The new Progressive Conservative election platform is dressed for success — ambitious and accessible. Also brimming with flash and cash to attract attention.Unlike past platforms, it is as much progressive as conservative: If Patrick Brown becomes PC premier, he’ll cut taxes for middle class and low-income earners (Down with trickle-down economics!).Where is the money coming from? From us.Read more: PCs still lag behind Liberals despite launch of new platformAuditor takes aim at Wynne’s government over spending, waste, lax oversightWynne taking town hall road show to BramptonTo avoid blowing the budget, a PC government would bankroll tax cuts by relying on the cash flow from a new carbon tax that is ultimately rebated right back to taxpayers. In other words, a “revenue neutral” tax shift.At root, the Tory plan is to change the Liberal climate change plan: Brown would replace a complex cap-and-trade regime with a simpler carbon tax.It may prove to be smart politics, but is it wise public policy? Simplicity has its costs and benefits.If you drive a car or heat a home, the straight PC tax would cost far more for fuel than the current Liberal plan. That’s bad news when you fill up at the pump (albeit good news for environmentalists if it deters drivers).The bigger good news is that the money raised from all that carbon consumption in years to come will be rebated through those lower taxes (and child-care rebates). However, that’s bad news for environmentalists who were counting on the magnificent multi-billion bounty of carbon revenues being reinvested — not rebated — to reduce greenhouse gases with programs such as energy retrofits for aging highrises, rapid transit lines and bike lanes.Brown doesn’t buy into those carbon-reducing investments, dismissing them as a “Liberal Cap-and-Trade Slush Fund.” Hence his shift from slush fund to (tax) refunds.How much more (or less) the PC plan would reduc ...
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