BURNABY, B.C. - A Liberal government's Green Shift carbon-tax scheme would be good for the whole country, including British Columbia, leader Stephane Dion said Tuesday.
Dion was speaking to a Board of Trade audience in Burnaby, B.C., a province that has been wrestling with an unpopular carbon tax since the provincial measure went into effect in July.
A federal carbon tax would be easily harmonized with provincial laws in B.C. because the two plans are different -- most significantly in the case of gasoline, which is already taxed at the federal level, Dion said.
He said he would work closely with B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell to ensure the Green Shift is good for both the province's economy and its environment.
"We want to put a price on greenhouse gas emissions, we want to be effective in the fight against climate change, but we want also to boost the economy of British Columbia," Dion said.
"I'm very confident we will be able to harmonize the two plans in an optimal way, both for the economy of British Columbia and the fight against climate change in British Columbia."
Dion billed himself as the best choice for voters who are concerned about environmental stewardship, given his eight years at the federal cabinet table under the Environment portfolio.
"Our Green Shift plan will reduce our reliance on fossil fuels, will make our economy more energy efficient, and will make it more prosperous," he said.
"By taxing less what we want more of -- our income, our investments, our savings -- and taxing more what we want less of -- our pollution, our waste, our greenhouse gas emissions -- we will move our economy forward. We will be a stronger country, we will be stronger collectively."
Dion also went after Prime Minister Stephen Harper and the Tories for cutting some $45 million out of arts and culture funding -- an issue that was expected to garner attention Tuesday with the NDP offering tax breaks to artists and a major concert in Quebec aimed at raising awareness.
A Liberal government would restore arts and culture funding, he said.
"Some will say, `Don't do that, the economy will have difficulties.' Well, if there is a return on investment that is very advantageous, it is when you invest in arts and culture," Dion said.
"Beyond that, we want to have fun in life. Under a Liberal government, Canada will have more movies, more novels, more theatres and more music."
