[Cool Blue]

Saturday, August 16, 2008
WATERLOO REGION RECORD


Harper's view of Dion carbon tax is 'laughable,' premier says
The Canadian Press

Prime Minister Stephen Harper's suggestion that the federal Liberals' proposed carbon tax would be devastating for Newfoundland is "laughable,'' Premier Danny Williams said yesterday.

Harper completed a two-day, campaign-style swing through the province on Thursday, making headlines by hinting that a fall election could be in the cards and repeatedly slamming the Liberals' so-called Green Shift economic plan.

The prime minister referred to it as a "green shaft'' that would stifle the Canadian economy by raising prices on transportation, groceries, electricity, heating, "even propane for our BBQs.''

Harper stressed that Atlantic Canada, with its heavy reliance on fossil fuels, would be hit the hardest.

Yesterday, Williams said the potential impact of the Green Shift had yet to be determined.

"From the Green Shift perspective, Newfoundland and Labrador is still waiting to see where all the cards are going to fall,'' he said during a visit to Corner Brook, the largest town in western Newfoundland.

"These plans have been somewhat developed, but I don't think they have been fully mapped out.''

Williams said Harper is trying to make the carbon tax portion of the Green Shift initiative the focus of the next election campaign.

"This election is not going to be decided strictly on the Green Shift . . . We're not going to be drawn into that,'' he said.

In response, federal Fisheries Minister Loyola Hearn -- Newfoundland's representative in the federal cabinet -- issued a statement criticizing Williams for not taking a stronger stand on the Liberal policy.

Hearn said the carbon tax will have a huge impact on seniors and people with fixed incomes who can't afford to pay more for basics like home heating and groceries.

"People in rural Newfoundland and Labrador will be hit even harder, with costs of trucking goods into their communities going through the roof,'' said Hearn.

"Dion's carbon tax will nail the fishery by driving up fuel costs by another seven cents a litre and making it more expensive to harvest and ship our fish to markets around the world.''

As well, Hearn said the carbon tax will hobble the province's burgeoning offshore energy sector.

The Liberals say Harper is misrepresenting their key policy, stressing that the carbon tax will be largely offset by income- and business-tax breaks, which the Conservatives fail to mention.

The complicated climate-change plan would also offer tax benefits to the poor, elderly and rural dwellers, the Liberals say.

[Cool Blue]

Well, it's official. Williams cares more about personal vendettas than the economic welfare of his people.

[Cool Blue]

Hey Williams, if you think a carbon tax is great and won't hurt Newfoundland, then why don't you introduce a provincial carbon tax?

[cosmostein]

Danny Williams is making sure that he is on whatever side of the fence is easiest to make him look like a folk hero to those who vote for him,

[mrsocko]

The worm will turn. It always does in NFLND.

[Duck Tory]

Danny Williams is NO Conservative his Party and him are nothing more then closet Seperatists.