These Letters to the Editor were published in the Toronto Star on March 23, 2024.
Re: Poilievre threatens vote of nonconfidence in Justin Trudeau’s government over carbon levy increase, March 20
Why can’t federal Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre and other Canadians not understand that the carbon tax is a better mechanism to help us fight climate change? The carbon tax puts a price on what we consume (e.g. oil and gas) that causes climate change. It allows us to see that what we are consuming causes climate change and this is what we have to pay in order to fight climate change. The cost is not hidden. It is there for us to see, plus we get carbon tax rebates which are larger, for many of us, than what we pay through the carbon tax. So the carbon tax is not contributing to the affordability situation. A Star letter writer offers other sugges- tions for the climate fight like planting trees and use of solar panels which are helpful, but this puts the onus on the individual over the government to do the legwork. We all have to fight climate change and that is what the carbon tax does.
Alberto Sarthou, Toronto
According to the International Energy Agency, vehicles in Canada have the highest average fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions per kilometre driven. We de- veloped a wasteful suburban life- style. It made economic sense at the time. Despite past misdirection, we must consider the 2023 record forest fire season and accept the science. Global warming is real. Ex- pecting politicians to rein in the collective greed of eight billion peo- ple is like asking them to turn off gravity. Austerity is not popular.
A multi-faceted approach to the climate problem is needed. Charg- ing for carbon emission is an es- sential part. I commend our Liberal government for not kicking this can further down the road. Lower taxes to ease cost of living pain would be a nice Band-Aid. Looking in the mir- ror and discovering that “the problem is us” is a bit harder.
We should do what we can to consume sustainably and pollute less. This includes convincing others, including politicians, that suspending or killing climate solutions is simply burying our heads in the sand.
Dave Ross, Thornhill
The Liberal government needs to explain why they are doing this. The message is simple: global warming is costing us billions of dollars in damages each year across Canada and it’s due to of carbon emissions. The damages are from droughts, wildfires, floods, severe winds and crop failures. If we don‘t reduce our carbon emissions, these damages will get worse and they will make the Earth an inhospitable place for our children and grandchildren. The carbon tax is intended to motivate us toward these changes and we hope everyone will do their part. It would not be difficult for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government to say this but unfortunately there is no one home.
Mike Smith, Oakville
My Climate Change Website 