To the editor:

My understanding of the carbon taxation implemented by our recently elected Liberal government was a means of generating necessary and effective neutral revenue to combat CO2 emissions and fund green energy and emission-reducing policies.

The newly implemented tax, if handled properly at a provincial level, will have minimal effects to the middle and lower classes. The tax will range anywhere from $2,000 to $2,600 yet not taken into account are the subsidies for insulation and solar paneling, energy rebates, reduced energy costs, and reduction on income taxes as already seen in British Columbia.

The numbers demonstrate that per capita, consumption of fuels fell 17 per cent between 2008 and 2012 while the rest of Canada rose 1.5 per cent and B.C.鈥檚 economy slightly outperformed the rest of the country. In essence we've raised taxes on something that is harmful and damaging yet lowered taxes on things we want more of such as income and jobs.

Countries such as Norway, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and even China have already implemented such taxes and are seeing their "industrial carbon emissions fall without inflicting damage on their energy industry or overall economic growth." [, Eric Reguly, The Globe and Mail.] The world is shifting to a more ecological approach and it makes sense that Canada should follow.

Calling this a "disaster" and "A regressive tax primarily impacting the poor and lower middle-class" without facts is in poor taste and just the kind of thing Trump would do, basing a disagreement on nothing short of failed ideology and bigotry towards a youthful Prime Minister who has held office for less then six months. May I also remind conservatives that Harper endorsed the same idea in April, 2007 and was responsible for the disintegration of the eco energy insulation program.

Raymond Th茅riault, 琉璃神社