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Media Release/Communiqué
For Immediate Release: April 28, 2008
B.C. Environmental Groups Applaud
Carbon Tax Legislation
Victoria, BC - A coalition of more than 16 environmental
groups from across British Columbia welcomed the introduction
of the province's landmark carbon tax into the Legislature
today.
"We came to Victoria today to show our strong support
for the carbon tax," said Ian Bruce, a climate change
specialist with the David Suzuki Foundation. "When it
comes to action on climate change, B.C.'s decision to put
a price on carbon emissions makes it a leader, and provides
an exciting direction for the federal government and other
provinces to follow."
Finance Minister Carole Taylor introduced the Carbon Tax
Act into the Legislature earlier this afternoon. The bill
will go through a debate before it goes to a vote likely by
the end of the week.
Representatives from a coalition of environmental groups,
including the David Suzuki Foundation, Sierra Club BC, Pembina,
B.C. Sustainable Energy Association and the Wilderness Committee,
were on hand at the Legislature in Victoria to show their
support for the bill and to encourage MLAs to vote in favour
of the carbon tax.
"The carbon tax will help spur innovation, investment
and jobs in B.C.'s clean energy sector," said Cheryl
Shuman, chair of the South Peace BC Sustainable Energy Association.
"This could provide northern communities that have been
hit hard by the effects of climate change with economic opportunities
and a strong foothold in the economy of the future."
B.C. has committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions
33 per cent by 2020. A carbon tax is a powerful economic tool
that can help meet this target. But it will need to continue
increasing over time and be coupled with other strong measures.
"The carbon tax is one of many solutions required to
fight global warming," said Susan Howlett, director of
campaigns with the Sierra Club BC. "A comprehensive climate
change plan will include many other measures, including regulations
to cap and reduce emissions from B.C.'s large industrial emitters
as soon as possible."
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For more information, contact:
Ian Bruce
Climate change specialist, David Suzuki Foundation
Cell: 604-306-5095
Cheryl Shuman
Chair, South Peace Chapter BCSEA
Cell: 250-219-4546 (Dawson Creek)
Susan Howlett
Director of campaigns, Sierra Club BC
Cell: 250-888-6267
Other media contacts:
Andrea Reimer
Executive director, Wilderness Committee
Cell: 604-719-3920
Matt Horne
Acting director of B.C. energy solutions, Pembina Institute
Cell: 778-235-1476
Casey Brennan
Program manager, Wildsight
Cell: 250-423-0402 (Fernie)
Greg Gowe
Energy lawyer
West Coast Environmental Law
Tel: 604-601-2508
Cheeying Ho
Executive director, SmartGrowth BC
Cell: 604-220-4675
David Fields
Society Promoting Environmental Conservation
Tel: 604-722-4775
On behalf of:
BC Sustainable Energy Association, Better Environmentally
Sound Transportation, Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society
- BC Chapter, David Suzuki Foundation, Dogwood Initiative,
Ecojustice, ForestEthics, Georgia Strait Alliance, Greenpeace,
Living Oceans Society, Pembina Institute, Sierra Club BC,
Smart Growth BC, Society Promoting Environmental Conservation,
West Coast Environmental Law, Wilderness Committee
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