Angry in the Great White North

First we had Liberal MP Ken Boshcoff explain how Stephane Dion's carbon tax is really just a way of moving money from Alberta and Saskatchewan to Ontario and Quebec to pay for social programs.

Then we had Liberal MP Martha Hall Findlay explain how Stephane Dion's carbon tax might or might not affect emissions, and that there is simply no way to tell.

Then we had Liberal MP Ralph Goodale explain that most of the oil taken out of the ground in Saskatchewan won't be taxed at all.

Now we have Liberal nominee Gerry Samson in Stormont-Dundas-South-Glengarry.  His revelation?  That no one believes him when he tries to sell Stephane Dion's carbon tax as a financial windfall for Canadians:

“It’s the right thing to do,” Dion said during a speakers forum at the Best Western Parkway Inn. “Canadians want to act on climate change.”

However, during a question period following the speech, local Liberal nominee Gerry Samson told Dion he’s having trouble selling the “Green Shift” plan to people in Cornwall and S, D and G.

“They (people) seem to not believe the tax shift is going to benefit them” Samson said. “They just don’t seem to believe it.”

Yikes.  And with Stephane Dion right there in the room!  So, of course, the reporters go over to Stephane Dion for an immediate comment.  Caught unprepared by Gerry Samson's admission, Stephane Dion's response seems to be that Gerry Samson hasn't spoken to the right people:

When asked about Samson’s comments prior to leaving the event, Dion said the response he received at the Cornwall event was similar to what he’s seen elsewhere in the country. The party leader said he didn’t know how many people Samson spoke to.

I'm guessing that Gerry Samson won't be allowed to share a room with Stephane Dion with the media present anytime in the near future.

As a way of comparison, Stephane Dion seemed to have little trouble winning over this crowd to his plan for a carbon tax:

Judging by the applause, Dion’s speech and responses were well received by the roughly 110 people who were in attendance at the event, which was hosted by the Cornwall Carbon Reduction Initiative (CCRI).

The Liberal leader’s plan hit home with Ernie Schaefer, one of the local residents in attendance. Schaefer believes the plan could help bring the public together on a very critical issue.

“The plan he’s advanced is dealing with a question we cannot afford to ignore any more,” Schaefer said. “It’s credible and completely thought out. It’s an action plan that works.”

Clearly, Ernie Schaefer is sold on it.  He's just one of your local residents, after all, wowed by the plan presented by Stephane Dion at the podium that evening. 

Ernie Schaefer is the only audience member interviewed and quoted in this story.

Just an average guy...who is also an active member of the local Liberal riding association (and it turns out, a member of the riding association executive with the title "director" -- see the update below):

Stormont-Dundas-South-Glengarry 2007 Activity Plan

Activity Plan / Plan des activités

• Prepared at an adhoc meeting of members
• Rédigé par un comité adhoc des membres

Tom Manley, Dianne Poirier, Claude Poirier, Davy Coyle, Denis Sabourin, Organzeb Malik, Ernie Schaefer, Steve Caza, Martial Mbadifeina, Larry Berry, Larry Fisher, Carrie Manley, Claude Delorme, Paulette Hébert, Mahmood Shafqat.

Funny that Ernie Schaefer didn't identify himself as a Liberal Party member and Liberal riding association activist.  Too bad the paper didn't figure that out before labeling him as just "one of the local residents".

Maybe Gerry Samson really is having trouble selling the carbon tax to people.  At least to people who aren't Liberal Party members who enjoy posing as average  citizens with no obvious party affiliations. 

Which makes me wonder...just how many of the other 109 people in attendance were like Ernie Schaefer -- active members of the Liberal Party trucked out to fill chairs and spout out praise to the local press?

Maybe Schaefer was the only one.  And it was pure luck that the only active Liberal Party partisan in the crowd was the only one who got himself interviewed and quoted in the only story written about this event, without revealing his link to the Liberal Party.

It all sounds a bit dishonest when I write it up that way.  Just assume for a moment that this was not luck, but an orchestrated bit of media manipulation.  If Canadians are really warming up to Stephane Dion's idea of paying more for everything, then why would the Liberals resort to playing tricks like this? 

Playing tricks on the media to sell the tax trick.  Cute.

Maybe we should come up with a name for this sort of thing.  Call it Stephane Dion's Green Shiftiness.

Addendum: I wonder if Gerry Samson was in on the joke.

A random thought: If it turns out that the Liberals are playing games in promoting their "Green Shift", it only strengthens Jennifer Wright's position that the Liberals are undermining her Green Shift Inc.

Update: Turns out that Ernie Schaefer, that "local resident", is in fact a member of the Liberal riding association executive.  HIs title is Cornwall West Director.  Thanks to Christian Conservative for the heads up.