Simple, break down the bureaucratic walls so that all the information is available. Take the policies of all interested groups-government, council of canadians, centre for policy alternatives, etc., and have a series of referenda to decide the will of canadians. People would be informed via CPAC and CBC of the various committees and the referenda would be taken from the committee level since this is where canadians have their input anyway. Recommendations would then become policy rather than gathering dust. Individual aggregious cases could be handled by citizens iniatives, if they are bad, people get petitions. There is no hurry on this, everybody knows the bureaucracy keeps canada moving, in six months you start having a series of votes once every two weeks. You could set up voting kiosks and automate the whole thing, as Switzerland does, or have a whole group of votes all at once as most states do.

   

Am in agreement with marcarc with one matter that he seems to overlook: public broadcaster media reforms. You can't expect canadians to engage in these issues if our public broadcaster do not do a better job at educating and presenting relevant material. They are *not* doing this job. NGO medias like Vive can only raise the bar to the public broadcaster but do not have the resources to reach the greater public. It is certainly one thing I have learnt the hard way as an FHQ democratic reform activist.

   

Trouble is, it's next to impossible to legislate content. There is no doubt that the media will 'spin' events, keep in mind that it's pretty hard to 'spin' the facts, which is why media tend to ignore the hot issues.<br /> <br /> An official website, kiosks in malls and public education go a long way. In 1992, the government had it's own agenda of course but canadians went out of their way to find information. The same would be true (I think) if we had more democracy. This seems to be the case in the states and in Switzerland. There will of course be canadians who don't give a rat's ass, that's their right, but with the government actually acting for the people, instead of with an agenda, it saves a lot of money and headache.

   

Sorry this took me a while Spudster. I went and got a real job, so I don't sit on Vive all day anymore. <img align=absmiddle src='images/smilies/smile.gif' alt='Smile'><br /> <br /> [QUOTE BY= Spud]<br /> So assume that you are now running for the office of Prime Minister,what would your political platform be on the following issues,and how would you achieve them? <br /> [/QUOTE]<br /> <br /> Ok, slightly re-arranged so they flow better, but here's my shot:<br /> <br /> [QUOTE BY= Spud]<br /> NAFTA.[/QUOTE]<br /> <br /> Gone. Bye bye. Don't let the door hit you as you are abrogated.<br /> <br /> I'd go back to the old way of financing the government based on import duties. This would solve three problems IMHO: 1)Ownership of resources by other than the Canadian people, 2)Government bloat, lazy unaccountable beauracrats and 3)Government mismanagement of taxes.<br /> <br /> [QUOTE BY= Spud]<br /> Taxes.[/QUOTE]<br /> <br /> No change . . .right away. It'll take time for the government to get whittled down to fighting weight, and for the changes coming from the destruction of NAFTA. After that, I'd like to see them back to early 60's adjusted levels.<br /> <br /> [QUOTE BY= Spud]<br /> National Defence.[/QUOTE]<br /> <br /> Rule #1, Made in Canada. If it can't be made by a Canadian company, it should be licensed to me made by one.<br /> <br /> Rule #2, Canada is big. Canada needs to protect it's interests, especially the North. It should also be mobile enough for the Peacekeeping duties the citizens respect of our troops. (Those peacekeeping ships that were proposed during the last election made me drool!)<br /> <br /> Rule #3, Our troops need modern equipment to do the rules above. The Forces should get slim, like the government, by cutting the number of desk brass, and then be given all of what they need, and most of what they want as far as budget goes.<br /> <br /> [QUOTE BY= Spud]<br /> Education.[/QUOTE]<br /> <br /> Restore all the funding cut since the Mulroney era.<br /> <br /> [QUOTE BY= Spud]<br /> Health Care.[/QUOTE]<br /> <br /> You won't like this one. Privately delivered care, publicly funded. I like the idea of the same care, provided cheaper. But *NO* HMO's.<br /> <br /> [QUOTE BY= Spud]<br /> Enviroment.[/QUOTE]<br /> <br /> Taxes on the lower 1/3 of the fuel economy scale, tax breaks for the upper 1/3.<br /> <br /> [QUOTE BY= Spud]<br /> Finance.[/QUOTE]<br /> <br /> No more borrowing from banks. Bank reserve limits re-introduced.<br /> <br /> [QUOTE BY= Spud]<br /> Drugs.[/QUOTE]<br /> <br /> No thanks. Been there, smoked them.<br /> <br /> [QUOTE BY= Spud]<br /> Native Land Claims.[/QUOTE]<br /> <br /> I don't know much, other than what I read here. I do know one thing, if Natives want ownership of the land they live on, goverment subsidies would end as well.<br /> <br /> [QUOTE BY= Spud]<br /> Government Accountability. [/QUOTE]<br /> <br /> Massive, massive changes here. MP recall by petition would be the first order of business.<br />

