Independent media needs you. Join the Tyee.

Blogs

The Hook: Political news, freshly caught

BC citizens should vote on carbon tax's future: Abbott

Liberal leadership candidate George Abbott would put the carbon tax to a province wide vote.

Abbott made the announcement this morning during a Vancouver press conference where he outlined ways to make the provincial government more accountable and to better involve citizens in decisions.

“We have a critical decision to make,” he said. The carbon tax will peak at seven cents a litre in 2012 and the province will have to decide whether to get rid of it, keep it, or increase it, he said. “This is an important enough decision we need to make it with the people of British Columbia.”

Abbott said if he becomes leader and premier he would hold the vote on the carbon tax along with the vote on the HST, which is scheduled for September but which he has pledged to move up to June.

He noted that B.C. is the only jurisdiction in North America to adopt a carbon tax and other jurisdictions appear to have also lost interest in introducing a cap and trade system to cut industrial carbon emissions.

Abbott also dismissed leadership hopeful Kevin Falcon's proposal to pay teachers based on merit. “It has not proven, I believe at this point, to be a succesful experiment,” he said. The government should instead work to improve the whole system, he said.

Other proposals included holding fall sittings of the legislature, moving the fixed election date to the fall, appointing an independent review of the $6 million settlement in the B.C. Rail corruption case, supporting the election of senators from B.C., and replacing the conflict of interest legislation with a new integrity act.

Andrew MacLeod is The Tyee’s Legislative Bureau Chief in Victoria. Reach him here.


What have we missed? What do you think? We want to know. Comment below. Keep in mind:

Do:

  • Verify facts, debunk rumours
  • Add context and background
  • Spot typos and logical fallacies
  • Highlight reporting blind spots
  • Ignore trolls
  • Treat all with respect and curiosity
  • Connect with each other

Do not:

  • Use sexist, classist, racist or homophobic language
  • Libel or defame
  • Bully or troll
  • Troll patrol. Instead, flag suspect activity.
comments powered by Disqus