Angry in the Great White North

Prime Minister Stephen Harper is hitting the Liberals hard in Atlantic Canada, taking aim at Stephane Dion's carbon tax plan:

Prime Minister Stephen Harper took aim at the Liberal party's carbon tax policy on Thursday, suggesting the proposal would hurt Atlantic Canada in particular.

Harper, wrapping up a two-day tour of Newfoundland and New Brunswick, was speaking to members of the Conservatives' Atlantic caucus at a meeting west of Fredericton.

He claimed the Liberals failed to mention their so-called Green Shift platform in a statement issued after they concluded their own Atlantic caucus meeting last week in Nova Scotia.

"There's a reason it didn't mention the carbon tax policy," he said. "That's because it's a bad policy for Atlantic Canada. It would hurt families here, it would hurt industries here and that's why they're not talking about it."

Claimed that there was no mention of the carbon tax?  What an odd choice of words.  Either the carbon tax (aka The Green Shift) is mentioned in the media release or it isn't. 

So let's check the Liberal Party media release covering the Atlantic caucus meeting:

Media Releases

Atlantic Liberals primed for fall session

August 6, 2008

DIGBY, Nova Scotia — The Atlantic Liberal caucus has emerged from its summer retreat ready to take on Stephen Harper’s Conservatives this fall in Parliament, Liberal MP for West Nova Robert Thibault said today.

“This has been a very productive meeting and we have great confidence in our party and our message as we move into the fall session,” said Mr. Thibault, who hosted the caucus. “I thank the Atlantic MPs, Senators and Liberal candidates for coming to West Nova. This is such a diverse and wonderful part of the province and I’m glad to have shown them Digby hospitality.”

Mr. Thibault said the Atlantic Liberal caucus had a wide-ranging discussion on the issues that are important to Atlantic Canadians such as Canada’s economic situation, making the "14 best weeks program" pilot project a permanent part of the EI program, and maintaining the Air Canada service base in Halifax. Mr. Thibault also reiterated the Liberal Party’s support for maintaining the Digby ferry.

“Just like our highways, the Digby ferry and the Air Canada base are vital to Atlantic Canada’s transportation system,” he said. “We are calling on Air Canada to maintain services in Atlantic Canada and as Liberals, we are also strongly committed to preserving and enhancing ferry service on a long-term basis.”

“As Liberals, we are firmly committed to ensuring the voices of all Canadians are heard in the House and Senate,” he said. “We have a plan for a richer, greener and fairer Canada, and working together we will succeed.”

That's the entire media release, no edits.

And nowhere is the carbon tax mentioned.  According to Robert Thibault, Atlantic Liberals will be talking about the following subjects with voters:

• Canada's economic situation
• Employment Insurance
• Air Canada service work remaining in Halifax
• The Digby Ferry

No reference to the carbon tax.  No reference to the environment even in a general sense.

Why?

Because if you're a Liberal and you mention the environment, you are immediately questioned on the plan for a carbon tax.

And for some reason Atlantic Liberals just don't want to go there.

Maybe Stephen Harper is right and Atlantic Liberals are deliberately avoiding mention of their carbon tax.  I guess Conservative and NDP candidates in Atlantic Canada can pick up the slack and make sure there is a debate on Stephane Dion's idea and what it will do to families in the region.