British Columbians asked to weigh in on cap-and-trade climate plan

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      The B.C. government is seeking public feedback on the regulatory framework for a planned cap-and-trade system intended to help cut greenhouse-gas emissions by allowing major polluters in the province to obtain and exchange credits.

      Under consideration are proposed regulations that cover how emissions will be measured and how emissions can be traded.

      The public consultation phase starts today (October 22) and runs until December 6, according to a news release from the Ministry of Environment.

      The province’s cap-and-trade system is being developed in line with the work of a coalition of Canadian provinces and U.S. states that are part of the Western Climate Initiative strategy to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions.

      In 2008, provincial legislation went into effect that paved the way for the cap-and-trade program.

      By 2020, the B.C. government has said it intends to cuts emissions by 33 percent from the levels in 2007.

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      Comments

      13 Comments

      seth

      Oct 22, 2010 at 3:12pm

      Much cheaper much simpler same result.

      The Canwest/Gordo bullshit goal as well as our energy, global warming, urban traffic and air pollution problems would end almost overnight if we forced our government organizations to create mandatory telecommuting and 3 day work week programs. US GTA found 40% of US federal civilian employees could telecommute including the US forest service and USPS. I would assume that provincial and local governments are more or less the same. One university survey found 60% of those surveyed would telecommute if they could.

      Rush hour would be over!!!

      Most of us have worked at jobs that could be done in three 12 or 13 hour shifts just as well as five 8 hour. A lot of medical professionals work on that schedule.

      After governments are on line we could pass legislation to force corporations to submit to the same regime.

      There are numerous studies demonstrating the increase of productivity in telecommuting workers. Despite this, dinosaur corporate and government managers , like all bureaucrats, mark their self importance by counting butts in chairs and need threats of jail time to get them to move into the 21st century.

      Of course, telecommuting and three day work weeks would empty those downtown office buildings really pissing off Gordo's big campaign donators. The reduction in campaign lolly and the chances of getting one those big post political corporate directorships like Carol Taylor got at the TD would be unacceptable to Gordo and his henchmen.

      seth

      Alex Mchoney

      Oct 22, 2010 at 3:38pm

      Cap and Trade is extremely dangerous for any country to mandate. If you want to buy into stats that come from the same people pushing this garbage then you need a wake-up call. Human activity of global warming is a hoax and accounts for less that .01% of the total amount of CO2 that is created each day. For heaven sake, You exhale 4-5 lbs of CO2 a DAY! Another way to have more government take over our lives and instate BIG BROTHER to the masses. Dont buy into it!!! It hurts our economy!

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      Birdy

      Oct 22, 2010 at 3:44pm

      Wall street is not going to save the environment.

      "On to the next one" please.

      FYI: The carbon credit bubble popped in May when the price of carbon began dropping from $7.50/mt to $0.10/mt today.
      source: http://www.chicagoclimatex.com/

      cap TransLink

      Oct 22, 2010 at 7:36pm

      Our provincial government is so on top of things and so sincere. Youhoo, Mr. "Minister of Environment" or "Minister of Dog F'kn", take your pick. Have you not heard?

      TransLink is operating diesel buses on our hydro-electric trolley bus routes. What about capping TransLink to restrict TransLink to only operating electric trolley buses under trolley bus lines? Wouldn't that be a good idea?

      Actually who cares what you and your buddies at TransLink do. You're gone after the next election. We're tired of your crap.

      Bruno15

      Oct 23, 2010 at 1:09pm

      @Seth -- You nailed it again.

      You have the answer to one of the biggest problems facing mankind ("our energy, global warming, urban traffic and air pollution problems would end almost overnight if we forced our government organizations to create mandatory telecommuting and 3 day work week programs") and as usual you are right again, it's a conspiracy led by Gordon Campbell that is the fly in the ointment.

      If only we could get rid of this Campbell fellow who seems to be leading all these evil conspiracies, the world's problems would be solved.

      glen p robbins

      Oct 23, 2010 at 5:16pm

      The public and the press should not give any attention to any of the efforts of this government, until political relief is provided for: (1) HST lies; (2) BC Rail public 'fraud'.

      The primary good faith installment on this relief is Gordon Campbell resigning.

      It's an illegitimate government and the only focus should be on relieving them of their duties, not distracting from this effort with ANY other discussion - in my opinion.

      Carole James you should be echoeing my statement.

      Bruno15

      Oct 23, 2010 at 7:43pm

      @GPR - HST is the most efficient way for us to operate a sales tax regime and it will continue even if the NDP forms government. BC Rail was a cash sink hole (witness it's $2 billion in accumulated tax losses) that needed to be made someone else's problem. Could both of these things been handled better politically? Undoubtedly, but the decisions behind them were sound business decisions and if your side is to be taken seriously you really need to acknowledge these facts. Once again, no conspiracy.

      @Seth and Brouno15

      Oct 24, 2010 at 1:24am

      If we were all mindless morons working for the government which over hires to reduce the unemployment numbers, we could all telecommute like you suggest. Others who do real work to dig ditches, design refineries ... operate on patients can't. Stay at home, nobody is going to miss you two.

      seth

      Oct 24, 2010 at 9:47am

      Geez Bruno, just tryin to help out.

      Since Gordo and his henchman f'up everything they do except stuffing their own pockets and those of their pals, maybe they could try something else.

      The Green Tax that got them elected hasn't done a thing now has it with BC actually increasing its GHG's.

      Buying $65B in not so "green" energy at 12.5 cents a kwh and selling it for a penny or two, is another business plan that - maybe its just me - but my guess is it ain't workin.

      So I tossed out a few ideas. Ya never know.
      seth

      seth

      Oct 24, 2010 at 4:20pm

      " Others who do real work to dig ditches, design refineries ... operate on patients can't. "

      Sorry you woke up with a hangover and you are a bit fuzzy this AM.

      Certainly those who design refineries can telecommute/and or work 3 day work weeks (36 hours) . Most folks who operate on patients already do 3 day work weeks. Ditch diggers most likely work 3 day work weeks at least in the summer.

      Now Bruno you need to a lot more learning about BC Rail before you spew. BC Rail was profitable before it was given away at the start of the biggest resource in history. In fact we still owe CN money on it. Gordo with his usual slime had the books cooked to show otherwise.

      Nonetheless BCRail revenues would have magnified by an order of magnitude carrying freight for the biggest resource boom in BC history.
      seth