This morning I received my Climate Action Dividend cheque in the mail from the provincial government. One hundred dollars for doing absolutely nothing, but I still feel satisfied.

Over the weekend, I was thinking of ways that I could put my hundred dollars to good use. A hundred bucks doesn’t buy what it used to, but I could make a difference with it.

It’s a foregone conclusion that most of the money contained in the cheque will go straight into my gas tank, and seeing as I drive a V-8, the money will blow out my dual exhaust system even quicker.

That said, I must find a constructive way to spend (or save?) this ‘free’ money.

If Shane Simpson, the NDP MLA for Vancouver-Hastings, had his way, I’d turn over my cheque to the NDP, no questions asked.

Last time I checked, there wasn’t a match in the envelope, but I think the average British Columbian would be better served to burn their cheque than use it to pad the coffers of the official opposition.

Think of it this way: if you burn your cheque, you are producing light, heat and energy, none of which can be taxed by any level of government.

This is especially useful for people who live in the northern and rural sections of the province, because heating your home with oil this winter is going to be more expensive than ever before, thanks to the new carbon tax.

Simpson says the NDP wants the money to ‘fight the carbon tax’. Good on them, fighting unjust tax hikes with polite indignation and peaceful protest is admirable.

But panhandling isn’t.

If their current form of protest in their ‘axe the tax’ campaign – holding up signs whilst standing on street corners and waving to commuters hoping for some to honk in approval of their position – is the best they’ve got, then I’m disappointed.

There are people in my neighbourhood who stand on the corner every night asking for money, only you may get something in return from them – more than the hot air and bluster we get from the NDP – though what that is may be up to you.

It all seems a bit hypocritical that the NDP is against this carbon tax, seeing as they were the ones who raised personal income taxes considerably during their time in office and are actually in favour of a carbon tax (but a different kind of carbon tax, they will assure you).

Hopefully soon they realize they can’t have it both ways. Rather than trying to score cheap political points, they can work with the government to develop a better climate strategy.

Because that would be nice.