Canadians barely support carbon tax; don’t like B.C. carbon tax, poll finds

You probably already have read this article about a new poll published indicated that Canadians, especially British Columbians, do not like the BC carbon tax.  This type of news, especially during election time, always spreads extremely quickly.  Some results from the pool:

• 62% Quebecer respondents supports the carbon tax idea - Quebec currently has a carbon tax which is imposed on energy producers only;
• BC has less than 40% support on carbon tax, least in Canada and less than Alberta;
• 60% of respondents in British Columbia said the tax hasn’t done much to reduce fossil fuel use in the province;
• Almost 60% BC respondents said the carbon tax hadn’t motivated them to change their behaviour; and
• The support for BC style carbon tax gets less support in all provinces/territories.

I have many questions to ask the respondents, both those in BC and outside of BC.  To begin with, it’s hard to say how many people actually understand the BC “revenue neutral” carbon tax. My guess is - not many. The lack of understanding of BC’s revenue neutral carbon tax definitely would result in low support in “BC style” carbon tax.  Further, it’s very interesting to note that Quebecers have the highest support to the carbon tax idea, when they already have one!  There are several differences between BC and Quebec’s carbon tax, and one of them is that the carbon tax is imposed on energy producers, distributors and refiners only to pay for carbon they emit at a price of approximately 1/3 of what the carbon is priced at in BC in 2007.  Although the cost is not directly imposed on residents of Quebec, it is ultimately passed down to the rate payers.   Perhaps this is why less objections are recorded in Quebec. Finally, apparently 60% BC respondents believed that the BC revenue neutral carbon tax hasn’t motivated them and that the tax hasn’t effectively reduced fossil fuel use in the province.  Again I must say if we understand how the carbon tax works in BC,  one would be more motivated to change.  it’s like if you don’t understand the coupon, would you use it?  Regarding to the comment on the effect of BC’s carbon tax - i think we need to wait a bit to see the report card. I haven’t seen any data specifically states the province’s GHG emissions since the introduction of the carbon tax, and to be honest I would love to see it.  Before it is released (which i think it certainly will, unless Liberals loses this election), we should be skeptical but be aware that we need to know more before we draw the conclusion.  

Finally, another intriguing quote from the poll:

In a further on-line survey of 1,000 British Columbian voters, Harris-Decima found about as many respondents were angry with B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell for introducing the tax as were angry with NDP Leader Carole James for opposing it.

Harris-Decima poll, 2009

What are your thoughts??

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