http://www.greenlivingonline.com/Energy/cp-5629/
(Apr 7, 2008)
(The Canadian Press) MONTREAL -- Former U.S. vice-president Al Gore was full of praise on Saturday for Quebec's environmental policies but much less forthcoming about what he thought of Canada's record. 
"I am going to try to stay out of Canadian politics -- I'm even trying to stay out of U.S. politics these days," Gore said to chuckles at a news conference.
"Quebec has really done a much better job than many regions around the world."
Gore, who was in Montreal to attend an environmental training session, lauded Premier Jean Charest's government for becoming the first Canadian jurisdiction to introduce a carbon tax.
"Quebec has been the first province to adopt a CO2 tax, which is generally considered to be the single most sensible and effective policy response," said Gore, who won the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize for his work on the global-warming issue.
"You know, CO2 is invisible and tasteless and odourless and it comes with no price tag, so it's invisible to the economy.
Gore said he would like to see a CO2 tax in the United States so it becomes "visible to the economy."
"Quebec has begun to do that. Now British Columbia has also done it. Quebec has taken other steps that are to be commended also."
Gore noted that he worked with Charest at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, when the current premier was federal environment minister in Brian Mulroney's Conservative government.
Quebec's carbon tax, which kicked in last year, directs revenues to initiatives supporting green technology.
The plan was created to help Quebec reach Kyoto Protocol targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to below 1990 levels by 2012.
Last month, the Conservatives released details of their greenhouse gas reduction plan, which they say will result in a 20 per cent drop in emissions from 2006 levels by 2020.
Gore clearly did not want to openly criticize Prime Minister Stephen Harper's government.
"As for Canada as a whole, again, I am going to try to stay out of Canadian politics," he said.
"This is not, or should not be, a political issue. This is a moral issue. It's an ethical issue. It's a spiritual issue in that we have to decide who we are as a people.
"Are we destined to destroy the environment that we depend upon? Is it OK for us to condemn future generations to a diminished Earth? Of course not.
"I'm trying to avoid the political situation, in part because I'm trying to lift this issue into a moral framework where I think it belongs."
Al Gore praises Quebec's environmental record
Image: Tom Sandler
"I am going to try to stay out of Canadian politics -- I'm even trying to stay out of U.S. politics these days," Gore said to chuckles at a news conference.
"Quebec has really done a much better job than many regions around the world."
Gore, who was in Montreal to attend an environmental training session, lauded Premier Jean Charest's government for becoming the first Canadian jurisdiction to introduce a carbon tax.
"Quebec has been the first province to adopt a CO2 tax, which is generally considered to be the single most sensible and effective policy response," said Gore, who won the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize for his work on the global-warming issue.
"You know, CO2 is invisible and tasteless and odourless and it comes with no price tag, so it's invisible to the economy.
Gore said he would like to see a CO2 tax in the United States so it becomes "visible to the economy."
"Quebec has begun to do that. Now British Columbia has also done it. Quebec has taken other steps that are to be commended also."
Gore noted that he worked with Charest at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, when the current premier was federal environment minister in Brian Mulroney's Conservative government.
Quebec's carbon tax, which kicked in last year, directs revenues to initiatives supporting green technology.
The plan was created to help Quebec reach Kyoto Protocol targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to below 1990 levels by 2012.
Last month, the Conservatives released details of their greenhouse gas reduction plan, which they say will result in a 20 per cent drop in emissions from 2006 levels by 2020.
Gore clearly did not want to openly criticize Prime Minister Stephen Harper's government.
"As for Canada as a whole, again, I am going to try to stay out of Canadian politics," he said.
"This is not, or should not be, a political issue. This is a moral issue. It's an ethical issue. It's a spiritual issue in that we have to decide who we are as a people.
"Are we destined to destroy the environment that we depend upon? Is it OK for us to condemn future generations to a diminished Earth? Of course not.
"I'm trying to avoid the political situation, in part because I'm trying to lift this issue into a moral framework where I think it belongs."
2 Comments
posted Apr 21, 2008 - 5:31 pm by Adriano G
Although the idea of having the co2 emmissions become a tangible thing for the common person, in a place like Ontario that ommits possibly the highest co2 emmissions in Canada we're already highly overtaxed. This creates a lack of respect for the overall picture and a hatred for the cause..... in my opinion bad idea.
posted Apr 25, 2008 - 3:25 pm by Julie
Yes, Ontario is overtaxed;however, a carbon tax is designed to encourage alternatives to fossil fuel consumption as it is based on usage. If you don't want to pay the tax then get out of your SUV and ride your bike (BTW: bikecycle purchases are PST exempt in Ontario) or take public transit to work. People are not going to give up their gas guzzling lifestyles willingly so it's about time the government started making people pay to pollute. I think a carbon tax is the best way to lower co2 emissions and something we should have done years ago.
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