Carbon tax will 'create welfare instead of wealth': executive director

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The Atlantic Provinces Trucking Association made it quite clear yesterday that it is against federal Liberal leader Stephane Dion's proposed carbon tax.

Peter Nelson, executive director for APTA, urged the Atlantic Federal Liberal Caucus to reject the Green Shift proposal, in a statement issued yesterday.

"Dion's carbon tax proposal will further cripple an economy that is already struggling on the global markets. Atlantic Canada's economy depends upon the success of our transportation, agriculture, forestry, mining, energy and fisheries industries," he said. "I hope the Members of Parliament from our region will stand up for Atlantic Canadians."

The Green Shift plan was surfaced by Dion last month and is an initiative which proposes putting a tax on fossil fuels in order to encourage people and companies to consume less energy.

Nelson said the proposed tax will raise all costs associated with the province's most important industries, making the regional economy less competitive.

"Here, in Atlantic Canada, we seek gateways to global success, not barriers to growth," he said.

The executive director said he hopes the Atlantic Liberal MPs will recognize the voluntary steps the trucking industry has taken to reduce emissions by more than 90 per cent over the past two years.

"The Liberal caucus should also recognize that Atlantic Canadians do not need a carbon tax to lead Canada on emissions reductions," he added. "We do not need Stephane Dion punishing us with a carbon tax that will return pennies to our pockets at tax time, yet take dollars out of our wallets year round."

Nelson predicted the proposed carbon tax will remove billions of dollars from the Atlantic Canadian economy and that using carbon tax windfall in social programs will "create welfare instead of wealth."

The Federal Liberal Caucus is meeting over the next two days at the Digby Pines Resort in Nova Scotia.