Re: “New Alberta refinery could help with squeezed gas supply: Horgan,” April 27.
Premier John Horgan’s public concern over the high cost of gasoline (along with the almost-bizarre remedies he proposes) highlights the practical problem with carbon pricing.
Although economists generally agree that putting a price on carbon is the most efficient way to reduce consumption, the fact is that beyond a certain level there is a growing negative reaction from the public and a potential political price to be paid. This fact was recognized by William Nordhaus, the Nobel Prize-winning economist, who said that, to be effective, carbon pricing had to be globally imposed.
This issue is also implicitly acknowledged by the federal government. Although federal Environment Minister Catherine McKenna speaks about putting a “price on pollution” as if it were the major part of her carbon-reduction program, it in fact accounts for only about 20 per cent of the government’s measures. Given that a carbon tax is such a small part of the federal government’s very modest program, one has also to question why McKenna is so keen to impose it on all provinces, instead of focusing on the major issue: reduction in consumption.
The inevitable conclusion is that her stand is driven entirely by political considerations. In dealing with an issue of this importance, her attitude is, to say the least, unfortunate. Canadians deserve better.
John Sutherland
Victoria
