How will you spend Gordo’s cash?

Budget 2008 and BC's Climate Action Dividend should have already arrived in your mailbox in time for the long weekend. The objective of this campaign is to encourage British Columbians to spend the funds on something in support of sustainability and the environment. Some suggested initiatives include purchasing energy-efficient light bulbs, shopping locally for produce and other goods produced in the lower mainland, or purchasing eco-friendly upgrades for your home.

The Provincial government claims to have overturned the notion that you have to choose either a strong economy or a healthy environment, by suggesting both can exist harmoniously. Lovely sentiment, however I wonder how many people are using their dividend cheques to save the world – ahem - the environment? Whilst sunning myself at English Bay this afternoon, I decided to do some investigating.

I approached a number of beach going Vancouverites to ask what their plans were for the $100. Some answered ‘it was spent before it arrived', others simply admitted to using the extra cash as a kitty for this weekend's beer fund. Fair enough. Only one of the people I approached declared to have spent the eco-cash on reusable shopping bags and vowed to eat local produce for the entire month of July. At least someone gets it!

Gordo and the Liberals are investing more than $1 billion in climate action initiatives. While I'm 100% in support of the direction they're taking, mailing $100 cheques to each and every British Columbian seems like a huge PR stunt in preparation for the back lash that will no doubt occur following the July 1 implementation of the Carbon Tax. I don't own a car, but belong to a car co-op, so I'm all for the added tax on gas prices as this will hopefully encourage people to cut back on unnecessary driving. However, I would bet that most people will not spend their $100 cheque on anything relevant to the environment.

I appreciate that the government is encouraging innovation and conservation by introducing North America's first revenue-neutral carbon tax, but the continuous increase in fuel prices does not a happy British Columbian make. Your heart was in the right place Gordie, but this political publicity looks to me to be a waste of our tax dollars.