Blogosphere pummels Carbon Tax, Mum on Cap and Trade

While Canadian bloggers voiced strong opinions both in favour and opposed to Stephane Dion’s Carbon tax, the blogosphere was nearly silent on Ontario and Quebec’s new cap and trade initiative. A sample of blogs posting on both topics (from May 28-June 3rd) found that only 20% of bloggers voiced opinions (10% in favour, 10% opposed) on the cap and trade initiative. Conversely, 80% of bloggers voiced opinions on a carbon tax, 50% opposed and only 30% in favour. (see chart below) 

[1]Blogger Opinions on Environmental Initiatives (May 29 to June 3) 

However, while the blogosphere was largely devoid of opinions on the cap and trade initiative, partisan bloggers, particular self-identified Liberals and “progressive” bloggers, took the federal conservative government to task on its environmental policies. Bloggers, in other words, used Ontario and Quebec’s cap and trade initiative to criticize the federal government without actually supporting the initiative.

In short, the research found that discussions about the cap and trade initiative were far more partisan than policy based, and that supporters of the Liberal party were not mounting any systematic online campaign in favour of either of the two initiatives.

The research also found that bloggers cited a much more diverse set of media sources in their posts on the carbon task proposal compared against blog posts on the cap and trade initiative (see charts below).

For more on this research please contact Greg Elmer, Director Infoscape Research Lab, Ryerson University: 416-802-2182 or gelmer@bell.blackberry.net [2]

[3]Sources of Blogger Discussion for a Cap and Trade Environmental Plan (May 29 to June 3)

[4]Sources of Blogger Discussion for a Carbon Tax (May 29 to June 3)