School boards raise issue of high cost of carbon offsets
Gordon Hoekstra, Vancouver Sun, Nov 30, 2011
The Southeast Kootenay school district claims it is being forced to pay more than twice the open market rate for carbon offsets, a cost that is hurting the cash-strapped district. The district, like other B.C. schools, pays $25 per continue reading
October 20, 2011Carbon Neutral Government Repeal Act
On Thursday, October 20, 2011, Bob introduced a Private Members’ Bill in the Legislature that would see the repeal of the provincial government’s ‘carbon neutrality’ legislation. This would remove the requirement for public sector organizations (PSOs) to purchase carbon offsets in order to meet carbon neutrality.
Carbon Neutral Sham
This week I introduced a Private Members Bill to repeal the government’s “carbon neutral” legislation. This is the legislation that forces School Districts, Health Authorities, Universities, Community Living BC and other public agencies to take money out of their already too tight operating budgets and give continue reading
Carbon neutrality is a dangerous smokescreen
Check out this opinion-editorial from Bob on why he believes carbon neutrality for the public sector is not only a sham, but also a dangerous smokescreen for 99% of other greenhouse gas emissions in B.C.
Province Op-Ed: “Carbon Neutrality is a useless idea” continue reading
August 30, 2011Potential ‘fix’ for the PCT?
Recent comments made by Minister of Environment Terry Lake suggest that the government is working on a fix to the PCT to address the concerns of school trustees, educators, and citizens over the past 8 months. This is potentially good news for those who feel that continue reading
August 23, 2011Recent articles on the PCT
Smoke and Mirrors – Business in Vancouver August 23 2011
How we all pay to ‘conserve’ forests August 22 2011
A myth B.C. cannot afford July 21 2011
Hypothetical offsets may not really be there July 21 2011
Darkwoods, the murky world of carbon credits and continue reading
August 3, 2011Pacific Carbon Trust – Your Tax Money at Work?
Originally, I thought the idea of carbon neutrality was reasonable and that positioning BC on the forefront of ‘carbon offsetting’ via the Pacific Carbon Trust was a proactive approach to this emerging economic opportunity.
Now, I’m wondering if “carbon neutral government” isn’t really just a smoke continue reading
July 9, 2011Diverting funds from schools and hospitals is bad policy
Vancouver Sun Editorial, July 9, 2011
Government policy that seems sensible when written must also be assessed on its effect. If it leads to an absurd result, the policy must be deemed to be absurd and abandoned. That is now the case with the carbon offsets continue reading
July 8, 2011Public sector’s carbon offsets subsidize B.C.’s big businesses
Larry Pynn, Vancouver Sun, July 8 2011
Public institutions such as schools and hospitals spent $18.2 million last year buying carbon offsets to compensate for greenhouse gas emissions -money that subsidized energy-efficiency programs of big industry rather than being reinvested in energy projects within the public continue reading
July 4, 2011Bob’s Op-Ed in the Vancouver Sun, July 4, 2011
As part of former premier Gordon Campbell’s climate change agenda, this tax policy was flipped on its head. Under the guise of achieving a “carbon neutral government,” Campbell established a tax on public sector operating budgets. Beginning in 2010, it takes $25 million of your tax continue reading