Not everyone is singing

In your article "Positive local reaction to last week's federal budget" (March 6), you mention that "many local officials are singing its praises," and that MP David Tilson, one of the three local officials cited in the article, was "enthused." The Citizen's same day editorial stated that a "responsible" budget is "always refreshing to see."

This is the third federal budget that again did nothing to address green house gas emissions and the attendant economic damage they cause. This is in stark contrast to the response from the B.C. provincial government, which introduced a fiscally responsible revenue neutral (meaning not a tax increase or decrease) carbon tax just days before. Perhaps this is because B.C. can already count the loss of $7 billion worth of forest product directly related to green house gas emissions.

I believe that many residents in Caledon want to see more done to protect our environment. Even Tilson's own survey last year suggests likewise. Unfortunately, Tilson is unable to raise our environmental concerns in parliament because it's his own party that is not providing the required leadership.

In the meantime Conservative inaction is building up a massive "environmental deficit" that all of us will need to pay for later. Nobody should get enthusiastic about that.
Ard Van Leeuwen,
Dufferin-Caledon
Federal Green Party candidate