So how are things going in Iraq? Well, the insurgents are now holding parades.
Update: And Muqtada al-Sadr has taken over the southern Iraqi city of Amarah.

A new poll from Strategic Counsel reveals that the majority of Canadians support a consumption tax on energy use; aka a carbon tax.

Here’s a breakdown of the funding options Canadians strongly or somewhat support:

* Heavy fines for energy-using industries that fail to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions: 84 per cent
* An energy tax based on the total amount of energy used consumers and industries: 55 per cent
* Pay tolls on major roads and highways: 37 per cent
* Significantly increasing the price of gasoline: 20 per cent
* Raising income taxes: 18 per cent

The relatively small percentage of Canadians who would go for an increase in gas prices or a rise in income tax indicates that a consumption levy is far more palatable, said Gregg, adding that few people appear willing to defend big industry on the issue.

Even in the energy-rich West, 79 per cent of Canadians supported large financial penalties on companies that fail to reduce emissions.

Once again the ideology of conservatives is shown to be at odds with mainstream Canada.

From the SeeBeeSee news archives.

Diefenbaker Promises Avro Arrow Replacement by 2006
(SeeBeeSee News) June 20, 1962

Just two days after winning a slim minority government, Prime Minister Diefenbaker came out swinging with new plans to bolster his party’s waning support.

“I realize the cancellation of the Avro Arrow upset many Canadians and cost my party a lot of support in the recent election,” Diefenbaker said at a press conference today. “So I’m announcing a plan to replace the Arrow program with a “Made in Canada” program to design and build military aircraft. I expect it to be completed by the year 2006.”

The Prime Minister also laid out several other plans to deal with the issues that most believe cost him his majority government. A new employment initiative will seek to lower unemployment to 2% by 2006.

Diefenbaker said he also wants to see the value of the Canadian dollar above that of the US greenback by 2006.

Critics were quick to label his plans as nothing but empty promises that would have to be fulfilled by governments in the far off future.

Liberal leader Pearson quipped, “I’d hate to be the sucker who will have to tell the Canadian public why we don’t have a replacement for the popular Avro Arrow in 2006.”

Prime Minister Diefenbaker rebuked his critics however, by saying that Canada’s New (Minority) Goverment would not cut and run from these auspicious goals.

I was thinking the same thing when I saw Taylor’s quick reaction to Turner’s challenge. While there’s nothing wrong with being involved with a political party and blogging (Jason Cherniak does it), bloggers should be honest about that involvement (like Cherniak is). Stephen Taylor needs to come clean about how deeply involved he is with the Conservative Party or nobody, particularly journalists who risk throwing away their credibility, should pay attention to him.