   

Great question Spud! I was having a hard time concentrating at work today over that one...<br /> <br /> I'll let you all get a laugh at my expense here because I'll be the first to admit I am way out of my element here. <br /> <br /> <br /> But just for fun, here goes:<br /> <br /> <b>Taxes:</b> <br /> -What's with companies being able to hide their money in off-shore accounts and not paying their fair share? <br /> <br /> -Companies that get tax breaks shouldn't get any government funding.<br /> <br /> <b>National Defence:</b><br /> -I think I agree with Dr. C<br /> <br /> <b>Education:</b><br /> -Too many administrative positions. I would seriously look into this. I remember working at a store where the school board would come in and charge things to the board of education all the time, I also did accounts there and was stunned when I would add up their bill at the end of the month. (Cookies, snacks, beverages). Unbelievable! When I was in school the home ec class made stuff for meetings. During that time a woman that worked at the local newspaper did a report about their spending habits and complained about the $700 they spent on Christmas cards that year. Big changes are needed in that area.<br /> <br /> <b>Health Care:</b><br /> -Same concerns as above. <br /> <br /> -Another concern I have. Bad doctors. I hate to say it but there are a lot out there. We have 2 in my town. And they are all we have. I'd look into ways of keeping an eye on the quality of care in small and rural areas where it tends to be a problem.<br /> <br /> <b>Environment: </b><br /> -I'd go after industry first. BIGTIME. The pollution of our air and water they create would be #1 on my list. <br /> <br /> -Encorage the use and give some kind of incentive to people who use alternative energy and fuel products.<br /> <br /> <b>NAFTA:</b> <br /> -It's outta here!<br /> <br /> <b>Government Accountability:</b><br /> -Well they sure wouldn't be able to make decisions like NAFTA and sending troops to Afghanistan without some type of vote. I'm leaning towards Marcarc's view but I have this distrust of voting machines <img align=absmiddle src='images/smilies/smile.gif' alt='Smile'> I don't know how I'd go about it.<br /> <br /> -Spending habits would be looked over with a fine-tooth comb. <br /> <br /> <b>Native Land Grants:</b><br /> -We put them on reserves. We gave them the land. Simple. It's their land.<br /> <br /> <b>Finances:</b><br /> -We would print our own money because we can. Why borrow and pay huge interest rates?<br /> <br /> <b>Drugs:</b><br /> -That's a hard one for me. Pot: I don't use it. But I think it is less harmful than alcohol. If they decriminalized it, there would be no grow-ops. Too many people die over a weed. And then the police could focus on the hard-core stuff that IS dangerous to society.<br /> <br /> <b>Misc:</b><br /> -label all GM foods<br /> <br /> -fire the heads at Health Canada and re-hire the whistle-blowers who had the guts to do their job!<br /> <br /> -No secret trials<br /> <br /> -Promote a sovereign Canada of course.<br /> <br /> <br /> You can't be all things to all people. And none of this would happen overnight, but enough could be done to give Canadians a taste of what a Government that works for it's citizens should be like.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />

   

[QUOTE by Spud]</b> … assume that you are now running for the office of Prime Minister, what would your political platform be on the following issues, and how would you achieve them?<b>[/QUOTE]<br /> For me, it really is <i>your</i> Canada. <img align=absmiddle src='images/smilies/wink.gif' alt='Wink'> My understanding was that one doesn’t run for PM — one runs to be a MP for the Little Red riding, and the GG chooses the PM from the MPs. Did I get that wrong?<br /> <br /> Spud, should the answers be based on whether one has already become PM, or from the perspective of a candidate MP? (The methods of achieving results could vary greatly between these two perspectives!)

