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Speak Up

There has been much discussion lately in the media about the need for Canada to introduce a carbon tax in order to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions. I believe that imposing a new tax on hard-working Canadians is the wrong approach.

A carbon tax will raise the price of gasoline, electricity and everything else you buy. It will kill jobs. For those who use home heating oil, it will lead to a massive increase in cost over the course of the winter. For those living on fixed-incomes, particularly seniors, a carbon tax represents an unacceptable burden.

For cabbies, truckers, and those who make the daily commute to work, a carbon tax will make high gas prices that much higher. The added transportation costs for basic necessities, such as food, will mean higher prices at the grocery store. A carbon tax will also put thousands of Canadian manufacturing jobs at risk.

At a time of rising global food and energy prices and increasing demand around the world, a carbon tax will make these necessities that much more expensive.

Fortunately our government believes in lower taxes for all Canadians. This is why we've cut the GST, cut incomes taxes and reduced taxes for small businesses. We have also taken a balanced approach to reducing greenhouse gases that punishes big polluters - not middle class families.

Our plan will see a 20% reduction to Canada's greenhouse gases by 2020, without hurting seniors on fixed incomes or putting manufacturing jobs at risk.

No matter how you look at it, a new tax on Canadians is one very bad idea.

I invite you to visit my website at http://www.robmooremp.com to keep up with developments in Ottawa. I also enjoy hearing from constituents and welcome your feedback and questions on issues important to you at moorer@parl.gc.ca.

n Rob Moore is MP for Fundy Royal. His column appears biweekly in Riverview This Week. To reach him, please e-mail moorer@parl.gc.ca.