I’ve noted that there’s been some angst in Liberal blogworld over whether or not the Liberals should really be promoting a carbon tax or carbon tax shift these days, and whether its a smart election strategy.
Quite frankly, until we see the full meat and bones of the plan, I think the angst is a tad early, but to be honest, if we’re going to lose, I’d rather Dion and the Liberals and us who support them go down fighting with a bang with a policy that is believed by the leader to be whats best for Canada then to go down with a whimper (ie. during the period of abstaining that was engaged in).
A majority of Canadians (61%) said they support a carbon tax of some shape and form in the most recent Decima poll on it a week and a bit ago. That number of support increases to the 70’s when asked what they thought of a carbon tax shift which included an incentive/reward program for those who do very well under this plan.
Dion and the Liberals have the opportunity to gave Canadians the chance to back up their green commitment in words with actions. It will not be hard to say “If you the electors want Canada to continue this path of inaction on the environment and continue the status quo - then vote Conservative. If you want real substantial plans to help start the process of controlling GHG’s, then vote Liberal”.
I say we go for it, and we’ll see if Canada wants to be a nation of environmental footdraggers and support the idea that whatever corporate Big Oil polluters want, Big Oil will get, as the Conservatives want, or if we really will support the idea of going green and cutting down on our GHG emissions with substantial action, as Dion and the Liberals propose.
‘If you want real substantial plans to help start the process of controlling GHG’s, then vote Liberal”.’
If liberals ‘didn’t get it done’ with a majority government, Dion as enviro minister, and 8 successive surplus budgets following their signing of Kyoto, why should anyone believe liberals now?