Carbon Tax System Unveiled in British Columbia

"The B.C. government introduced North America's first full-fledged carbon tax yesterday, an attempt to engineer a social movement aimed at getting British Columbians to cut their greenhouse-gas emissions."

"The new tax will be tempered with matching income-tax cuts plus what is likely the province's largest-ever dividend to taxpayers."

"The $37.7-billion budget boosts program spending, increases the debt and forecasts the slowest economic growth for the province since 2001."

"The tax on virtually all fossil fuels, including gasoline, diesel and home heating fuel, will rise and continue to climb over the next five years. The price of gas is expected to increase this year by 2.4 cents a litre."

"The carbon tax promises to be revenue neutral, but does not account for increased costs in other areas, such as the planned hike in B.C. Hydro rates. Critics noted that if Hydro's rate application is approved, the average household will pay about $200 a year in extra energy costs."

"The opposition New Democratic Party said the budget does too much for business at the expense of working families."