Layton raises carbon-tax alarm

[daleo]

OTTAWA — NDP Leader Jack Layton launched a vehement campaign against carbon taxes yesterday and was quickly accused of alarmist pandering by prominent Canadian environmentalists.

Speaking to a fundraiser for an Ottawa homeless shelter, Mr. Layton said carbon taxes would raise home heating costs and hurt Canadians living on the margins. He said big corporations should bear the lion's share of Canada's climate-change tab and a federal ombudsman should ensure those costs aren't passed on to consumers.

"With energy costs soaring in Canada, we've got to ensure that the solutions to climate change don't aggravate an already dire situation for those who struggle to make ends meet," Mr. Layton said.
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Environmentalist Stephen Hazell, executive director of Sierra Club Canada, said Mr. Layton's comments are regrettable because a strong climate-change plan would include cap-and-trade measures as well as carbon taxes.
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Mr. Hazell said there are ways to ensure low-income people receive assistance so they are not hurt by carbon taxes.
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http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080523.wcarbon23/BNStory/National/home
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Layton has gone overboard with his anti-Liberal strategy. Global warming is too serious to be caught up in these short term political tactics.

[CHIMO]

1. Sounds

To me that Mr. Layton is getting a bit scared?

Maybe there is a lack of some new ideas in the group after the thinkers have slipped away?