them to sit around in, and more of the nonsense that bureaucrats call 'governance'

no, a tax won't do it

.........absurd.
carbon taxes are exactly what they say, taxes. and as far as global warming is concerned merely amount to a wealth transfer. they do nothing to decrease emissions which some claim cause global warming. the same amount of garbage gets spewn into the atmosphere only someone pays money for the privilge of doing so. it doesn't stop the amount spewed and the money won't go to stop it either.

This is not a solution.

The carbon tax is a way to put a price on an "externality" (the economic term given to free air, water, wildlife and a whole host of other values that don't have a price attached to them.) Several leaders are advocating full-cost accounting, including Preston Manning. A carbon tax is one way to put the costs of carbon into the economic equation. The tax gives the carbon users an incentive to reduce their emissions, similar to the tax applied to cigarettes, which led to a decrease in smoking. It also makes alternatives more attractive.

Another method is carbon credits, which requires a cap on carbon emissions, Then the players have to trade among themselves for the available quota's of carbon.

The current system in place is leading us down a path of self-destruction because it doesn't account for the detrimental effects of carbon use. All those important values have no economic value in decision-making processes.

I would have no problem at all with an increase in the gas tax...as long as the money actually was used to fund alternative fuels or cleaner energy.

As far as trading credits with other countries, I think we should be spending to clean up our own mess before we start sending our hard-earned dough to other countries.

Another tax, is not going to do anything except give the government more money to waste. I agree that we need to focus on cleaning up our own country, why not set an example for others? As for us common folk, are we really to blame for the majority of the pollution? Aircraft, boats, commercial vehicles, factories all run 24/7, how many hours a day do we spend in our cars? Why not focus on finding cleaner alternatives for the companies who continually pollute our air and water?

I don't get it... so if I were seven feet tall and had twice the lung capacity of a normal person, would I have to pay double the taxes? That doesn't seem very fair.... Would I get a break if I started breathing less?

Enhanced global warming is a "global" issue. This is why carbon credits make sense to me. Canada, for whatever reason is resistant to change to meet the required goals of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. I believe that resistance results from a combination of government and individuals. For example many Canadians like to drive instead of taking public transit, walking, and biking. Many people choose vehicles that are on the less fuel efficient side of the spectrum. However, governments have not legislated higher standards for fuel efficiency or made cities more pedestrian friendly.

So Canada missed the boat... but other countries have not. The goal is to slow down the enhanced global warming effect. As a Canadian I want to be part of the solution to that problem. Trading carbon credits with other countries means less greenhouse gases emitted globally. When we commit to the goal we realize that yes we could invest in our earth through other countries, but I am sure that there are some emerging Canadian companies that would love for us to invest right here at home. It would not be a disaster for this country to rally around a green indusrty!

Al Gore, an authority on the issue of global warming, presents it as an ethical issue. Consequences to future Candian generations may be too great to not act. This is our earth, lets be good stewards.

This is not a fair tax at all! We as Canadians are already 'taxed way too heavily' with really no returns!

This is not the solution because.. we have no alternate fuels.. besides petroleum..
Petroleum, Natural Gas to heat our homes, Gasoline to run buses, cars (transportation)..

Sure give us an alternate, first!

Cheers!

If the government taxes corporations and not individuals and small businesses, I am all for it.

Being an anarchist, I don't support or trust the government. Being a socialist, I don't support or trust capitalism. But I trust the government more than corporations. I am willing to compromise on global issues such as those related to environment, war, and business. The enemy of my enemy is my friend so long as that enemy can be used to destroy, or at least restrain, the other.