 |
Money
Sign up for our FREE online daily news service. Your up to the minute business information source.
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Last updated at 8:45 AM on 17/07/08 |
P.E.I. premier endorses federal Liberals’ so-called green shift 
THE CANADIAN PRESS
CHARLOTTETOWN — P.E.I. Premier Robert Ghiz is endorsing a controversial plan by federal Liberal Leader Stephane Dion that will increase taxes on home heating fuel while cutting income tax to offset the increase.
The green shift, as the Liberals are calling it, is aimed at discouraging pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.
“I think green shift is the way to go,” Ghiz said in an interview. “I think it’s a good idea, but what we have to do is make sure it doesn’t hurt jurisdictions like Prince Edward Island.
“What we have to do as a provincial government is make sure that we work with whatever party is in power federally to make sure that when that tax shift does take place, that seniors have more money, that low income Islanders do have more money.”
But the Island’s Conservative energy critic, Mike Currie, said the green shift will take up to $26 million more annually out of the pockets of Islanders. He said that’s because the plan will push up the price for home heating oil, propane and diesel.
His staff at the Opposition office crunched the numbers.
Currie said the green shift will push up the price of home heating fuel — already at records highs — by another 11.3 cents per litre; it will drive the price of propane up by another 6.1 cents per litre; and it will increase the price of diesel, which is as high as $1.60 per litre at full service stations on the Island, by another seven cents per litre.
Gasoline would be exempt from the green shift’s carbon tax.
“I think that this guy (Ghiz) is running this government off the seat of his pants,” said Currie, who has spent 20 years in the oil business.
“I really get frustrated with how they are running government. I don’t think him or his staff gave this five minutes’ notice.”
Currie said he’s hearing every day how Islanders are already suffering from the record-high price of fuels, including home heating fuel. He said the green shift will only add to the burden.
The federal Liberals claim that any increases in fuel costs will be offset by tax cuts.
“I just can’t believe that the premier is not placing Islanders first.”
Islanders can expect to hear a lot more about the green shift in the coming days.
Dion will be in Prince Edward Island on Friday for a town hall meeting on his green shift plan.
|
17/07/08
© 2009 
|
Comments: |
|
This Conversation is Semi-Moderated. What is moderation?
|
| What does moderation mean? |
 |
The Truro Daily News is committed to encouraging intelligent discourse among our readers and to creating a forum where diverse views and opinions on a wide range of topics can be aired. The forum you are in now is a result of our continuing efforts to facilitate a dynamic online conversation among our readers.
This is a semi-moderated or reactively moderated conversation. Once a reader follows the steps to register and submit his or her comment it goes directly to the website. A comment may be edited or deleted for reasons of content or language.
All readers wishing to join a conversation must first sign in and agree to the Terms of Usage, which explain the rules of acceptable content.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Bill from Ontario writes: So what Ghiz is saying is that he's in favour of the plan as long as it doesn't negatively affect P.E.I. . . . . which of course it will, in a BIG way. Ghiz's statement could just as easily be spoken by any politician in any jurisdiction. What garbage!!
|
| Posted 17/07/2008 at 3:55 PM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
| ALERT US ABOUT THIS COMMENT |
|
Please let us know if this reader's comment breaks the rules explained in the Terms of Usage and is obscene, abusive, threatening, unlawful, harassing, defamatory, profane or racially offensive by selecting the appropriate option to describe the problem.
Do not use this to complain about comments that don't break the rules, for example those comments that you disagree with or contain spelling errors or multiple postings.
|
|
|
Al Neumann from BC writes: Mike Currie, Conservative, and 20 years in the OIL business, would, of course, criticize any environmental initiative and anyone who would support it. It's in Currie's best interest for all of us to continue our wreckless dependency on oil. What does Currie care? It's all about profit margins, right?! In his corporate world, money trumps environment every time.
A. Neumann
|
| Posted 17/07/2008 at 5:27 PM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
| ALERT US ABOUT THIS COMMENT |
|
Please let us know if this reader's comment breaks the rules explained in the Terms of Usage and is obscene, abusive, threatening, unlawful, harassing, defamatory, profane or racially offensive by selecting the appropriate option to describe the problem.
Do not use this to complain about comments that don't break the rules, for example those comments that you disagree with or contain spelling errors or multiple postings.
|
|
|
|
R M from BC writes: It is called the Green Shaft . Someone should ask Ghiz how much GHGs will the CARBON TAX on Everything will actually reduce. Ask him that question and hear what he says. HE WONT HAVE AN ANSWER! Neither does Stephanie Dion! Islanders should reject this BS TAX ON EVERYTHING!
|
| Posted 17/07/2008 at 6:22 PM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
| ALERT US ABOUT THIS COMMENT |
|
Please let us know if this reader's comment breaks the rules explained in the Terms of Usage and is obscene, abusive, threatening, unlawful, harassing, defamatory, profane or racially offensive by selecting the appropriate option to describe the problem.
Do not use this to complain about comments that don't break the rules, for example those comments that you disagree with or contain spelling errors or multiple postings.
|
|
|
Al Neumann from BC writes: Message to poster, RM:
Are you reading from Stephen Harper's Conservative script book. Here are the directions: in a rude and juvenile way, discredit Stephane Dion and the Liberal Party's Green Shift plan. Repeat the phrase as often as you can: Green Shaft ... Green Shaft ... Green Shaft ...(grow up, you guys!). Then, try to incorporate this phrase into any letter to the editor or call in to radio stations: Stephane Dion's Tax on Everything , etc., etc., .
I'm telling you, the Conservatives are starting to remind me more and more of boarding school bullies...if you dare to come up with original and bold ideas that capture the attention and the imagination of the people, then look out: the Conservatives are going to wait for you after school and make you pay for it. They are very angry people!
Al
|
| Posted 18/07/2008 at 1:41 AM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
| ALERT US ABOUT THIS COMMENT |
|
Please let us know if this reader's comment breaks the rules explained in the Terms of Usage and is obscene, abusive, threatening, unlawful, harassing, defamatory, profane or racially offensive by selecting the appropriate option to describe the problem.
Do not use this to complain about comments that don't break the rules, for example those comments that you disagree with or contain spelling errors or multiple postings.
|
|
|
NOTE
The management of this site emphasizes that it is in no way liable for persons, physical or legal, who are hosted here. Moreover, the managers of this site may not be held liable for errors and omissions that may slip into the information displayed in these reader comments. Everyone who submits a comment should read, understand and agree to the Terms of Usage for this section.
|
|
|
|
|
|
