The Ultimate Platform

Great idea Susan!

I have been writing such a \'policy\' guide for a new Canada for some time and have been polishing it up for release.
Began that extensive platform a few years back when we were forming the basis of a new party. Once done I would be proud to release it here first for Vive members to pick apart.

If we can get enough interest and sharing going on, there is the possibility of using all the contributions as a device if you will, and put it to the current parties as both a wish/want list and an expected list on their behalf.

**removing my hat and taking a bow** - once again you have me smiling.

---
If there was ever a time for Canadians to become pushy - now is the time - for time is running out on this nation called Canada.

Sounds great Roy--I\'d be very happy to publish your own work in support of CDM, yes, yes, and yes to everything else you said too. Let\'s work together on this.

Maybe we should post this link around to other forums and websites to expand the discussion?

Easy answer here! Stephen Harper, an elected politician, already has a very good policy platform! All you have to do is vote for him and the Conservatives! You\'re Welcome!

can you post details of his platform?

---
JvH

Sorry, anonymous. Harper is an American integrationist, someone who won`t get support here! Anyway, i have my ultimate platform: 1. Tax the rich and the corporations more, for both of these groups don`t pay nearly enough taxes compared to the rest of us. 2. The bank of Canada prints most of Canada`s money, so whenever the government needs funds for whatever, be it health care, or education, or even helping a corporation like Stelco, the money`s there with no interest! 3. Ratify the Romanow report in it`s entirety. 4. Fund post secondary education more to lessen the economic burden on students. 5. Create a government- Bombardier- Ballard partnership to make fuel cell vehicles for Canadians and the world market. People will buy with their conscience here. 6. Pass a bill or law stating that essential services like health care, electricity, water, natural gas, are NEVER privatized so that people can afford these essential services. 7. Bring back a \'quota\' on how much of the Canadian economy can be foreign owned. Make an initial effort to strike a ratio of 55% Canadian ownership- 45% foreign ownership. Any new investment must be growth related and generate new jobs as opposed to merely take-over for the purpose of shutting down Canadian competition by foreigners. 8. Rebuild our military, not for aggression, but defense. This too will provide spin-off jobs and careers for Canadians. 9. Forge fair trade agreements with all countries. Remake globalization in the image of Canadian egalitarianism and goodwill, as opposed to furthering the disparities between northern and southern countries. 10. Rebuild an industrial base to make products for Canadian consumers and world consumers right here! This will address the need for employment for the segment of the population that for whatever reasons, are devoid of post-secondary education. 11. Develop alternative fuel and energy sources and go toward conserving Canadian oil and gas. 12. Provide tax incentives for corporations that reduce pollution. Also, stiffen laws that govern pollution. 13. Farmers can grow hemp for the manufacturing of paper, as opposed to cutting down trees. Also, use old cars, and recycle the steel for building houses. This will save trees as well. Gradually work with lumber companies to make the transition from lumber to steel. This transition can be slow and controlled to minimize costs and layoff of workers. 14. Hire David Suzuki as environment minister. 15. Legalize marijuana in the same way that alcohol is legalized, but crack down hard on hard drugs like cocaine, heroin, speed, etc.Crack down heavily on the dealers of these hard drugs, but treat addictions as a medical problem, not a legal one. 16. Fully legalize same sex marriages( just in case Martin drags his feet here.) 17. Rehabilitation should be the focus of treating \'small time\' criminals, but violent crimes like murder (if no self-defense is involved), rape, pedophilia, drunk driving, should be looked at in the sense that the number one priority should be the protection of society!!! 18. Make the justice system a universal access system where all people get the same high quality representation, whether you`re rich or poor. Justice should be about justice, not about how much money one has. It would be the duty of rookie lawyers to represent people in this manner, in a 5 year assessment period. If after 5 years their record shows that they did the very best for all cases, and for all people, then they are free to move on to make bigger money in the corporate arena, or whatever. 19. Invest more in research and development to make Canada a world leader in what is called the \'knowledge based economy.\' 20. To encourage healthy lifestyles, invest in youth sports like hockey, soccer, lacrosse, etc. 21. Try to create new jobs, good paying jobs, in regions that need them, such as Atlantic Canada. 22. Come up with a fairer agreement concerning new jobs and resource royalties for aboriginal communities. Upgrade essential services for aboriginal communities that are lacking. 23. Return to a \'Pearson-Trudeau\' diplomatic syle of foreign relations. In gradual increments increase foreign aid. 24. Re-build rail systems, and create a high speed train between key centres like the Windsor- Quebec City corridor and the Edmonton-Calgary corridor. 25. Assert Canada`s sovereignty over the Arctic and northwest passage, as it is NOT an international waterway as the US insists. Once again, use Trudeau`s strategy here to claim this on \'environmental\' grounds. ABOVE ALL, THE GOAL HERE IS TO ALLOW SOME CAPITALISM AND A FREE ENOUGH MARKET TO ALLOW PROSPERITY, BUT TO ALSO EQUITABLY DISPERSE THE PROSPERITY, AND HARM THE ENVIRONMENT AS LITTLE AS POSSIBLE. CANADA`S SOVEREIGNTY IS ALL TOO IMPORTANT IN THIS ENDEAVOUR IF WE WISH TO PRESERVE AND ENHANCE ALL THAT IS GOOD ABOUT OUR PIECE OF REAL ESTATE,NOT TO MENTION ENSURING THE SAME FOR OTHER NATIONS! THE WORLD DEFINITELY NEEDS MORE CANADA! CAPITALISM MUST BE GOVERNED AS OPPOSED TO THE OTHER WAY AROUND!

