10/27/2023 0 Comments The Lies That We Are Told...The Lies That We Are Told….
We hear tell from our federal government the carbon tax will no longer apply on home heating oil for the next three years, purportedly to relieve the pressure on Atlantic Canada taxpayers who rely on home heating oil for 40% of their home heating needs. This is all good and well, the ruinous carbon tax should be eliminated entirely for all Canadians. But what of natural gas? Here in Saskatchewan, we use natural gas for 72% of their home heating needs. Well let’s compare the two heat sources relative to their carbon intensity. Home heating fuel generates 163 lbs of CO2 per Million Btu. Natural Gas generates 116 lbs of CO2 per Million Btu. For those keeping score, home heating fuel is much much worse for the environment than natural gas is, here is the proof; https://www.eia.gov/environment/emissions/co2_vol_mass.php. So, the world took a pause from the existential threat that we are told is climate change because the Liberals were getting worried that even Atlantic Canada won’t vote for them anymore? This conduct literally makes me sick to my stomach. We are better than this Atlantic Canada, we are better than this Central Canada, we are better than this Western Canada. The hypocrisy, the double standard, the crass attempt to buy votes is unworthy of Canada, it is unworthy of us. I recall, we used home heating fuel growing up on the farm in the 1970’s, the government of the day made an investment to bring natural gas to rural Saskatchewan via underground pipes. It was very progressive for the time, and we have enjoyed the benefit for more than 50 years. Are we to switch back to home heating oil tanks based on this latest government edict? It is beyond ridiculous, and I will point out we have always had a special relationship with our Atlantic cousins. It is because of this I would ask you folks in Atlantic Canada to stand up for what is right, what is fair and what is true. We don’t begrudge the carbon tax being eliminated from your home heating fuel, but the same thing should be done for natural gas. That means calling out this current federal government for what is an obvious double standard. Home heating oil gets a break, but natural gas does not? I will give you an example of the carbon tax costs we face on natural gas. It came into play here in Saskatchewan in May 2019. From then to now I have paid $4,730.27 (taken directly from my Sask Energy billing history), in federal carbon tax alone on my residential natural gas bill. This does not include the GST on both the overall bill and the GST on the carbon tax, an additional $982.71 for a total of $5,712.98 over the past 4 years 5 months for the privilege of heating and cooling my home using clean burning natural gas. These three federal charges now account for 28% of the total natural gas bill, which is now at $600 per month on an equalized basis. As an additional exercise I looked back over the last four tax years to see how this carbon tax rebate was working out for myself and my family. See, we were told we would get back more than we paid, true story, the federal government said so. Turns out I have been sent $3398 in the form of a rebate over the past four years, (to the end of December 2023) since the start of the carbon tax. So, on my natural gas bill alone I am in the red by over $2300! ($5712-$3398=-$2314). My simple math says that is not more than I paid in, in fact, it is far far less. Never mind already being in the hole by over $2300 alone on just my natural gas bill, lets have a look at my electricity bill and transportation fuel bill as well, while we are at it. Looking over electricity bills the carbon tax is averaging $20 per month plus GST and for gasoline I am running about $60 per month in carbon tax per month plus GST on average. These numbers are all verified on my billing usage statements. The carbon tax has been in place here for 54 months so multiply that by $80/month = $4320. Add this amount to how far I am in the red from the natural gas bill; $2300 + $4320 = $6620 since 2019 in excess carbon tax! That number again, I am $6620 in the hole, net of any carbon tax rebate thrown my way. This amount is just on the direct costs to heat and power my home and drive around. I haven’t even bought food, clothes, insurance (home, vehicle, life) mortgage, property taxes and all the rest yet, where the tax is hidden. There is no reasonable way to even measure the personal cost of this ruinous tax that is having zero impact on consumer behaviour. So back to the crass attempt at vote buying in Atlantic Canada. I saw one little clip on CBC that gave me hope. A dear little old lady from PEI that the CBC must have thought was a safe interview when asking her about the impact of cancelling the carbon tax on home heating fuel in Atlantic Canada She said it would help her, at the very end, before CBC could cut her off, she said, it doesn’t really matter though, we are going to vote em out anyway. To her and all other Canadians who have finally sufficiently tired of the insanity that is this current government I say thank you. Let’s work together on repairing the damage that this government has brought about, lets make Canada something we, and the rest of the world can be proud of to call home and proud of to call ally.
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I grew up as part of a big family on a big mixed farm on the Prairies of Canada. All my opinions are my own. I have an Ag degree from Saskatoon and an MBA from New Brunswick. I am happily married with four children. I love my work, my family and my community and will guard them all ferociously. I try to bring critical thought to all I do and all I say. Leadership through example is the best way forward. |