Herons are here
Beacon Hill Park plays host to the nesting birds Page A5
NEWS: Amalgamation needs consensus, Pt. 2 of 5 /A3 ARTS: Vic High dancers ready for prime time /A16 SPORTS: Royals looking toward bright future /A20
VICTORIANEWS Friday, April 5, 2013
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B.C. Liberals would freeze carbon tax Parties use government announcement to speak out on climate change policy Daniel Palmer
reductions. The revenues would instead be used to fund transit and possibly energy retrofits for Premier Christy Clark homes and other buildings. Rob Fleming, Victoria-Swan announced Wednesday that a B.C. Liberal government would Lake MLA and NDP environment freeze B.C.’s carbon tax on fos- critic, said renewable energy is sil fuels at current rates for five being held back by a lack of government leadership on policy and years. The freeze, she said, is to allow inaction at B.C. Hydro on alternative energy projects. other jurisdictions to “The Liberals can’t catch up to B.C., which have it both ways,” he taxes carbon dioxide said. emissions from fossil “To say they’re fuels at $30 a tonne. going to freeze the tax B.C. Green Party for five years means leader and Victoriathey’re essentially Beacon Hill candidate saying carbon pricing Jane Sterk said the won’t be adjusted until freeze shows a lack of the eve of the legal understanding of the greenhouse gas reducclimate crisis. tion targets in 2020.” She said the carbon B.C. Conservative tax should be raised Rob Fleming leader John Cummins to $50 per tonne to “level the playing field” and allow has promised to eliminate the renewable energy companies to carbon tax. He emphasized the disproporbecome more competitive with tionate impact the tax has on fossil fuel companies. The comparatively expensive colder and more remote parts of initial investment in renewable B.C., but has not yet specified if energy sources is hindering its offsetting income tax cuts would be reversed to make up the revdevelopment, she added. The Greens would also extend enue to the province. the tax to industrial process emissions such as cement kilns, and PLEASE SEE: cancel the offsetting income tax Carbon tax, Page A6
News staff
Sharon Tiffin/News staff
Eyes on the house Team Canada sweepers, second E.J. Harnden, left, and third Ryan Fry, help along a rock thrown by lead Ryan Harnden during Wednesday action at the Ford World Men’s Curling Championships at Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre. The rink from Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., skipped by Brad Jacobs, was among the leaders heading into today’s (April 5) tiebreaker draws. The playoffs begin tonight at 7 p.m. and run through the weekend, with the bronze and gold medal games slated for 11 a.m. and 4 p.m., respectively, on Sunday. See page A19 for more photos from this week’s events.