JOHN FELDSTED -- The federal government pretense that Canada’s contributions to C02 emissions, will help or hurt the rate and extent of climate change, is unsupported by fact
There
has been a good deal of publicity surrounding the Ontario Appeal Court decision
on federal carbon pricing. Politicians and the media contend that the OAC
decision is a confirmation of federal government powers under the peace, order
and good government provision of the constitution.
The
issues underlying federal carbon pricing legislation run far deeper than that.
The Ontario Court and now the Ontario Appeal Court have held that we have a
matter of national concern merely because the government of the day declares
that it is so.
The
OAC decision was not unanimous and the dissenting opinion has not received due
attention. Justice Grant Huscroft wrote the dissenting opinion. I suggest you
give the writeup on his opinion in the National
Post a read. It is enlightening.
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| Many would argue our vast forests make Canada carbon neutral |
The
Ontario (and Saskatchewan) rulings on the federal carbon pricing law violate
the spirit of constitutional division of powers between the federal and
provincial governments. Provinces generally have power over all local affairs,
that is, all matters within their boundaries including the development,
regulation and taxation of natural resources. The powers of the federal
government are different from, but not superior to the powers of the provinces.
Environmental
issues do not confer special powers on the federal government. Subjects like
the environment have to be considered in the context of which aspects are local
and which, if any, are federal.
Climate
change is not isolated to Canada; it is a worldwide phenomenon. The federal
government pretense that Canada’s contributions to carbon dioxide emissions
will help or hurt the rate and extent of climate change is unsupported by fact.
Climate change can have profound effects on our environment. Our government has
it backward, believing that regulating the environment can control climate
change.
The
world reduction in carbon dioxide emissions are well short of meeting targets
set at the 2015 Paris climate change conference. There are only 57 nations who
have or are expected to have peaked CO2 emission by 2020 and they
represent only 40% of major emitting nations. See World Energy System Not On Track to
Meet Paris Agreement Goals Page 7.
The
danger within the federal carbon price law is that it overrides provincial
jurisdiction without adequate justification. This government cannot show that
implementing its escalating prices on carbon-based energy sources will protect
us from suffering future ill effects of climate change. It cannot show that the
$ billions of income and investment resulting from our failure to develop
petroleum and other resources are justified. Canadians are already paying
heavily for government policies that inhibit resource development.
The
precedent set is onerous. If allowed to stand, the federal government acquires
the power to write law and regulations on any issue by declaring it to be of
national importance. That is a violation of democratic principles.
Our
federal government has spent four years inundating us with and questionable
propaganda to demonize fossil fuels and shame us
into accepting that we are contributing to a climatic apocalypse. Rather than
responding to public concerns, this government is creating public concerns.
That is not what they were elected to do.
The
origins of this passion lie in the large and expensive Canadian contingent sent
to the Paris climate change conference in December 2015 when this government
was barely in office. Justin Trudeau and compatriots were determined to make a
major ‘Canada is back’ statement and take a lead role in combatting climate
change. That fit his objective of securing a seat on the UN Security Council.
Canada
never left the world stage. We were quiet, staid, but respected. That is no
longer the case.
John
Feldsted
Political
Consultant & Strategist
Winnipeg,
Manitoba
Where did John Feldsted get his science degree? Fair question.
ReplyDeleteSeriously John? "Questionable propaganda demonizing fossil fuels." It won't make a difference if we reduce our emissions? Good grief. THIS could is propaganda. Reads like a press release from Big Oil. But I do agree that the carbon tax is ridiculous. We can't tax our way out of this one. We need strong and immediate legislation in our resource sector. If foreign companies won't comply, nationalize them. Let Canadians control their own destiny.
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