Dear Editor:
I had the opportunity to attend the all candidates meeting in Erin on Sept. 23.
I listened to climate change concerns and about carbon credits, affordable housing, eliminating poverty, taxing the rich, the federal government crossing over into provincial and municipal jurisdictions.
I heard nothing about stimulating the Canadian economy that ultimately would have to pay through taxation for all of these initiatives. No one talked about the steps businesses are making every day to clean up emissions and reduce pollution.
One candidate talked about electric autos being completely mandated by his party by 2040. Bloomberg’s recent report shows worldwide 57% of auto sales will be electric by 2040 and 30% of the fleet on the road will be electric. I heard no discussion of building power infrastructure to facilitate charging all these batteries.
Liquid natural gas burns cleaner than coal and new production and port facilities for handling the product are being built worldwide to facilitate China’s and India’s conversion from thermal power production. Canada continues to fight to get our facility built despite approvals. Energy companies like Royal Dutch Shell produce liquid natural gas but also have vast renewable energy projects within their companies. Private industry is meeting the challenges of climate change because they see the need.
Canada is rich in fossil fuel. It is a finite resource with a finite time frame for which it can be sold to enrich our country. If the left wants to give people further subsidized health care, subsidized housing, subsidized retirement and all the programs they believe in, then unleash the oil fields and let the taxes flow to our various governments.
During the myriad promises of what, if elected, the candidates would pay for, I wondered what happened to personal responsibility. I think of John Kennedy, who said, “Ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.”
“You mean I can’t get someone else to pay for my life?” It’s tough for a fiscally responsible party to compete with parties that write checks to the voters.
Only one candidate talked and talked passionately about Liberal broken policies, corruption and ineptitude. The Liberals don’t deserve another chance to govern. Think hard about our spiraling deficits before you vote for most of the alternatives.
Ted Flanagan,
Erin