Today’s comments were selected, in part, because stories about Doug Ford are being widely read by Globe readers. The comments were also selected because their authors offer more than partisan views or brought humour into the discussion.
From Ontario Premier Doug Ford courts allies in carbon fight with Ottawa by Bill Curry and Justin Giovannetti
It can be spun a number of different ways, but the end result is that there is a belief that we can buy our way to actually changing the rate of emissions and thus having some effect on the climate. Studies by the International Energy Agency, an agency that monitors global emissions, have shown that emissions are going up not down. This would indicate if nothing else, that what we are doing is not sufficient.
This brings us back to the carbon tax, which will tax fossil fuels and things related to it. The assumption that has been pointed out many times, is that faced with additional costs we will use less. There simply isn’t evidence to support that yet, as people still need to heat their homes and use their transportation. People may well decide that paying the tax is the cost they are willing to bear, which negates the purpose of the tax. When people criticize the upcoming tax, two things are tossed out: one, you must be a climate denier, and two, we must do something. It’s not logical to do something that is costly, if it has no effect, and criticizing an ineffectual costly plan doesn’t make you a climate denier, it just implies that you are weighing the actions with the possible results. - JeffSpooner
There is no logical argument or evidence that climate change is not happening. What is at issue is whether a carbon tax will have any effect. Protestations that developing countries aren’t taking action are nothing more than deflection. If you haven’t yet learned that two wrongs don’t make a right, it’s time to grow up. What is missing is an explanation of how taxing carbon will help. I have no choice but to heat my home, and must use transportation of some kind. Higher prices won’t change my behaviour to any significant degree, they will just mean I have less for other things. I doubt I am alone there. If revenue was specifically directed to improving battery technology, carbon sequestration, or other measures, it would be a good tax. This would be doubly true if funding was given only to companies that can demonstrate investment within Canada. Green energy has the potential to create thousands of jobs.I have seen no such plans, and even if we get rebates making the tax revenue neutral, that won’t create the tipping point that makes renewable energy viable. I support a carbon tax, but not in the forms I have seen so far. - WhistlingInTheDark
In response to WhistlingInTheDark:
In a word, a carbon tax could be a good thing, if one could trust any government not to make it just another revenue grab. Even the supposedly revenue neutral B.C. carbon tax has gone prodigal in recent years. In my opinion, the tax should be administered through a trust, with exact and transparent rules on disbursement of the proceeds, so the public can see the money coming in, and see where the money is going out. The disbursement method and portions should be covered in legislation, not the result of the whimsy of the government of the day. Getting formal about this will allow a proper audit and evaluation of the efficacy of the tax in terms of building the clean economy. - Slofstra
From Ontario will support Saskatchewan’s legal challenge of federal climate plan, Premier Ford says, by Bill Curry
Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister is making the rational choice on this matter. Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe and Ontario Premier Doug Ford are not. How much will this futile constitutional challenge cost the taxpayers of Saskatchewan and Ontario? - Kate2888
What a breath of fresh air, to see Ontario and Saskatchewan stand up to the nonsense that Trudeau is trying to force upon everyone. Nice to see that they don't believe that imposing onerous taxes on everyone is going to magical fix everything. The carbon tax is a tax grab, nothing more, nothing less - ken2682
In response to ken2682:
Ah, the irony, the hypocrisy, of two couldn't-care-less-about-the-environment types described as a breath of fresh air. - Michele K
From Doug Ford’s fiscal crackdown begins with a glaring waste of taxpayers' money by David Parkinson
We are now being governed by pious invokers of fiscal responsibility and hysterical debt alarmists, who are perfectly okay with Fordian fiscal policies that will explode the deficit.When Doug Ford and his supporters condemn Liberal fiscal actions but accept his fiscal incoherence, that's mendacious hypocrisy. - highconcept
In response to highconcept:
It is not hypocrisy. It is a hope and a prayer. Ford was the only candidate to offer even a hint of fiscal restraint. If you feel that is an important issue for this province then he was the only option - DC Toronto
It is a lot easier to blame your predecessor than come up with fresh thinking -- and easier still than coming up with fresh sources of revenue. Mr. Ford will neither rein in spending nor generate more revenue. He will spend differently, and if you would rather mortgage your future to his vision than Kathleen Wynne’s I suppose he might be the better alternative. That will only hold if you prefer his brand of hypocrisy to hers, though. - WhistlingInTheDark
From the Comments is a new feature designed to highlight interesting and thoughtful contributions from our readers. Some comments have been edited for clarity. Everyone can read the comments but only subscribers will be able to contribute. Thank you to everyone furthering debate across our site.