VANCOUVER -- The BC Conservative Party says it is committed to shutting down the Pacific Carbon Trust, saying it wastes nearly $20 million in taxpayers' dollars every year.
Leader John Cummins calls the trust a corporate welfare system that takes money from important programs and services in B.C. to subsidize eco-friendly corporate projects.
Cummins says he agrees with the B.C. auditor general's assessment that the Crown corporation is a sham.
The leader says in 2011, about 70 per cent of the government's carbon offsets were purchased by school districts, hospitals and post-secondary institutions and he would rather see that money go back into education and health care.
Under his Conservative plan, Cummins says those institutions would save $14-million, allowing them to provide more services to B.C. residents.
In a report released last month, Auditor General John Doyle called the program smoke and mirrors, but the report was quickly rejected by the Liberal government and Doyle was criticized for ignoring the views of experts with views contrary to Doyle's.
