Carbon Tax: "Tax what we don't want...

...and don't tax what we do want."
-David MacGuinty

David Suzuki's support of the Liberal plan for a revenue-neutral carbon tax provides a useful endorsement when most pundits are tut-tutting Stephan Dion. This two-bit condescension from the press is damaging to efforts to create long-term policies that will benefit Canadians . The reception by the pundits up to now reflects a cheap analysis of the attitudes of the Canadian electorate. Those that oppose the Carbon tax won't vote for anyone but the Tories, anyway. And that is a rather small rump centered in Alberta and Saskatchewan.

Nobody wants to pay more taxes; But most people are not foolish enough to buy into the fairy-tale that we'll solve all are problems Next Year. The environment needs action now, but the laissez-faire attitude of Canada's New Government regarding pollution( but not sex, they want to legislate that) reveals a policy of eat, drink and make money and "to hell with you Jack, I'm alright" that provides no long term answers.

With current popularity putting the Tories slightly ahead of the Liberals(33% to 31% a figure that follows the averages for almost 18 months now), a Federal election over the environment, rather than the Conservatives' general incompetence, cynicism and immaturity would play to the strengths of the opposition parties. Of course, the Conservatives' ability as sophomoric debaters shouldn't be discounted if the election is portrayed as a horse race, rather than a serious confrontation of policy and direction for Canada.