Angry in the Great White North

Sometimes the real story is hidden behind the "human interest" piece.

In this case, the human interest bit is about Gabrielle Arkett being deeply disappointed about the brief contact she had with Liberal Party leader Stephane Dion:

She was introduced to Liberal party supporters but felt they were pushy and talked at her, not with her, as she was whisked around a portion of the renovated Festival Theatre lobby.

The biggest frustration was a quick handshake and photo with Mr. Dion. She was hoping to ask a few questions that she spent a fair amount of time formulating with her dad.

To be fair, I bet there are stories like this about every political leader.  He or she breezes in, a quick photo, and onto the next extended hand.

Perhaps Arkett's expectations were set too high, but then who isn't idealistic at 15? 

But for Arkett, this was not the only disappointment.  Just the biggest one:

The Liberal leader was in the area recently to talk about the Green Shift, the Liberals’ new environmental plan promising taxes on pollution and a reduction in income tax.

The 15-year-old said she didn’t feel that Mr. Dion sufficiently explained the Liberals’ new plan in a brief, eight-minute address.

A portion of his speech was spent attacking Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

“I had no idea what the Green Shift was at the end of it,” the Central Secondary School student said.

“Copies (of the Green Shift) should have been handed out so people could ask good questions.”

Ms. Arkett said advertising the event as town hall discussion was misleading because there was not enough opportunity to ask questions about the Green Shift and other topics.

Is this the grand communications plan that would sell Canadians on the carbon tax by the end of the summer?

Hand out the pamphlets.  Speak incomprehensibly for eight minutes.  Spend three of those eight minutes trashing the Stephen Harper.  Leave before the questions start.

Remember that the carbon tax plan includes an escalating tax on emissions applied on certain fuels at certain points in the value chain, three distinct tax bracket cuts, and a myriad of credits, benefits, social programs, and technology funds.  What it doesn't include are predictions or goals for how emissions will be affected.

After watching Stephane Dion breeze in and out, I doubt many people had any real idea what the carbon tax is going to do, expect make everything more expensive.  Gabrielle Arkett got it right, I think.  Stephane Dion ought to have treated Gabrielle Arkett with more respect.  She's a very perceptive person.

Note: Gabrielle, if you actually read this, don't be so surprised about Stephane Dion's reaction.  Stephane Dion has two reasons not to spend more than a moment with you.  First, you don't vote.  Second, you can't help with Stephane Dion's leadership debt.  Come back in a few years holding a cheque, and Stephane Dion will gladly listen to your questions.