The Toronto Star published an article on March 8 indicating that, in a recent report from the TD Bank, economists were in favour of a “global warming tax”, or a carbon tax by another name. Read the article here. The economists, apparently, said that this new tax could be offset by “shifting” the revenue to cut taxes in other areas.
Since tax shifting has long been a proposal underlying the Green Party platform, I decided to write a letter to the editor about it. My letter was published today, with some editing.
Here is what The Star published:
It’s encouraging to see economists from a major bank come to terms with the idea of tax-shifting in order to address environmental concerns.
“Taxing those who actually pollute creates an incentive to change behaviour,” the story reads. “Thus, the consumer would pay for car pollution, and industry would pay for pollution associated with the production process.”
The Green party has been advocating this for years.
And for the record, here is what I actually wrote:
It’s encouraging to see economists from a major Canadian bank (TD) come to terms with the idea of tax shifting in order to address environmental concerns. [Economists favour global warming tax, March 8]
…taxing those who actually pollute creates an incentive to change behaviour. Thus, the consumer would pay for car pollution, and industry would pay for pollution associated with the production process. The revenues would be shifted into cutting taxes in other areas or to finance subsidies that further help the environment.
It is indeed very encouraging to see the TD bank economists adopt the stance that the Green Party has been advocating for years.
Perhaps some recognition of this fact by the Canadian Press would help people’s understanding as they head for the polls in the upcoming federal and provincial elections.
I always find these edits interesting. It’s annoying when they take out an important aspect of my message, though today’s example is not too bad. But it makes me wonder whether we are getting the true flavour of how other writers feel.
