Former BC Finance Minister Carole Taylor in Vancouver on October 20th, 2010.Simon Hayter for The Globe and Mail
The architect of British Columbia's ground-breaking carbon tax says the tax has been an example to the world, but the current Liberal government has to figure out what to do with it next.
Former provincial finance minister Carole Taylor made the point on Monday after Premier Christy Clark introduced her as a special adviser on the economy. She will be paid $1 a year.
Ms. Taylor was finance minister when B.C. enacted the tax in 2008. The tax, which generated about $1.2-billion a year used to fund tax breaks, has been frozen since 2013 at $30 per tonne.
Ms. Clark has said the freeze will continue to 2018, but she has not said what will happen beyond that. However, a climate team appointed by the government recommended late last year that the province increase the tax.
Ms. Taylor touted the tax on Monday, noting she has talked about it in sessions at such postsecondary institutions as Harvard University.
"B.C. is widely regarded as having discovered a model and implemented a model that didn't destroy the economy but, at the same time, moved us forward in terms of the environment," she told Ms. Clark and reporters on Monday during a news conference in the Premier's Vancouver office.
"The challenge for you and your government is what's the next step, so that will be part of our discussions."
The Premier did not specifically reply to Ms. Taylor's comments. Ms. Clark did note that The New York Times and the World Bank have endorsed B.C.'s carbon tax.
Ms. Clark said B.C. is doing well in job creation and growth, but the province will have to be innovative to maintain its standing.
"That's when ideas-driven people like Carole Taylor can make a real difference," Ms. Clark said.
Ms. Taylor, 70, said at this point in her career, she is happy opportunities to use her experience to analyze and develop public policy.
"Who could say no," she said.
"Public policy is not easy. You can take a great idea for a solution to a housing problem or whatever, but you have to put it together with what's possible and what your priorities are as a government," Ms. Taylor said when asked about ideas on affordable housing.
Ms. Taylor is a former TV host who was a member of Vancouver city council and chair of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.
She was elected a Vancouver MLA in 2005, and appointed finance minister. During her term, she enacted the carbon tax, which is revenue neutral.
Ms. Taylor resigned from the legislature in 2008, and subsequently served as chancellor of Simon Fraser university.
Ian Bailey