Dear Editor,

We have all felt the pinch at the pumps recently as the price of gas has risen in leaps and bounds. The opposition has said the government should fix the price – while at the same time calling for massive gas taxes. This is hypocritical. Canadians are smart. They know that the world price of oil and gas is based on supply and demand. With countries like China and India growing very quickly, their demand grows, and so there is a higher price.

Stéphane Dion’s carbon tax plan – which could be the largest tax increase in our nation’s history – would push gas prices and heating oil prices to record levels, and this would have a domino effect and push up the cost of everything we buy, sell, or trade.  Food, services, and even goods we export would rise in cost. That is not good for our economy, and especially hard on middle and low income families. Stéphane Dion and Jack Layton would probably be fine, but average hard-working Canadians, particularly those people with fixed incomes, would suffer.
 
Since coming to office just over two years ago our Conservative Government has taken actions that will provide nearly $200 billion in tax relief over 2007/08 and the following five years. This will reduce federal the tax burden to its lowest point in nearly 50 years.
 
That means Canadians are keeping more of what they earn. In fact, with the GST being reduced to five per cent Canadians will save half a billion dollars more on gas alone this year.  At the same time, we have invested over $9 billion in green programs, while forcing big oil and big industry to cut their greenhouse gas emissions.
 
Canadians know how to choose between higher taxes and lower taxes. With Stéphane Dion we would hurt Canada’s economy, and hurt low and middle-income families who can’t afford his massive carbon tax. With the leadership of Prime Minister Stephen Harper, we have a bright and proud future for Canada.

Sincerely,

Brian Jean
Member of Parliament, Fort McMurray – Athabasca