I hate to sound elitist, but...

People should probably be asking how to reach these people, though.

Calgary’s water main break has been the talk of the town(s) as its emergency situation threatens something most of us have taken for granted for the past generation or two: running water.

At least a couple of decades ago, Strathmore purchased a pipeline to deliver water from Calgary. As a non-resident, and non-voter in the city of Calgary, I prepared for the possibility that our water would be cut off by having some water bottles delivered from Red Deer.

Much like during the pandemic, it’s a harsh reminder that my access to something, like healthcare or water, relies heavily upon others choosing to make a small sacrifice that no one will see or applaud, but makes a huge difference to those of us who may be affected down the line.

On Saturday, we went for a drive.

Initially, the goal was to possibly wash the car, on its first trip this summer. Then, we realized that we probably couldn’t wash it in town, due to the aforementioned water restrictions.

So, we headed west of the problem — to Canmore.

The roads were packed.

We were cut off more than once by people who were in a hurry and didn’t bother to check if anyone else was in the lane next to them.

There was no “open road”.

Once we managed to get out of Calgary, we passed one of the anti-carbon tax settlements — you know, those people who have found that the least expensive way to camp out over the summer is by waving a “Fcuk Trudeau” flag while cosplaying “standing up for” your right to less expensive gas.

A couple of weeks ago, Conservative Party of Canada leader Pierre Poilievre put out an incredulous claim that Albertans would save almost $1000 this summer if not for the carbon tax on gasoline. Canadians from other provinces would save less, presumably because they are not as dedicated to driving oversized gas-guzzling vehicles they don’t really need (that’s the truthful part).

As someone who only remotely enjoyed the trip because of all the traffic, let me offer this insight instead: no one who can afford to travel cares.

Allow me to say that more slowly. No one, who can afford to travel, is hindered by the carbon tax.

Those who can’t afford to travel now, won’t miraculously be able to afford to travel once Poilievre cancels the carbon tax.

Forgive me if I’m about to sound like some sort of elitist but I need to spell this out: some people really want us to believe there’s a wave of outrage over the cost of “vacations” due to a carbon tax — as if the carbon tax on gasoline will make or break anyone’s holiday plans — it absolutely hasn’t, and it absolutely won’t.

Anyone who can afford to spend $200 on a campsite for a week, plus the extra trip for special food that people take camping (and eat more of due to all the fresh air and joy of cooking over an open flame) isn’t holding off because of $23* (per 1000km, or 2000/km roundtrip).

I saw a few people talking about hotels in Banff and the cheapest they could get at the end of June was $660/night — at a Best Western. If they wanted to stay at a signature hotel, like the Banff Springs, it was $1200/night.

It’s not the cost of getting there that had them balking — if I have yet to make that clear — it’s the cost of being wherever it is they want to go.

Me? I went to Canmore for the day. We went up to the amazing Silvertip golf course where it was $400 for 18 holes. Lunch for two was $115 plus tip. The carbon tax on the gas it cost to go out for the day? $3.66 (all inclusive).

The whole argument reminded me of “The American Dream”.

“Anyone can succeed,” they say. They just don’t tell you that the odds of achieving success favour those who were more likely to succeed anyway.

That’s what the anti-carbon tax lie really is: a carrot to those who can be manipulated into thinking that $4 is what’s stopping them from a day trip to the mountains.

It’s not the carbon tax — it’s the $500 they would have spent while they were there. Or, when we went for a hike — that one time — the $200 on lunch and miscellaneous expenses of doing anything with five children.

I didn’t bother waving the middle finger at those camped out in defence of my right to save a buck or two on long drives for personal enjoyment.

Instead, I ignored them as easily as I would a dead gopher.

Like every other person travelling in that direction, I didn’t give a second thought about the $4 we spent on the carbon tax, and it wasn’t part of the conversation until passing the sluggards with the maple leaf stage — because no one who actually travels is affected by the thing they care most about in the world that lets them camp for free on the side of a highway.

I do hate to sound elitist, but it simply doesn’t affect those of us driving on the highway toward our destination.

Perhaps they’d get more love if they camped out on the Deerfoot during stop and go rush hour — but then, the cost of gas is more of a subsidiary problem there, isn’t it?

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