By Sheldon Spackman

replacing Carbon Tax with new savings account

Local MPs pleased with Conservative climate change plan

Apr 22, 2021 | 11:54 AM

The Conservative MP for Red Deer – Lacombe says central Alberta stands to benefit from his party’s proposed new climate change plan.

Blaine Calkins says the plan would scrap the current federal carbon tax and work with provinces to implement a national Personal Low Carbon Savings Account that would maintain a price on carbon, without any money going to the government.

The account would work like a loyalty rewards program where each time a hydrocarbon-based fuel is purchased, the consumer would be putting money into a tax-free savings account by using their personal account card. That money would in turn be spent on items to help Canadians lower their carbon input.

“I think that as time goes on, Canadians will come up with good ideas on what that money can be used on, whether it’s something to do with reducing emissions at their home, in our vehicles, or maybe even contributing that money through donating to organizations that actually do real environmental benefits,” suggests Calkins. “It does not go to the government to redistribute, so that money that’s collected in Alberta will stay in Alberta and it will be spent by Albertans on things that are important to Albertans.”

The Conservative plan also includes several other measures such as requiring automakers to sell more zero emission vehicles, lowering industrial emissions, increasing use of renewable natural gas, and implementing a low carbon fuel standard.

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“There’s good things in the plan for agriculture, for low till, for preserving lands, alternative land-use, environmental goods and services from the land,” adds Calkins.

Red Deer – Mountain View MP Earl Dreeshen says Conservatives have always been the party which cares the most about conserving Canada’s resources, protecting our soils and waters, and taking action to preserve the environment we live in.

“Farmers and ranchers are some of the best environmental stewards on the planet. Canada’s resource sector is the cleanest and one of the most environmentally conscientious in the world,” Dreeshen said in a statement to rdnewsNOW. “Oil and gas companies contribute millions of dollars each year to develop renewable resources. As western Canadians, we all understand the need to preserve the environment for future generations.”

Dreeshen says young Canadians in particular want to see the party take action on this front.

“We will need a broader base of voter support than we have had in the past if we are going to form Canada’s next government,” he admits. “That doesn’t mean that we should abandon our core principles. But it does mean we need to be willing to accommodate and listen to the views of different interests and groups from different regions.

“Our plan has been vetted by independent analysts who have concluded that it will reduce emissions, create jobs, and grow the economy in all regions of the country,” adds Dreeshen. “This is in sharp contrast to the Liberal government’s approach to protecting the environment, which independent analysts have also concluded will cripple our international competitiveness, close businesses, and eliminate hundreds of thousands of jobs across Canada.”