Carbon tax on the minds of N.B. voters
Published Saturday October 11th, 2008
Petitcodiac River, metro centre also among issues locally
As Metro Moncton voters' prepare to mark their ballots on Tuesday, a flurry of issues may be running through their minds.
From the question of who would best protect the country from the financial storm that has ripped through the Canadian markets in the wake of the near-collapse of the American financial system, to environmental concerns, many topics have grabbed national headlines.
But in New Brunswick, candidates have tackled the task of attracting voters who are divided among a nearly even rural and urban split, and a unique mix of French and English speaking voters that is rare throughout the rest of Canada.
The question of federal support for initiatives such as a downtown Metro Centre and the restoration of the Petitcodiac River have dominated in Metro Moncton, along with other local issues.
But while local issues have varied across the province, one of the most contentious issues on the minds of New Brunswickers' has been the federal Liberal party's carbon tax.
It has been portrayed as a brutal tax hike by its critics, who say the tax would punish rural communities, threaten jobs, and stifle the economy, especially in sectors such as Metro Moncton' transportation hub.
Its champions have lauded it as a lever for sustainable development and social justice, and have shifted the focus towards the benefits of the Green Shift's accompanying income tax cuts.
Liberals and Conservatives have argued over who would end up ultimately paying for the new tax.
But what hasn't been explained in detail is how much New Brunswickers would ultimately pay.
Yesterday, the interim leader of New Brunswick's Conservative party, Jeannot Volpé formally asked Shawn Graham what a carbon tax would cost New Brunswick.
Volpé sent a letter asking for a cost analysis of the federal plan on New Brunswick's export-driven economy, which is the third highest emitter in Canada per capita.
Taking his queue from Nova Scotia premier Rodney MacDonald, who proclaimed that the Liberals' tax would cost Nova Scotians $600 million, Volpé suggested the cost could be even higher for New Brunswickers when one considers the carbon emissions of both provinces.
"New Brunswick is a higher emitter per capita than Nova Scotia. The cost would be even higher in New Brunswick."
Pushed by reporters to explain the costs of the federal Conservatives' environmental plan, MacDonald simply stuck to his script and attacked the Liberal plan.
In what is sure to be one of his last public declarations before he is replaced as provincial leader next weekend, Volpé asked Graham to clearly state whether he supports the idea of a carbon at the provincial and federal levels.
"Do you or do you not support a carbon tax for New Brunswickers, and if so what is the cost?"
"If not, it's scary, because if you don't know what the cost is how can you support it?"
Graham's staff said he wasn't available yesterday and directed reporters to the comments he made on Sept. 11 when Liberal leader Stéphane Dion was in Saint John.
At that time, Graham said he was "excited" by Dion's vision, but he did not say whether or not he supported it.
Earlier in the summer, Graham admitted that the idea of a provincial carbon tax had not been popular during public consultations of the legislative committee on tax reform.
However, he said his government would not advance an official position before the committee submits its report.
New Brunswick Conservative candidates have accused their Liberal opponents of trying to hide the tax in their campaign advertisements and literature.
The New Brunswick director of the Canadian Federation for Independent Business, Andreea Bourgeois, said the proposed carbon tax has been a major issue for small business owners.
"Overwhelmingly business owners were against it. This doesn't mean they are against the environment, it's just that especially for the provincial plan there wasn't any proposals for how to spend the money."
However, she said she was pleased to see this year that each party has offered plans for the small business community, which has been largely ignored in previous elections.
"There are a couple of issues that all parties proposed and they would have different impacts on the small business," said Bourgeois.
"It is very encouraging that everybody is offering things for small businesses."
While the carbon tax has been a divisive element of the campaign, it has by no means been the only one that has been on the minds of voters when the local candidates knock at their doors.
The collapse of the American financial system, and struggling Canadian markets have cast a shadow over the entire campaign.
Most issues, on both the local and federal levels, have been viewed through the economic lens of voters who are concerned about the future of their savings and investments.
Federal support for the restoration of the Petitcodiac River is another issue that has dominated candidates' one-on-one time with voters.
Candidates' positions on the river's restoration is nearing consensus, with nine of 12 Liberal, Conservative, NDP, and Green Party, wholeheartedly supporting the federal government's support of the restoration.
Only Conservative candidates Rob Moore in Fundy Royal and Moncton-Riverview- Dieppe candidate Daniel Allain in Moncton-Riverview-Dieppe have staked out positions that diverge from the stance of the Petitcodiac Riverkeeper.
Moore continues to oppose Ottawa's support of the project, while Allain said he supports a "responsible" restoration of the river that could begin once outstanding pollution and sewage issues are addressed.
Both Allain, and Liberal incumbent Brian Murphy have commitments from their leaders that the next federal government will support a downtown, multi-use Metro Centre.
Other issues, such as improved customs services at the Greater Moncton International Airport, and federal funding for the next phase of the Kay Arena, have also been on voters' radar as they prepare for the Oct. 14 vote.
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