Ignatieff proposes type of carbon tax

Americas News

Ignatieff proposes type of carbon tax

OTTAWA - The man often regarded as the front-runner in the race to head Canada's opposition Liberal Party, Michael Ignatieff, proposed on Monday a modified carbon tax to try to limit climate change.

Ignatieff also said that Canada would be unable to meet its emissions targets under the Kyoto Protocol on climate change. The Conservative Party under Prime Minister Stephen Harper, which defeated the Liberals in January's election, also says Canada will not be able to meet its Kyoto obligations.

Unveiling his policy, Ignatieff said federal taxes on transportation fuels should be restructured to be heavier on those like gasoline and diesel that emit more carbon and lighter on cleaner natural gas and propane.

The restructured fuel taxes would be revenue-neutral -- ending up with the same tax bite.

'We're using tax policy to incentivize good behavior,' said Marc Chalifoux, a spokesman for Ignatieff, who is a former Harvard professor.

Carbon taxes have tended to meet stiff opposition both in Canada and the United States, but Ignatieff said his proposal was one of several needed to prevent unacceptable damage from climate change.

Monters and Critics
of a short Reuters piece...I liked the irony that it was listed in the Americas section of an well-known UK site...we are still a little colony :-(