The Tories have been in full swing demonizing the Liberal Green Shift plan. Liberals rebutted last week with an official launch and media campaign.
Choices each party have made reveal much about their perspectives on Canada and Canadians.
The Tories, apparently, think Canadians are ignorant five-year olds on a Sunday morning. Comparing the two spots, the Conservative piece is embarrassingly juvenile, though I would expect little else from their communications with the Canadian public. Moreover, it’s reasonably disconnected from the fundamentals of the Green Shift plan, which excludes gas taxes from initial increases due to the preexisting gas tax.
Voting Canadians, too — at least those the Tories are talking too — seemingly have no concept of the future and exist in a permanent present-state like a toddler, unaware that “working families” will be more hurt by unaddressed climate change than by lining up behind the corporate dirty-fuels industry.
The Liberals’ spot is rather refreshing. Full of symbolic and layered imagery, it adds a visual element to a rather detailed and thought-out document outlining their plans. And, Liberals seem to be putting back on their self-constructed “nation-builder” hats, which is always terrifying. Moreover, this entire plan could be destined to be no more of a Liberal “Green Book” of promises they will promptly ignore if elected.
In the next several months, it will become difficult for Mr. Harper to criticize other parties as consenus on this issue continues to grow. Certainly, this is not to suggest the Liberal plan is a panacea — far from. A poorly implemented carbon tax is no better than a poorly implemented cap-and-trade system.
The Liberals, NDP, Greens, and Bloc — as well as an overwhelming consensus of Canadians — have recognized climate change as a primary issue deserving respectful conversation.
Rather than criticizing its fundamentals or technical details, or offering an alternative, Mr. Harper shamefully said that this plan will “screw everybody.” Nothing will “screw” Canadians more than the attitude Stephen Harper, with his inability to show leadership on and even recognition of this critical issue. In the end, we are doomed to lose the simple luxury of listening to petty and childish arguments if we do not act on this threat immediately.
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