Environmental coalition gallops to the defence of the carbon tax

"Environmental reality check aims to clear the air on B.C. carbon tax," the release said. There followed a succinct exposé of "the top five misconceptions" about the tax.

For instance, there was "Myth 2 -- big industry is let off the hook," an argument that has been cited many times by critics of the tax.

"Not true," said the coalition's accompanying five-page paper. "B.C.'s carbon tax covers emissions from burning fossil fuels for both business and individual consumers."

Industry will in fact pay a bigger share of the tax, "because industry and business burn more fossil fuels than households."

Mind, the carbon tax only applies to "about two-thirds of the total greenhouse gas emissions produced by industry."

The other third "include emissions released intentionally or unintentionally during the production, processing and transmission of fossil fuels in the oil and gas sector, such as leaks from natural gas pipelines. Another example is the production of lime in making cement, which has carbon dioxide as a byproduct."

Those are included in the provincial scheme as well, the coalition continued. "The B.C. government has promised to reduce emission sources not subject to the carbon tax, through regulation or through a cap-and-trade system for industrial emitters."

The Liberals have already brought in enabling legislation for a western regional cap-and-trade system. Details are now being negotiated with two Canadian provinces and a half-dozen U.S. states.

"This is a legitimate and practical approach," the release said, "as long as these regulations come into effect by 2009 and are well-designed."

Note the caveats. By next year. Well-designed.

"An alternative approach would be to broaden the carbon tax to cover these additional sources," offered the release. "A delay . . . on the remaining industrial emissions would be unfair, as B.C. households and many businesses are taking responsible action now because of the carbon tax incentive."

So the support comes with an element of caution. The Liberals are reminded to remain on track to regulate the emissions not captured by the carbon tax.

But for now the groups are sufficiently impressed to give them the benefit of the doubt.

The other five myths? One: "The B.C. carbon tax won't reduce emissions." Three: "B.C.'s carbon tax is a 'tax grab' or additional tax." Four: "B.C.'s carbon tax will unfairly penalize consumers who are reeling from high international oil prices." Five: "B.C. has introduced a 'gas tax.' "

Detailed argument on all five points can be read online at the website for the David Suzuki foundation, www.davidsuzuki.org.

One has to note that this reality check is endorsed by groups that seldom align themselves with the B.C. Liberals.

There's the Suzuki Foundation. The Western Canada Wilderness Committee. West Coast Environmental Law. The Sierra Club of Canada. The Dogwood Initiative. And the leading left-of-centre think-tank, the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives.

No one could fairly accuse any of those organizations of holding back on the Liberals over the years.

But they've not let their often severe criticisms keep them from endorsing what they regard as a critical step in fighting climate change.

The strange-bedfellows alignment is one of the more fascinating aspects of the debate on climate change.

The New Democrats, in their provincewide campaign to "axe the tax," find themselves in cahoots with the Canadian Taxpayers' Federation, some business leaders, climate change deniers, and people who don't like taxes of any kind.

Many of those folks are supporters of the B.C. Liberals, just as many of the government's newfound friends on the climate file would otherwise be counted as NDP supporters.

The single issue of the carbon tax -- enormous as it seems in the current furore over the price at the pumps -- many not change those voting preferences come next May's election.

If voters do begin to move, one has to note the asymmetry on the political spectrum.

NDP supporters upset by the party's opposition to the carbon tax have the readily available option of voting voting Green in the next election.

But where the Greens are in the mid-teens in the opinion polls and well poised to run a full slate of candidates, there's no party in that position on the right side of the spectrum.

At this time. That could change, of course, if the anti-carbon tax sentiment persists and the Liberals persist in taking their supporters for granted.

But for now it strikes me that the New Democrats are running a bigger risk than the Liberals of alienating traditional supporters.