(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Canadian adults hold mixed views on a plan recently introduced by the opposition Liberal party, according to a poll by Angus Reid Strategies. 65 per cent of respondents believe the proposed carbon tax will ultimately lead people to be more mindful of their carbon consumption and change their behaviour, and 47 per cent believe putting a price on greenhouse gas emissions is a good idea.

In addition, 39 per cent of respondents say they are willing to pay higher taxes on fossil fuels if they also get an income tax cut. On the other hand, 68 per cent believe the proposed carbon tax will hurt low-income families, singles and seniors, due to rising energy costs, and only 28 per cent think it is the best way to curb climate change.

Canadians renewed the House of Commons in January 2006. The Conservative party—led by Stephen Harper—received 36.3 per cent of the vote, and secured 124 seats in the 308-member lower house. Harper leads a minority administration after more than 12 years of government by the Liberal party. In December 2006, former environment minister Stéphane Dion became the new leader of the Liberals.

On Jun. 19, Dion presented the "Green Shift", a revenue-neutral proposal that would establish new levies on carbon emissions, while at the same time providing reductions on income, personal and business taxes. Dion declared: "We’ll cut taxes on those things we all want more of—income, investment and innovation—and we will shift those taxes on things we want less of—pollution, greenhouse gas emission and waste. Our plan will be good for the environment and good for the economy—good for the planet, good for the wallet."

Harper criticized the proposal, saying, "The people aren’t stupid. (...) All this is a revenue grab to finance his own programs. They’re so bankrupt intellectually that the only policy idea they can come up with is to impose a new tax on energy prices at a time when energy prices, rising energy prices, are a national and global problem."

Polling Data

From what you have seen, heard or read about the proposed carbon tax, do you agree or disagree with each of the following statements?

Source: Angus Reid Strategies
Methodology: Online interviews with 1,007 Canadian adults, conducted on Jun. 23 and Jun. 24, 2008. Margin of error is 3.1 per cent.

Other poll highlights:

26% fully understand what the carbon tax is; 46% have a vague idea; 28% don’t know what it is
69% support a Harper-Dion televised debate on the carbon tax
66% incorrectly state that the carbon tax will increase the price of gasoline

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