From time to time, we here at the Canadian Taxpayers Federation get a bit of grief over how we treat politicians. “You’re too tough on us, um, er, ah, THEM,” we’ll sometimes hear. But when someone steps up and does the right thing for taxpayers, we're usually the first people to applaud.

Today, kudos should be given to Bob Simpson, the independent MLA for Cariboo North. Bob was the first elected official to sound the alarm on the Pacific Carbon Trust, the $20-million greenwashing program that takes our tax dollars and gives them to private companies, all in the name of government carbon neutrality.

Simpson has also dug into the PCT payouts to these big businesses and raised more than a few red flags.

In yesterday’s Williams Lake Tribune, Simpson came out with his recommendation to deal with the PCT:

“The whole carbon neutral government is a public relations exercise,” he said, noting, “The total contribution the public sector makes to B.C.’s GHG is less than one percent so even if you’ve actually achieved carbon neutrality what have you achieved?”

For months Simpson has suggested allowing the public sector to fund their own greenhouse gas emission reduction and energy efficiency projects before having to buy offsets from the PCT. Now he thinks the government should release the public sector from the trust altogether and provide them with funds — as they have in the past — to make capital improvements to facilities that would reduce their GHG.

While we would differ with Simpson on funding capital improvements specifically to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the fact we have our first MLA, on the record, calling for the provincial government to pull out of the PCT, is outstanding. The NDP Opposition, sadly, seems to be tagging along with the BC Liberal government in claiming the PCT can be “fixed.” 

Without government agencies buying 99% of the carbon credits the PCT sells, the PCT would most likely collapse. What would the environmentalists say? Well, they’re not convinced on the PCT either!

So here’s to you, Bob Simpson. Thank you for your leadership on the Pacific Carbon Trust. Hopefully we can get more of your 84 MLA colleagues to follow your lead and scrap the PCT once and for all.