FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

BC Budget Creates Deep Environmental Deficit, Says Sierra Club

Carbon economy supported while future ecological debt may never be repaid

The new BC budget deepens our environmental deficit while propping up the old carbon economy and penalizing British Columbians who want to reduce their carbon footprints, Sierra Club BC Executive Director George Heyman said today.

“The government says we can’t saddle future generations with financial debt, yet this budget creates a dangerous environmental debt that future generations may never be able to repay,” said Heyman. “The government talks about green jobs and preventing runaway climate change, but this budget increases tax breaks for the carbon-emitting oil and gas industry while failing to continue support for energy efficient home and transportation solutions.”

The budget chops almost $25 million, or 11.5 percent, from the Environment Ministry and projects further cuts over the next three years. The ministry’s Environmental Stewardship division-- which includes protection of BC’s 2,000 species at risk, fish and wildlife habitat, and our air and water-- was sliced by almost $4 million. Parks and Protected Areas saw its funding drop by $2.3 million.

“Last year the government trumpeted its intention to fight climate change and protect BC’s environment,” said Heyman. “This year, while British Columbians search for climate-friendly transportation alternatives and scrape for dollars to make their homes more energy efficient, the budget slaps a tax on bicycles, home renovations and energy efficient appliances that reduce household greenhouse gas emissions.”

Heyman said the government should have expanded the popular LiveSmart program instead of eliminating it, and tailored the new Harmonized Sales Tax with more exemptions to ensure that BC households can shrink their carbon footprints without additional tax penalty. “British Columbians want to do our part to fight global warming, as Premier Campbell has urged us, but this budget makes it even more difficult,” said Heyman.

“Now the finance minister tells British Columbians that the cost of consumer goods will go down with the HST and we’ll all save money in the long term.  But considering that most goods purchased by British Columbians are not made in BC this is just questionable, Santa Claus economics. “

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