Cap and trade not feasible now


Published on Jul 25, 2008

Re: Cap-and-trade: the way to fight climate change, July 11

It must be so easy being Chris Charlton and the NDP. Just throw out a few nifty ideas and never worry about implementation. It's cute, it really is.

Chris' latest idea is a cap and trade system to solve Canada's climate crisis. Ms Charlton would have us believe that this is something that is easy to implement. You just suggest it, win government and slap it on. Duh.

The reality is much different. A cap and trade would require the approval of the provinces, a generally fickle bunch who guard their jurisdiction and economic well being jealously.

Perhaps Ms Charlton and the mighty mustache Jack Layton would like to tell us how they would get Alberta and Saskatchewan to sign on. I'm sure that the two provinces that would lose the most under a cap and trade system would love to meet with the dynamic duo of federal-provincial diplomacy.

There is more to a cap and trade system than mere good intentions. To be in government, the NDP have to start thinking and acting like one, an arduous task that requires a full explanation of public policy.

Brad Wall and Ed Stelmach are waiting . . . much like the rest of us.

Greg Locktus

Hamilton