In regard to Dion’s proposed green tax or user fee for oil, natural gas and coal, etc., we Canadians would be naive indeed if we thought the tax would be revenue-neutral as the Liberal party implies. Most people would be paying out far more than they would recoup in the form of income tax cuts.

However, let’s assume for the sake of argument that the tax will be revenue-neutral and that all taxpayers in Canada would get a substantial income tax break come next April. The fly in the ointment is that the people of Quebec would get the same tax break as the rest of Canada (ROC) for a sacrifice that they didn’t make in the first place because their energy is almost entirely hydro electricity.

Meanwhile, ROC would get only some of its money back while Quebecers pocket the difference. Is this fair? No wonder Dion is so gung-ho on the idea, because his province would be in a win-win situation while the rest of us, especially Alberta and Saskatchewan, pay through the hose-er nose.

Cam Walker,
Rebecca Lake, Dwight