A carbon tax simply won't fly with the tory base.  History shows that the social conservatives can concede some of their right wing ideals, but the buck stops at taxes.  Lisa Raitt is looking more and more like a big tent Tory leader, with a focus on reducing taxes, reducing government waste and preserving or improving health care.  She's from the East Coast, has a GTA riding, and has a tax policy plan that would appeal to the prairies.  It's middle ground politics, but a clear alternative to Trudeau's tax and spend.