From the Globe and Mail: Nov 27, 2015
Canadians Back Bold Climate Change Action
Large majorities of Canadians believe climate change is a threat to the country’s economic future.
The Nanos Research Group poll of 1,000 Canadians – conducted for The Globe and Mail and CTV News – found that 73 per cent agree or somewhat agree that “climate change presents a significant threat to our economic future,” while only 16 per cent disagree or somewhat disagree. The telephone survey, conducted between Nov. 21 and 24, carries a margin of error of 3.1 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.
The poll finds a clear view among Canadians: 72 per cent think the science of climate change is irrefutable, 79 per cent believe Canada’s international reputation has been hurt by its previous efforts, and 63 per cent indicate they would pay more for certain products so Canada could meet its climate commitments.
Is that the same firm that predicted an NDP win in the last provincial election or a conservative minority government this fall ?
Plenty of deniers or mere sceptics still out there. Plenty. Including noted scientists.
One issue is $s spent on one thing can’t be spent on others such as better education , better food, better medicine, more vacations or improved healthcare.
The second things is that additional ( carbon ) taxes or much much higher energy prices through forced public policies are not offset by lowering taxes elsewhere , i.e. GST , PST or income taxes.
It depends on the audience and the phasing of the question . I bet if they had asked: do you support even higher taxes, lower living standards, far higher energy prices and lower salaries the answers would not be quite so positive !
Thomas – please check your facts. BC Carbon “tax” revenue is returned as reduced corporate and income taxes. This makes the “tax” a benefit to a majority of people.
Bravo !
Unlike AB where $3B, soon $5B is collected from carbon taxes .. kind of like a new PST ..
the bigger issue is far higher energy costs .. a competitive disadvantage and another (indirect) tax as we see today in ON and soon, AB .. perhaps like solar king Germany with 30-35 Euro cents per kwh or 45-50 cent Canadian .. quintuple to septuple what we pay today in BC due to low hydro rates (or what ON used to pay too) ..
Consequences, coming to Canada soon too:
Here (100s of thousands without power) http://notrickszone.com/2012/02/23/600000-households-in-germany-without-power-increasing-energy-poverty-is-alarming/#sthash.Yh4xpziq.dpbs
or here: http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/high-costs-and-errors-of-german-transition-to-renewable-energy-a-920288.html
Canadians Ready to Spend Whatever it Takes to Improve the Weather.
Another poll says the climate is at the bottom, 9th, in importance to Canadians.
Maybe it just depends on the weather that day the questions are asked.
http://globalnews.ca/news/2366032/climate-change-a-low-priority-for-most-canadians-poll/
Or maybe it’s just how the polling firms asked the questions….note the difference in approach.
Nanos asked whether Canadians agree/disagree with a set of statements around the importance of climate change. Most agreed with the statements.
Ipsos asked Canadians to rank-order a variety of issues. If an issue was included in the Top 3 for any respondent, it was added to the list. Climate change ranked lower than other priorities.
The two aren’t contradictory, they simply asked different questions: the majority of Canadians believe climate change is a threat and action should be taken….but there are more pressing issues facing the country at this time.
Note the Ipsos pollster’s own comment: “There are important issues and there are urgent issues. While climate change is important, day-to-day worries like a neighbour losing a job, or a parent in need of health services are almost always of greater concern.”
Quite. I wonder if anyone has tried to quantify the savings in energy expenditures and reductions in CO2 emitted if Canada experiences warmer winters. A longer growing season in a warmer world could mean more crop yields and less food imports.
Indeed. And: less heating in winter, fall and spring (usually natural gas) and thus: lower emission .. offset by slightly more (diesel/gasoline powered) boating in longer summers, of course !
Canada, as well as most northern countries are net winner of global warming, man made or solar / ray / naturally / God made !
Speaking of bold action, please sign the petition to encourage the government to enable everyone to cycle and walk for their daily trips by investing $1 billion over 10 years. http://www.bccc.bc.ca/everyone
The world is saved! Paris will bring agreement and joy. Spend my money Justin, whatever it takes man. Give them a few billion more.
http://www.politico.eu/article/paris-climate-deal-is-meaningless-cop21-emissions-china-obama/
Champagne for everyone!