Most Canadians want tax cuts linked to eco-goals
A poll by Decima Research has found that 51 per cent of respondents prefer that the government give tax cuts that are tied to environmental actions (the Liberal position), presumably doing things like buying energy-efficient appliances and driving hybrid cars. The same poll found only 28 per cent wanted tax cuts with no strings attached (the Conservative position), while the rest were unsure what they preferred.
Being creative with tax policy to achieve environmental goals isn’t a new idea — it’s been pitched by both the NDP and Green Party. But finally the public is seeing value in this approach in light of concerns about global warming and environmental degradation.
Tyler Hamilton is senior energy reporter and columnist for the Toronto Star, Canada's largest daily newspaper. In addition to this Clean Break blog, Tyler writes a weekly column of the same name that discusses trends, happenings and innovators in the cleantech market. This blog is a personal project started in April 2005. It is not an official blog of the newspaper. Tyler can be reached at tyler@cleanbreak.ca