Do you believe global oil production is at or near an historic peak? If so, what will your party do to prepare Canada for declining oil production? If not, why not? - Raise the Hammer Elections

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Candidate Responses
Response Summary
Candidates Who Have Not Responded

6 Candidate Responses (top)

Hamilton East-Stoney Creek
Candidate	Brief Response	Full Response
Bob Green Innes	Yes	The almost certain peaking of oil, which puts pressure on price, will be confused with the simultaneous debauching of the US Dollar, which will have the same effect. Canada has choices because of our oil resources. We can let our dollar rise, as it is doing (perhaps $1.50), but this will kill a lot of manufacturing, especially in this area, or we can, by lowering interest rates, let our dollar fall with the USD. The latter would cause inflation and/ or pressure on farm and commodity incomes (in USD), but will also encourage the return of manufacturing to Canada/ North America, which we favour. As noted, we feel that Canadians should be masters of our own destiny and advocate a complete review of our trading treaties. Many in CAP call for outright abrogation of NAFTA, which seems drastic to contemplate immediately, but make no mistake, increasingly folks are being squeezed out of the economy. They are angry. We want their vote so the public will finally see the depth of the outrage that exists in Canada. I hope this can result in renegotiation before more drastic action must be taken. My own view is that Canadians are living an unsustainable lifestyle based mainly on our excessive suburbanization. One way or other the price of oil is set to increase, which will cause a reversal of the dynamics that led to this situation. Inner cities will begin to be more attractive than exurbs, which in turn, will strengthen systems for public order and support. This I would encourage, and while tax burdens are presently too high, a judicious shifting of taxes may serve to strengthen urban intensification, so long in waiting. As for promoting green technologies, judicious research and development is worthwhile in certain cases, but grand subsidy schemes are just a way to take money from the poor and give it to the rich. For example, my own unsubsidized solar collectors are financially efficient, but this efficiency has been hurt by time-of-use hydro rates - my fans need to run when the sun shines, which coincides with the peak cost period. My free solar heat isn't so free anymore, and my low cost concept might have to give way to the high cost subsidized systems favoured by the Greens. Serious diseconomies can result in net job losses instead of gains, despite all the wild promises of solar and wind cowboys, who are really subsidy farmers. Green initiatives like the lightbulb ban are stupid beyond belief. In self defense, I now have a lifetime supply of cheap incandescent bulbs which are the only environmentally and financially proper choice for certain applications! This is absurd. The Canadian Action Party policies will also reduce oil consumption by encouraging locally grown food and better waste / packaging policies. Also, we must reverse perverse policies which tax conservation and recycling systems while subsidizing resource extraction industries with free public infrastructure. To summarize the above, I have full faith that Canadians will adapt to future realities with confidence and resolve, if not with foresight. We do not need a nanny state full of expensive bureaucrats messing around with green elephants.
David Hart Dyke	Yes	I believe that if we haven't yet actually reached Peak Oil, it will happen soon. Much of the Green Party's platform involves weaning Canada off its fossil fuel addiction and transforming us into a strong, environmentally sustainable economy that ensures good jobs and an improved standard of living. Rising energy costs are a fact of life. The Green Party is the only party to recognize this and incorporate ways to deal with this fact right into the its platform.
Gord Hill	Yes	Yes, within the next 30 to 40 years based on the figures I have reviewed the World reserves as they are known now will be depleted based on present day consumption. Canada's reserves based on its own usage would last it over 100 years. We need vision now! within ten years we must have alternatives well in place. We would place significant effort in the preservation and control of our resources to fulfill the future needs of Canada the biggest effort would be placed in those that are renewable.
Greg Pattinson	Yes	The amount of oil reserves in the world is arguably finite since it takes millions of years to form an oil deposit and current consumption far exceeds that rate. Alternate energy sources are the future. The scarcer the resource becomes, the higher the price should be. If gas goes up to $5 per litre, people will start buying electric cars. Canadians are already feeling the pressure from higher oil and gas prices. What the government is doing now only makes things worse for Canadians. Canadians are being charged taxes on top of taxes. In order to get the money to pay for the gas they pay income tax. Then they pay excise tax at the pump, and then get charged sales tax on top of the excise tax. There are provincial taxes and federal taxes. Canada needs a flat tax system, one tax so Canadians know what their tax burden is. This could be an income tax or a sales tax but only one, all other forms of tax should be abolished. Personally I prefer a sales tax so at least Canadians can choose how much tax they pay by buying cheaper products. Our current tax system is so convoluted that nobody knows what they paid in taxes last year. The government has done that on purpose so that people don't realize just how much of their money is going to the government.
Wayne Marston	Yes	Yes, we are aware of the discussions around the peaking of world oil supply. In the past, NDP Energy critic Dennis Bevington has been in discussion with energy analysts and peak oil commentators both within Canada and abroad. Ultimately, New Democrats believe that re-shaping energy policy for the 21st century means moving away from fossil-fuel dependence toward a green energy future by investing in solar, wind, wave, and geothermal sources, working with provinces and territories to share clean energy; and ensuring energy conservation in transportation and building methods. Many of these ideas are highlighted in our party's platform.
Wendell Fields	Yes	Surely in a modern society like ours of the 21st century, we are capable of developing and using effectively other means of energy production. In fact, there are many alternative energy sources we have but they have been relegated to the back burner by the big oil monopolies and the governments at their service as they stand to lose too much if the world's dependence on oil is challenged. The MLPC calls for a new direction for the economy, one that is human-centered. There is no doubt that the kind of conscious planning that is required for a new and modern economy would include planning around sustainable energy sources. It would also include the development of a Canada energy policy that is truly sovereign and designed for the well-being of Canadians. Currently, Canadian energy resources are at the service of the U.S. Empire as part of the ongoing annexation of Canada into the United States of North American monopolies. This is unconscionable and a major obstacle for our efforts as Canadians to organize our society in a matter that serves our interests. In sum, the issue of oil production can only be sorted out by the Canadian people as part of the ongoing work to realize a new direction for the economy.

Response Summary (top)

Brief Response	Count	% of Total
Yes	6	100.0%
No	0	0.0%
Maybe	0	0.0%

3 Candidates Have Not Responded (top)

Hamilton East-Stoney Creek
Bob Mann
Brad Clark
Michelle Stockwell