Angry in the Great White North

Liberal Party leader Stephane Dion says the Green Shift must be implemented without delay:

As the stock markets took another tumble today, Liberal Leader Stephane Dion said he won’t run a deficit or delay his Green Shift tax plan — no matter how bad the global economy gets.

Meanwhile his former leadership rival Bob Rae says the Green Shift might have to wait:

Rae maintained Canadians really won't know the true state of the nation's books until a Liberal government takes power. But he too made an interesting concession to the impact of severe economic turbulence.

The Liberal Green Shift carbon-tax plan, said Rae, could also face a delayed implementation.

"Any government coming in has to take circumstances into account, but the direction is very clear," said Rae.

So would the Liberals implement the Green Shift or not?

Indeed, why would a carbon tax have to wait?  The only answer I can come up with is that it might be bad for a weakened economy.  But then if it is bad for a weakened economy, why would it be good for a stronger economy?

Shifty questions:  If the Green Shift is truly revenue neutral for the government, then why the delay?  If the Green Shift is supposed to help most Canadians, then why the delay?