PETERS: Selling out carbon tax principles still carries risk for Eby’s NDP

If we have to pay a price on emissions, theoretically, we will do less emitting.

Whether it actually works that way is a debate for another day.

The BC Conservatives were going to make their opposition to the B.C. carbon tax the main weapon against the NDP government in the upcoming election campaign.

That’s why they were so incensed this week when Premier David Eby announced his BC government would drop the consumer portion of the carbon tax if the federal government drops its requirement for provinces to have it in place.

It was a real about face from Eby, who has been a steadfast champion of carbon pricing for years.

His announcement incensed the Conservatives because it removed that big arrow from their quiver.

Instead of being able to pin Eby with that incredibly unpopular taxation policy, the Conservatives are left with calling him a flip-flopper — a far less effective attack.

People expect politicians to flip flop.

But dropping his support for the carbon tax is not a guaranteed win for Eby.

Any progressive voter for whom climate change is the number one issue will see little reason now to vote NDP. Hello, BC Green Party.

Not only that, any voter who values parties that have principles and stick to them in the face of mounting opposition will be disgusted at how quickly and easily Eby sold out to what was popular.

It’s a move that will leave many voters asking if every party will go to such extreme lengths for power.

Perhaps that’s the case.

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Editor’s Note: This opinion piece reflects the views of its author, and does not necessarily represent the views of CFJC Today or Pattison Media.

by James Peters

PETERS: Selling out carbon tax principles still carries risk for Eby’s NDP

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