---
Dave Ruston

:shakes head:<p> How about a simple statement - "Work for the good of the <b>Citizens of Canada</b>, rather than the consumers or corporations." After all, isn't that what government is supposed to do?<p> <p>---<br>"History does not repeat itself, but it does rhyme" Mark Twain <br />"The greatest price of not participating in politics is being governed by your inferiors." Plato

No revoke corporate charters & rebuild the system. Have direct worker control of all the means of production: banking, finance, industry, everything. Then we can talk about having real democracy. I think that would be a better alternative to the fascist, totalitarian system we\'ve got now.

---
"So many right-wing Christians, so few lions." - t-shirt I saw @ school

Yes, finally we\'re cooking. But, I would like others to look at the post \"Democracy not just an election\" which I think got lost in the shuffle somehow. I just stumbled upon it last night and there had been no interest shown in it at all and that surprised me. Or was I the only one interested? I feel that it deserves some serious consideration by persons interested in restoring democracy.

Dave,

You haven\'t thought this through. Are you too, like Roy, writing a policy guide? I wish you had broken it down into smaller portions to make it easier to pinpoint so we can disguss each item more clearly. I\'ll get back to you I have to go watch the Corporation on TVO ,A view from here.

Alot of good ideas here, I like Dave\'s well rounded approach, he has all the issues covered; Dr. Caleb is short and sweet...but there was something mentioned previously which I also support I think 4canada suggested if we give money to corporations, we actually buy shares in return, I like that alot! Also I think we should be considering free post-secondary education with a caveat attached, you must achieve certain grades, and then you must work in Canada and perhaps even give them choices of areas they must work in for say 5-7yr commitment. That way if we needed doctors or dentists in rural or northern areas, we could give them a choice between the areas needing these people. Also immigration, we should encourage people to come to Canada with skills that we are needing and make them sign a contract as part of their entrance requirement, to live and work in a certain part of the country for a designated time. We would have more integration and develop areas that are not presently being served. I also think the education system needs to be revamped to include a thorough knowledge of the basics, as well as an in depth Canadian history and social studies program,including the political system at every level, designed by Canadians.

And here is an idea which I might get in trouble for, but...I believe that it should be optional in Quebec for all children to be educated in both official languages, I think the present system which denies the second official language, will in the long run make these children have a disadvantage on the world stage. If we want all Canadians to be able to compete in whatever they choose we should not handcuff them by a political decision. Retaining a culture does not mean eliminating another.

I think the campaign program ought to be giving government back to the people, to support the people and develop this nation to it\'s best potential without sacrificing ethics or entering into agreements which paralyze Canadians and prevent us from developing to our full potential.

Wow, I\'m impressed on the thorughness and speed of everyone\'s replies. Dave, if you ran and could figure out how to actually implement all that, you\'d have my vote.

Whelan, I disagree with you on the language point. I think every Canadian should be educated in both official languages. Different languages give different perspectives, and I think that making both languages a necessary knowledge would create a stronger unity and cooperative mindset. I think that seperatist Quebec would come to realize that the entire country is getting screwed by a few rich people;, not just them. Your arguments for competition on the world stage -- they\'re true, but they imply that Canadians should know both languages. Period. The only reasons not to are laziness and culture fear. Both of which are pretty sad excuses.

And I like the idea of keeping our professionals in Canada in return for paying for education. In fact, with the government already paying bout 3/4 of post-secondary education costs for Canadian citizens, it should be mandatory to serve in your own country when you get a degree. So if you want to travel after university but before you put in your service, you can just delay the declaration of your degree or something.

There are some great ideas coming, everyone! I\'m very impressed... I\'d love to hear ideas on how to implement some of these. Because they\'re very noble and worthwhile deeds. Keep up the great ideas!

-KY

---


Kory Yamashita

"What lies behind us and what lies ahead of us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us."
-Oliver Wendell Holmes

I agree with Kory, all Canadians should be taught both official languages from an early age.

When a person can actually think in both languages, they become more efficient in expressing their thoughts and ideas.

Only a person that starts out learning both languages from day one can accomplish this. It also opens up employment opportunities in every corner of our country.

Oh, Shucks !! I forgot to sign in !! (AGAIN !)

(Shucks ??)



---
"Arrogance in Politics is unacceptable"
Jim Callaghan
Minden, Ontario
705-286-1860
www.misterc.ca

Wow! Thanks for the positive feedback! These things can be achieved, i believe, by a PM and his or her ambitious, corruption free cabinet in just one term. Much of it can be done in with the same structure of government, with a few minor changes. From what i see on this site, if I were PM, (yes I dream) I feel i could have any one of you in cabinet and/or in a seat in the house, because we`re all generally on the same wavelength. I would cut out the funnelling of money to consulting firms and rely on advice from senior political people on the left, and think tanks such as the council of Canadians, Canadian Centre for policy alternatives, Sierra Club of canada, etc. But this is exactly why a pM has a cabinet: to allot duties to those who have the knowledge to organize and perform the policies. Doc-you can be minister of defense.

---
Dave Ruston