A New Democrat's Vision Of Canada

A Canada that champions equality and tolerance at home, peace and cooperation on the world stage. This is a time in our country's history when we are presented with unprecedented opportunity. It's time for bold steps. But Mr. Harper's government is taking Canada in the wrong direction. Most Canadians know it. We feel it deep down. His agenda doesn't match our dreams of what our country could achieve. A Conservative future means that hard-working families will fall further behind; our environment will continue to deteriorate as pollution increases and our water becomes unsafe; and Canada's role on the world stage will continue to run counter to the values that we hold dear as a country. But it doesn't have to be this way. I have the honour to lead the New Democratic Party of Canada. The party of the "greatest Canadian," Tommy Douglas. The party that brought Medicare to Canada — a commitment grounded in the powerful idea that when it comes to medical care, every Canadian is looked after, not just those who can afford it. After 40 years, Medicare continues to symbolize the bold vision of investing in each other and today it binds us closer together than ever before. It has become a cornerstone of Canadian values. It's time for bold, visionary steps again. Achieving fairness by closing the growing prosperity gap We believe that unparalleled economic growth and federal surpluses present an opportunity to achieve fairness for hard-working families by investing in people and their communities. Mr. Harper believes that it's time for more unbalanced corporate tax cuts. The hard facts of life in Canada are clear: despite current economic growth and record corporate profits, more and more families are working harder just to make ends meet. The average Canadian today is working 200 more hours per year than they did just 9 years ago. Yet in the last 20 years, over half of all families have seen their incomes drop. That's not fair. While the federal government is amassing record-breaking surpluses, more and more people are being left behind. Even the middle class is feeling squeezed. Many working families are confronting the need to care for their ageing parents at the same time as providing for their children. In Aboriginal communities, many families live in crowded, third world conditions. New Canadians are unable to use their skills and young people are struggling to get the education and training that they need because of high tuition fees and crippling student debt. Homelessness and poverty grip far too many and hundreds of thousands of Canadians are being thrown out of work in key sectors. In coffee shops across Canada everyday folks are saying: "When there are windfall profits and record CEO salaries, it's not right that people like me are struggling to make ends meet." It's time to close this growing and unfair "prosperity gap" through prudent and strategic investments: In home care and long-term care, that would shorten wait times in hospital emergency rooms and give seniors the care, dignity and respect that they deserve after building our country; In affordable, quality childcare that would help families balance their work and home lives; In housing, so that no one is forced to choose between paying the rent and feeding the kids; and In universal prescription drug coverage, so that all Canadians, regardless of their income, get the medications that their doctors say they need. It's also time for fairness for consumers. We will eliminate bank machines fees and introduce tougher rules to ensure that toys, food and consumer goods are safe for you and your family. Tackling the climate change crisis to protect future generations http://www.thestar.com/News/Canada/article/271036 [Proofreader’s note: this article was edited for spelling and typos on October 29, 2007]

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