Election Watch - 2004

 

Question #6 of 8:

What is your position on agricultural land trusts and the tax legislation to make them a viable alternative to preserving countryside?

 

Ted Alexander, Green Party of Canada

Under the current system we would support agricultural land trusts and give any tax breaks required to make them viable. This might be better dealt with at the municipal level. One of the Green Party's ten key values is decentralization where local communities are given the power and resources to protect their own environments.

Murray Calder, Liberal Party of Canada

There is a public interest in preserving environmentally sensitive areas of land. The costs of this, therefore, should be paid by the public at large, and individual landowners should not be left to shoulder the costs themselves for a public good. Whether it be preserving wetlands or other habitat, or protecting endangered species, the best results are achieved when landowners are encouraged, rather than coerced, to practice sound stewardship. Tax incentives are one way to achieve this. Such policies should involve all levels of government working together.

Ursula Ellis, Christian Heritage Party *

Rita Laundry, New Democratic Party **

David Tilson, Conservative Party of Canada ***

 

   * Declined our request to respond

 ** Unable to respond due to family illness

*** Deferred response to web site

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