MACKENZIE - RIGHT IDEA WRONG METHOD!
The Liberal's proposed " up to $2,000 in retail tax rebates for the purchase of fuel-efficient and low emission vehicles" is commendable. However, the same outcome could be better and more economically achieved with a "tax-neutral" approach. Quite simply, an incentive to purchase fuel-efficient vehicles should go hand-in-hand with a disincentive to purchase "gas guzzlers". This could easily be achieved by making the Provincial Vehicle Registration tax proportional to fuel efficiency. The fee could range from near zero for the most fuel efficient to several hundred or more for the "worst offenders". Those who choose to use more than their fair share of non-renewable resources, produce more than their fair share of pollution and greenhouse gases, take up more road space and cause more wear and tear on the roads should have to pay for the privilege!
By Peter Lewis