Nova Scotia Premier slams Liberal carbon tax plan

Finally, a provincial premiere speaks out against the so called "Green Shift" tax grab...

The Canadian Press

August 21, 2008 at 4:42 PM EDT

HALIFAX — Premier Rodney MacDonald ramped up his fight against the carbon tax plan proposed by the federal Liberals on Thursday, saying Nova Scotia would be hurt by it because the province relies heavily on fossil fuels.

Carbon tax advocates say that by increasing the price of fossil fuels, people would be encouraged to use less.

However, Mr. MacDonald said fossil fuels produce 90 per cent of the electricity in the province and account for 60 per cent of its home heating.

He said the higher cost would only drive up the cost of everything else that depends on fuel for production or delivery.

"We, along with Alberta, are going to be most impacted," said Mr. MacDonald. "This so-called solution for the environment is no solution at all for Nova Scotia."

The Premier said the province intends to meet its stated target of a greenhouse gas reduction of 10 per cent below 1990 levels by 2020.

"But we don't believe taxing people is the way to do it," he said.

full article here