SASKATOON – One of the surprising things you might not know about the Saskatchewan Green Party is that unlike many green parties around North America, they are not in favour of a carbon tax.
“A carbon tax is just a tax,” Saskatchewan Green Party Leader Victor Lau told Global News. “What we’re looking at reducing carbon emissions, and is a punitive tax the way to go?” he asked.
Lau said by using feed-in tariffs and other means, they want to encourage people to try solar power, wind power and geo thermal.
“There are so many ways to reduce carbon emissions,” he said. “Why go the punitive route?”
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And Lau believes his party has a comprehensive platform that focuses on a lot more than just energy.
They’d like to do away with social assistance, and replace it with a much simpler, streamlined program called the Saskatchewan Assured Income for Everyone.
“It would be a minimum, threshold income that people would be able to count on,” said Lau.
Another idea is changing doctors from a fee-for-service payment structure to a wage, as one way to begin controlling the rising cost of health care.
“Part of the problem with health care is the constant cost expansion, its consuming more and more tax dollars, we’re up to almost 40 per cent now (of the provincial budget), “ said Lau.
Other ideas include public funding for midwives, and putting ambulance fees under medicare.
“I think people are really surprised that we have a comprehensive vision, not just in one area, it encompasses the entire province, it talks about the economy, how we would redesign social programming so it benefits everyone,” said Lau.
And, he adds, the Green Party wants to bring a different attitude to the legislature.
“We want to create a legislature that’s more about cooperation, compromise, working together, and I think that’s appealing – we’re not taking potshots at the other two parties that can form government … whether we’re in government or opposition, we want to reach across to the other side and involve them in redesigning health care, education, social spending,” said Lau.
Lau is also proud of the fact the Green Party of Saskatchewan has candidates in all 61 of the province’s ridings. Thirty-two of their candidates are female, and one is transgender.
Voters in Saskatchewan head to the polls on April 4.
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