Note from the NBGP
The New Brunswick Green Party (NBGP) is committed to building a green economy. One would have to live with Peter Pan and Tinker Bell not to realize we are in the last stages of an economy based on the use (mis-use?)of fossil fuels; with the associated side effect of climate change. Rather than resist the inevitable changes that are coming, a Green Government would position NB to thrive in this new reality. A “green economy” is one that reduces our dependence on fossil fuels and other non-renewable resources. It uses renewable resources sustainably. It augments rather than degrades ecosystems. It eliminates waste and pollution. It is appropriately scaled and does not poison workers and communities. It is controlled by and in the service of communities, not the other way around.
The small business sector is the heart and soul of the NB economy. Fully 80% of all jobs are in this sector, including the self-employed and family-employed. Farmers, fishermen and private woodlot owners are the foundation of rural economies and these are in particular trouble. Much of rural economic decline is the direct result of government policy which favours big business over local entrepreneurs and primary producers.
A Green government would reverse such policies. Relying on large companies and export markets to prop up local communities only creates unhealthy dependencies. We will encourage rural renewal by investing in the entrepreneurship and ingenuity of primary producers and putting the right tools in the hands of communities to create their own opportunities. This is the heart of a green economy.
In order to kick start the transition, a Green government would:
(a) Create an Economic Transition Fund financed by a levy on the import or production of fossil fuels.
(b) Use this fund to finance the transition of our energy, forestry, fisheries, aquaculture and agriculture operations to sustainable systems.
(c) Establish a Green Venture Capital Fund to support local green business start-ups and provide tax incentives to investors.
(d) End subsidies to energy and resource intensive industries.
(e) Establish a resource depletion tax on non-renewable resource extraction (minerals, peat, oil and gas), the proceeds of which would be earmarked for an economic transition fund.
(f) Adjust Crown land stumpage rates and submerged Crown land lease fees to recover the cost to Crown land management and provide a fair return to the public purse.
The situation we find ourselves in took decades of successive governments being more concerned with the bank accounts of big business then they were/are with the well- being of the average citizens of this province. Things cannot be turned around over- night, it will take time to make the necessary changes. As the old Chinese proverb states: “A journey of 1,000 miles begins with the first step”.
In future articles we will explore in a little more detail the plans we have for building a stronger rural economy and consequently a stronger provincial economy.
Wayne Sabine,
President of the Carleton/Victoria Green Party RDA
