A sensible person could easily reach the conclusion a carbon levy is a good thing that will benefit society or a bad thing that won’t.
There’s room for a lively discussion about these differing propositions.
But how does a sensible person come to the conclusion a modest new tax is the equivalent to killing six to 10 million people?
Hint: a sensible person doesn’t. But even a nut still in possession of an ounce or two of sense would say nothing about such thoughts aloud, no matter what he privately believed.
As observers of Alberta politics with long memories have already pointed out, though, this isn’t the first time Wildrose MLAs have come up with this kind of foolishness. Indeed, as former Progressive Conservative Deputy Premier Thomas Lukaszuk noted last evening – also in a Tweet, of course – this particular comparison is kind of a habit with the Wildrose Party.
Back in late 2011, Wildrose MLA and former Leader Paul Hinman was comparing the Progressive Conservatives’ Land Use and Assembly Act to, wait for it … the very same Stalinist land collectivization policy. The debate was entertainingly chronicled by Edmonton Journal columnist Paula Simon.
Alberta PoliticsKeeping things in in the Right perspective: Wildrose says NDP’s carbon levy is much like killing 10 million people - Alberta Politics
The blog post, titled “How Much is Too Much?” was posted on Wildrose MLA Rick Strankman’s website, and was co-compiled by eight of his colleagues: Grant Hunter, Dave Schneider, Wes Taylor, Ron Orr, Mark Smith, Dave Hanson, Don MacIntyre and Drew Barnes.
The post references American economist and author Thomas Sowell and how people are more inclined to produce and create their own wealth rather than contribute to the common good.
“Sowell points out how the early settlers to North America considered all lands common property with no incentive for an individual to produce,” reads the post. “The same situation existed in Russia during the 1930s resulting in the starvation of nearly six million people that lived on the most fertile land on the planet.”
The blog continues: “The Alberta government’s carbon tax in its current form will not and can not create incentive for anyone exporting products outside of Alberta.”
Economic Development Minister Deron Bilous, an Edmonton MLA, said Friday he was shocked by the comments referencing the Holodomor, a man-made famine that saw seven to 10 million Ukrainians starve to death in 1932 and 1933.
“Being of Ukrainian decent myself, I found their comments offensive,” said Bilous. “Comparing genocide through starvation to a policy that the (NDP) government is bringing forward is beyond bizarre — I think it’s absurd.”
Bilous said he’s already received comments from people from Alberta’s Ukrainian community expressing their concerns over the post.
“They’re quite hurt by this. This was an absolutely horrific time in history,” said Bilous. “We have a significant number of Albertans of Ukrainian decent and this goes far beyond disrespectful. It’s inexcusable.”
The post has since been deleted from Strankman’s blog and a written apology was issued by the Wildrose party.
“The Holodomor was an atrocious and intentional act that saw the deaths of millions upon millions of Ukrainians,” the statement said.
“Any interpretation of the column collaborated on by the nine Wildrose MLAs as dismissing the Holodomor as a horrendous act was completely unintentional, and we unreservedly apologize.”
Bilous described the apology as a step in the right direction, but is looking to party leader Brian Jean to publicly address the matter.
“There needs to be a recognition of the impact that the Holodomor had and continues to have on tens of thousands of Albertans,” said Bilous.
Wildrose blog post that compares carbon tax to Ukrainian genocide requires apology, NDP cabinet minister says | Edmonton Journal
There’s room for a lively discussion about these differing propositions.
But how does a sensible person come to the conclusion a modest new tax is the equivalent to killing six to 10 million people?
Hint: a sensible person doesn’t. But even a nut still in possession of an ounce or two of sense would say nothing about such thoughts aloud, no matter what he privately believed.
As observers of Alberta politics with long memories have already pointed out, though, this isn’t the first time Wildrose MLAs have come up with this kind of foolishness. Indeed, as former Progressive Conservative Deputy Premier Thomas Lukaszuk noted last evening – also in a Tweet, of course – this particular comparison is kind of a habit with the Wildrose Party.
Back in late 2011, Wildrose MLA and former Leader Paul Hinman was comparing the Progressive Conservatives’ Land Use and Assembly Act to, wait for it … the very same Stalinist land collectivization policy. The debate was entertainingly chronicled by Edmonton Journal columnist Paula Simon.
Alberta PoliticsKeeping things in in the Right perspective: Wildrose says NDP’s carbon levy is much like killing 10 million people - Alberta Politics
The blog post, titled “How Much is Too Much?” was posted on Wildrose MLA Rick Strankman’s website, and was co-compiled by eight of his colleagues: Grant Hunter, Dave Schneider, Wes Taylor, Ron Orr, Mark Smith, Dave Hanson, Don MacIntyre and Drew Barnes.
The post references American economist and author Thomas Sowell and how people are more inclined to produce and create their own wealth rather than contribute to the common good.
“Sowell points out how the early settlers to North America considered all lands common property with no incentive for an individual to produce,” reads the post. “The same situation existed in Russia during the 1930s resulting in the starvation of nearly six million people that lived on the most fertile land on the planet.”
The blog continues: “The Alberta government’s carbon tax in its current form will not and can not create incentive for anyone exporting products outside of Alberta.”
Economic Development Minister Deron Bilous, an Edmonton MLA, said Friday he was shocked by the comments referencing the Holodomor, a man-made famine that saw seven to 10 million Ukrainians starve to death in 1932 and 1933.
“Being of Ukrainian decent myself, I found their comments offensive,” said Bilous. “Comparing genocide through starvation to a policy that the (NDP) government is bringing forward is beyond bizarre — I think it’s absurd.”
Bilous said he’s already received comments from people from Alberta’s Ukrainian community expressing their concerns over the post.
“They’re quite hurt by this. This was an absolutely horrific time in history,” said Bilous. “We have a significant number of Albertans of Ukrainian decent and this goes far beyond disrespectful. It’s inexcusable.”
The post has since been deleted from Strankman’s blog and a written apology was issued by the Wildrose party.
“The Holodomor was an atrocious and intentional act that saw the deaths of millions upon millions of Ukrainians,” the statement said.
“Any interpretation of the column collaborated on by the nine Wildrose MLAs as dismissing the Holodomor as a horrendous act was completely unintentional, and we unreservedly apologize.”
Bilous described the apology as a step in the right direction, but is looking to party leader Brian Jean to publicly address the matter.
“There needs to be a recognition of the impact that the Holodomor had and continues to have on tens of thousands of Albertans,” said Bilous.
Wildrose blog post that compares carbon tax to Ukrainian genocide requires apology, NDP cabinet minister says | Edmonton Journal