Thus far, any solutions and ideas that have been brought forth by other Canadian political parties have been less than satisfactory. We currently have a party in power that does not take the pending devastation seriously. They have ignored the Kyoto Accord, a pact that Canada signed under a previous government.

The United Party of Canada thinks it is time that Canada stopped relying on fossil fuels and started relying on greener options.

Under this policy, The United Party of Canada will guide the country into a new “Revenue Sharing System”:  A system that will move away from pollution and fossil fuels, and away from inequality and poverty. The goal of this new system is to solve the environmental problem that Canada faces.

The United Party of Canada will also use other methods of guiding Canada into a new era such as changes in infrastructure and appliances and vehicles and new concentration into research and development.  Canada needs to stop being a follower and start being a leader. As a country we can do this.

The United Party of Canada can lead Canada to a new green beginning.

The first step is to implement a Fee for Polluting.  This fee will stop polluters from profiting from rising energy prices. It will be implemented quickly and simply. It will “cover approximately 75 per cent of all domestic emissions”. It will in turn, allow “our economy to immediately begin the needed transition to clean energy, efficiency and low emissions”. The idea behind the fee is to convince and encourage industry to pollute less. It will also create new demand in Canada for green products and green technologies. It will level the playing field.  It will allow companies that want to introduce clean energy or more efficient solutions the flexibility to do so.  Currently, they are at a disadvantage.

The revenue collected by the Fee for Polluting will end up back in the pockets of Canadians. The Fee for Polluting will be implemented at $10.00 per tonne of greenhouse gas emissions.  It will rise by $10.00 per tonne each year for 4 years.  After the first four years, the Fee for Polluting will steadily increase until it reflects the true social costs of pollution.  The Fee for Polluting will target the wholesale level, across the country, to the full range of fossil fuels including coal, propane, natural gas, oil and diesel.

The Fee for Polluting will affect Canadians in the following way.

The price at the pump will not be affected.  Currently, there is 10 cents per litre fee which is the equivalent to $42.00 per tonne of greenhouse emissions.  Diesel and aviation fuel would not be affected in the first year of the new Fee for Polluting.  Currently there is a 4 cent a litre fee on both.  Other fossil fuels used by Canadians are not subject to a fee and therefore will be subject to the new Fee for Polluting.

The cost of filling a 20 lb. propane tank will rise 24 cents in the first year and 95 cents by the end of the 4^th year. The price of the average household using heating oil will rise $50.00 (or $4.20 per month) and $203.00 by the end of the 4^th year.

The average household using natural gas will rise from either $57 to 66.50 per year (or $4.75-$5.54 per month) and $228 to $266 per year by the 4^th year.  The average Canadian family will see an annual increase in direct costs totalling $270.00.

The “Revenue Sharing” would take the form of different tax cuts and incentives.  The tax cuts will range from income tax cuts for both middle and lower income Canadians to corporate tax rates.

The Universal Child Tax Benefit will see an increase.  The Employment credit will be redesigned to help more Canadians.  The Working Income Tax Benefit will help lower income workers starting at the first dollar earned instead of after the first $3000.00.  The Disability Tax Credit will be made refundable.

Canadians in Northern and Rural parts of Canada will also see increased support since their cost of living will be affected by the Fee for Polluting.  This support will be in the form of an annual Green Rural Credit and a boost in the Northern Residents Deduction (NRD).

The “Revenue Sharing System” will also help low-income seniors and low income families, by helping lift them out of poverty and better enabling them to contribute to society. 

Businesses will also benefit from the Fee for Polluting.  They will see support in the form of Broad-based corporate income tax reductions, small business income tax reductions, an Accelerated Capital Cost Allowance for green technologies and Better Research and Development incentives.

Another significant part of the “Revenue Sharing” is the 1 billion contingency offset.  This is designed to off-set the impact of the Fee for Polluting on groups such as not-for-profit organizations and charities.  It will also be used to design tax relief to address unanticipated and unavoidable costs.

While the “Revenue Sharing System” and subsequent tax cuts are important they are only half of what would lead Canada to being a leader in establishing a green environment.  For this policy to be a success, minor changes needs to be made within Canada itself.

Some of the changes include the elimination of all non-energy star rated appliances and inefficient light bulbs; removal of all funding for new nuclear power plants; removal of all subsidies from the fossil fuel industry; Cap extraction levels of oil, gas and coal; regulate vehicle emissions; provide tax deductible green industrial mortgages; offer significant tax incentives/support for conservation and renewable energy development; create a carbon market and have it overseen by a non-governmental body (Montreal Stock Exchange); create a Canadian Carbon Bank; Retrofit all buildings to a high level of efficiency; Provide strong support for walking, cycling, transit, coaches, rail, tele-working and video conferencing; tax credits for LEED Gold and Silver Buildings.

This new Green Policy – “Revenue Sharing System” can help shape a new energy efficient Canada.

The country needs to be rescued and this is the rescue plan to do it.