MPs put forth environmental platforms

By Christy Marsters

Transcontinental Media

NovaNewsNow.com

Federal election candidates in Kings-Hants squared off Thursday in Windsor at a forum sponsored by The Hants Journal. Liberal Scott Brison, New Democrat Carol Harris and Green candidate Brendan MacNeill appeared before about 100 people at the Legion Hall, but Conservative Rosemary Segado did not. She had a scheduling conflict and was in Shubenacadie at a meet-and-greet at the time of the Windsor forum.

However, a number of issues were explored, including the deteriorating environment as it pertains to global warming and greenhouse gases.

Brison said his party’s plan is to cut income taxes and shift to pollution management. “You can’t address climate change unless you put a price on carbon,” he said, “because any plan to deal with climate change will have an effect on energy prices.

“Our plan is the only plan of any national party that will actually help Canadians cut taxes so they can afford higher energy,” Brison said. “Plus, we have a plan to help Canadians gain from their homes. Up to $20,000 for every Canadian homeowner to invest in geothermal, solar, heat pumps, new furnaces, new windows and new doors.

“Energy costs are going to continue to go up,” Brison said. “So the only way a government can help Canadians deal with higher energy costs is to help Canadians use less energy. And our plan is the best plan to help.”

‘Don’t want a regressive tax’: Harris

Harris said having a carbon tax would be helpful, but it needs to be blended with a tax that will hit the polluters first and foremost. “We don’t want a regressive tax hitting farmers in the fields and everyone through gas and oil prices.

“I’m meeting people who are making choices between food and whether they’ll heat their house this coming winter,” Harris said. “Home efficiencies will take a while to change and we just can’t lump yet another gas and oil tax on those who can least afford it.”

Also, of equal importance, is an enhanced transportation system, Harris added.

MacNeill said creating a national transportation railway system across Canada, upon which the country was built, will help greatly to reduce gas emissions.

“The Liberals’ green shift fails to recognize one of the larges problems we have, which is our transportation,” MacNeill said. “They’re not going to tax gas and if you don’t tax gas you’re not going to push consumers into getting not hybrids, but electric cars.

“If consumers are led to making the right choices, the environment will benefit,” he added. “One of the largest parts of our platform is creating a national transportation system.”