In the heart of Nova Scotia, a wave of despair has swept over everyone except the very affluent. This despair, deeply rooted in hopelessness, is a grim response to converging crises in affordability, climate, and health, all seemingly unsolvable through our current political approaches. The deep-seated distrust of government, as indicated by statistic from Engage Nova Scotia, and the recent by-election in Preston, highlight a demand for immediate relief from suffering.
The recent by-election in the Preston riding brought to light the immediate concerns of its citizens. On August 8, 2023, the constituents voted not for long-term change but against policies causing immediate hardship. The winning candidate, Twila Grosse from the Progressive Conservative Party, took more than 45 percent of the vote. This result reflects the deep-seated distress felt by many Nova Scotians.
One of the primary issues in the election was the carbon levy. While necessary for long-term climate stabilization, this policy poses an immediate threat to affordability for many Nova Scotians. The carbon levy is a levy on the carbon content of fuels. It’s intended to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by making it more expensive to emit carbon dioxide, in order to nudge industry business and individuals towards choices that are less carbon intensive. The seldom mentioned rebate, is designed to make these choices more accessible. Ultimately the rebate will amount to additional household revenue once individuals have transitioned activities to use less carbon. However, the immediate impact of this policy can be a higher cost of living, as it increases the price of goods and services that rely on carbon-intensive energy sources, that we have yet to transition away from.
Many Nova Scotians were already feeling the weight of despair due to converging crises in affordability, climate, and health, before the carbon levy was implemented in Nova Scotia in July. When people feel like they’re drowning, they naturally reach for anything that seems like it could help them keep their heads above water.
While the carbon levy currently is an added burden to the two many that are all ready drowning, climate change and disaster also adds to this burden, disproportionately affecting the health of our economy, communities with a particular negative impact on vulnerable individuals and middle class who bear the brunt of its impacts.
This situation calls for a delicate balancing act from policymakers. On the one hand, we can’t ignore the urgent need to address climate change. On the other hand, we must ensure that the transition to a greener economy doesn’t disproportionately burden those least able to bear it.
During the by-election campaign, Premier Tim Houston was vocal in his opposition to the federal carbon levy. However, there was a noticeable absence of discussion on the policy levers within his control as Premier that could alleviate the deepening despair felt by many Nova Scotians.
Notably missing from Houston’s platform were substantial investments in public and non-profit housing and policies to address housing commodification, These are critical issues, particularly in a province grappling with rising homelessness and housing insecurity. Also absent was increasing the wage floor by moving us to a living a wage, or increasing income assistance. One the roots causes of the affordability crisis is that wages have not kept pace with the cost of living. Houston holds the policy levers to change this
The indisputable fact is that our economy must transition away from its current dependency on carbon. This inevitable shift will indeed cause discomfort, particularly for the middle class and the poor who have contributed the least to the climate crisis. It is incumbent upon our political leaders to implement policies that reduce this burden and offer necessary support.
This significant shift harkens back to the post-Second World War period when Canada faced a similar substantial economic transition. During this time, the Marsh Report was produced, advocating for the creation of numerous social assistance, insurance, and public welfare programs. These recommendations formed the bedrock of our contemporary social infrastructure and played a crucial role in facilitating the enormous task of transitioning from a wartime economy to peace-time prosperity. Unfortunately, today, after years of austerity this social infrastruce barley exists.
We find ourselves at the precipice of another major transition – moving towards a post-carbon economy to combat climate change. Yet, Houston’s approach seems to lack the vision and foresight embodied in the Marsh Report. There’s no call for a robust social safety net or substantial policy changes necessary to navigate this new transition.
To truly tackle the climate crisis and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, a strategy that centers vulnerable people is needed. This includes a comprehensive housing strategy that eradicates homelessness, a commitment to living wages, and an introduction to next-generation social programs. These programs should encompass universal public eldercare, childcare, public pharmacare, dental care, tuition-free post-secondary education, and free robust public transit programs
Creating the social solidarity necessary for this transition to a post-carbon economy involves a fundamental shift in how we distribute costs. The burden should be lifted of the kitchen tables of ordinary families, who are already grappling with affordability issues, and placed on the boardroom tables of the corporations that have contributed significantly to both the climate and affordability crises.
Economists David MacDonald and Jim Stanford from the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives and the Centre for Future Work, respectively, have analyzed the current economic situation. They argue that inflation is being driven by corporate profits. This means that corporations are increasing prices not because of increased costs, but to boost their profit margins. This kind of inflation exacerbates inequality as it disproportionately affects lower-income families who spend a larger portion of their incomes on necessities. In addition, CCPA also demonstrates that there is unequal distribution of greenhouse gas emissions. According to their research, the wealthiest 20% of Canadians are responsible for almost double the greenhouse gas emissions of the poorest 20%. This stark inequality underscores the need for climate legislation that focuses not only on reducing emissions but also addresses these disparities.
Tim Houston’s campaign and plan fall short in presenting substantial policy measures to effectively address the climate and affordability crises. The scope of the policies seemed more focused on immediate political gains than on alleviating the hardships faced by many Nova Scotians.
If the current provincial government is genuinely committed to combating these crises, it must ensure that wealthy, who are significantly responsible for the problems, pay their fair share in order to build the social safety required to transition to post carbon economy. This approach would help alleviate the burden currently shouldered by those suffering the most. Ultimately, fostering social solidarity for transitioning to a post-carbon economy necessitates a major shift in our economic paradigm. It involves redistributing the financial burden onto those most culpable for the crisis and channeling those resources to support society’s most vulnerable members. This approach is not merely about fairness; it’s about creating a sustainable future for all.