Re: “ ‘Realistic’ B.C. budget faces voter scrutiny,” Feb. 20.

Finance Minister Mike de Jong made a mistake by not continuing to ramp up B.C.’s carbon tax. B.C.’s emissions have declined 4.5 per cent since the tax started in 2008, and the tax’s “revenue neutrality” means it hasn’t cost taxpayers a dime.

The budget also neglected to address the fact that B.C.’s coal exports continue to be exempt from any form of carbon tax. The province’s coal exports produce worldwide emissions of almost twice B.C.’s in-province emissions from all sources.

This is the dirty secret of B.C.’s carbon-tax success story, and it needs to be addressed.

Blaise Salmon

Mill Bay

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