Canada's Environmental Well-Being and Reducing Term Paper

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Nikiforuk debunks these assertions, by showing the extreme detrimental affects such mining will undoubtedly have on the Canadian landscape. When the land stops producing the rich bitumen, what will oil drillers ask for next? Without reducing our dependence on oil and petroleum products, it will undoubtedly leave other areas of Canada's rich wilderness vulnerable to the same environmental dangers. Instead of remaining dependent on crude oil and petroleum products, Nikiforuk proposes a plan to reduce Canada's dependence and move towards completely alternative sources of energy. He provides "12 Steps to Energy Sanity" which posit a number of important points that work seamlessly with Canada's current and future state in order to reduce dependence on oil and further provide protection for some of the nation's most vulnerable natural resource.

It is clear that Canada's dependence on petroleum and natural gas products are one of the biggest threats to the region's environment well-being. Thus, the most important of Nikiforuk's 12 steps is the implementation of a carbon tax with a 100% dividend. Canadians must truly admit the extremity of the situation and begin to understand how their dependence on oil is only going to continue to deplete their beloved natural resources. Unfortunately, "cheap oil is a relic of the past. We have undervalued petroleum and consumed the majority of our fossil fuel inheritance in only sixty years," (Nikiforuk 200). There simply is no other option but to look to alternative energy sources if the natural resources of the region want to be salvaged; more importantly this must lead to action to help stop Canada from depending on oil so much it continues to deplete its natural resources. As soon as the Canadian people admit this to themselves and accept the clear and undeniable evidence, they can begin to throw their support for alternative innovation in meeting Canada's energy demands, starting with what matters most -- money.

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According to Nikiforuk, "national fossil fuel consumption could be reduced by 50 per cent by 2020 by imposing a series of progressive taxes on carbon, collected at the gas pump," (Nikiforuk 201). The basic assumption is to hit people and corporations were hit hurts the most, the pocket book. With carbon being so expensive, the people are going to demand new products that are more eco-friendly and affordable. Thus. "a carbon tax would raise energy prices and the cost of imported food, but ordinary citizens would find ways to reduce emissions in the marketplace by buying energy-saving products that will spur economic activity and innovation," (Nikiforuk 201-202). This will, in turn, force energy suppliers to have to rethink their strategies to produce alternative energy sources on a large scale in order to save money in taxes and fees.

Thus, implementing a tax is the most important step that is most beneficial to the Canadian environment is the step which demands a higher carbon tax rate. This is not a decision that must be made lightly, as it will undoubtedly have a negative impact on Canadians during the first stages of its development. It will be hard to wean Canadian's off their beloved gasoline; yet, when there is the threat of paying such high prices, this could prove the most effective method. Here, Nikiforuk claims that this was "conceived by NASA scientist Jim Hansen," and that this "carbon tax would be returned in its entirety to the public on a monthly basis" (Nikiforuk, 201). This will force the public to react, leaving no room for corporations to try and manipulate the issue further. One of the strongest powers in the economic marketplace is consumer buying power. If taxes force Canadian consumers to demand more energy-friendly products, companies will have to bow down to their demands.

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