First of all, there was a sort of environmental tunnel vision at play.  There are a myriad of issues facing the people of Guelph.  But from Stephane Dion, they get the only one answer you get from the Liberal leader these days: the environment!

There weren't enough chairs. Then the room wasn't big enough. The first question was a real lowball. And no matter what was asked, the answer related to climate change.

To be fair, though, this was never about Guelph or local issues:

If you're concerned about your lack of representation federally -- Guelph hasn't officially had an MP for more than three months, and for some time prior to that, had one who participated little in the goings-on at the House -- you would have been better off not holding your breath.

"This is not about [federal Liberal candidate Frank Valeriote]; this is not about this riding -- this is about national issues and the Liberal response to national issues," said host Don Drone, director of the Wellington Catholic District School Board, of which Valeriote was formerly chair.

"I enjoyed a lot to work all these years with [retiring Liberal MP] Brenda Chamberlain," was about all Dion told the crowd about local issues.

Later, when asked by a reporter, he said this: "Brenda did a great job for years."

Brenda Chamberlain did not show up.

I wonder what she would have been driving if she did.  I ask because the Guelph Mercury made note of what Stephane Dion is driving around in these days:

Before he arrived, someone was speculating that Dion would come in a Smart car. Instead, he arrived in a red minivan.

I hope it wasn't a Liberal speculating.  I can only imagine the disappointment.