MP Dean Del Mastro Comments On Dion’s Carbon Tax

June 20, 2008

PETERBOROUGH, ON - Less than two years ago, Stéphane Dion was opposing a carbon tax. He crusaded against carbon taxes. His words could not have been clearer: “This is simply bad policy.” He went on to say that, “ In the energy market, in particular, soaring prices make anything but a prohibitively high tax a mere nuisance for large producers.”

June 19, 2008 - Stéphane Dion announced the details of his Carbon Tax. What was once
simply bad policy is now his one and only policy message for Canadians.

We know that the Carbon Tax will hit the price of diesel. Dion is promising to almost triple the tax on diesel. This will increase the cost of everything transported by truck or train - including essential items like food, clothing and gasoline.

We know the price of jet fuel will go up.

We know the price of home heating fuel will go up.

We know it will hit electricity prices too.

Mr. Dion says his carbon tax won’t hike the tax on gas at the pump, but consider this: Every carbon tax imposed in Europe has hit gas prices. Hard. The carbon taxes imposed in Quebec and in BC have hit gas prices too, and these hidden costs are directly passed onto consumers. They’re the ones that pay.

Oil producers will be taxed on the fossil fuels they use to refine process and transport their gas and this isn’t going to lower their emissions - they’ll just have to pay more to pollute. You, the consumer, will pay for that every time you fill up your car.

Manufacturers will be taxed on the electricity they need to produce their goods. Who will pay for their losses? You, the consumer, with every product that you buy.

Truck drivers will be taxed on their diesel to transport goods across the country. Guess who these higher costs get passed on to? You, the consumer, every time you buy something from a store.

It’s a chain reaction and it doesn’t stop. You’ll pay more for everything.

Even Mr. Dion’s advisors are conceding that the Dion Tax Trick will hurt Canadian families.

Dion finance critic John McCallum admitted over the weekend that, “I cannot say to you that no Canadian will be unharmed by this,” and that the Dion Carbon tax is “not going to be totally painless for every human being.”

After reviewing Mr. Dion’s carbon tax plan today, Maclean’s National Editor and carbon tax supporter Andrew Coyne also said that the plan was “not remotely revenue neutral.” He added, “The Liberals have used the carbon tax to fund their spending ambitions.”

Stéphane Dion would have Canadians believe that this carbon tax will be revenue neutral. What he actually means that he plans to spend all the money it brings in. On special interests. On the endless promises that he has been making.

Our Government will be reminding Canadians of all of these facts in the weeks ahead. They are the facts that we will not let Mr. Dion ignore. When politicians without priorities reach for your wallet, and tell you it’s for your own good – watch out.