   

I tend to agree with much of Dr.C's ideas, with a couple of exceptions. Here is my idea.<br /> <br /> Taxes.- return corporate taxes to a fair amount. They have not been carrying their fair share for too many years. No more corporate subsidies; rather if they need funds, we usually need products, so give them contracts. aka Bombardier, can make planes for our military, instead of getting grants, for doing nothing.<br /> <br /> National Defence.-Yes, for the National interest. I agree trim the fat cats, desk jobs, but I also think we need to go back to separating military from civilian work within the military. That was a mistake, and I think the reality is soldiers respect soldiers more so than civilians telling them about something, they have only seen on paper. We need to ensure our borders are safe, secure and protected from foreign intrusion. <br /> <br /> The R.C.M.P. needs to be at arms length from the government, free to investigate if necessary, without bias, it would take a bit of shuffling to remove those partial to certain members or parties. <br /> <br /> Same with the Ethics Minister, elected by members of Parliament, after reviewing a resume, etc. Majority decision, no bias. Perhaps someone with the skills, but no political aspirations, or influence.<br /> <br /> Security issues, no outsources government jobs, no LM Census, that is too critical to be left to a foreign company, no outsources medical info gathering, or other private information, and strict rules for how that infomration is shared. <br /> <br /> Education.-we need to revise the system, we need to go back to teaching the foundations, too many grads can't read and write, can't calculate with or without a calculator; physical education, the arts and music, need to be returned to the curriculum, and we need to get some Canadian history books written, so the teachers can teach it. Civic responsibility should be taught early, the policial system, parties, and processes, at all levels of government. Secondary education should be encouraged, and affordable, students with above 80's marks should be rewarded, with grants, or reductions in costs. <br /> <br /> Those industries that need workers, should be encouraged to sponsor student's education, programs in the related fields, which could be a tax write-off?(just an idea, not a full thought out process yet)<br /> <br /> Health Care.-non-profit public healthcare, no hmo's no pharmaceuticals influencing which drugs get used in the hospitals, privatization opens up so many issues. Say, company x gives a donation to the hospital and asks only that you use x product. What if x product doesn't work for y patient? I would however like to see, input from the front line workers on how to make things work better, perhaps a board, made up of staff and a couple of members from the community, rotating so that everyone gets to have input, say a rep from the nurses, brings all their concerns forward, the doctors, the lab techs, the janitorial, the cleaning staff, etc one person from each area, from each hospital. Rotating every 6mths, meetings once a month to discuss issues,problems, and solutions. <br /> <br /> Enviroment.- Serious penalties for environmental disasters, dumping, or oil spills, or toxic waste etc. Real deterents, that are not tax deductible. NO more government cleaning up the messes and handing the costs on to the public. Encourage tax breaks for econo cars, and appliances, make alternative energy affordable. Develop high speed trains, that use magnets, etc to transport people from major city to small towns etc. Encourage the development of existing, but dying small towns, rather than using up good farmland for residences. <br /> <br /> Finance.- Go back to using the B of C to finance programs, buy back our debt, asap, although we can't do this overnight, but slowly, reducing our $500billion debt, of which about $37 billion a year is compounding interest. Ensure banks have reserves with the B of C, and that each one applies to do business in Canada.<br /> <br /> Return to foreign companies applying to do business in Canada, and proving it is beneficial to Canadians, before permitting it.<br /> <br /> Drugs.-encourage the use of natural products rather than prescription drugs, encourage lifestyle changes, exercise, and proper eating habits. We used to teach Canada's food rules in schools, I don't hear that anymore. Make Health Canada accountable to Canadians for any products they authorize as safe. Ensure that independant tests are done before approvals. <br /> <br /> Remove the drug dealers from the streets,and encourage rehab; I mean crack, heroine dealers, presently we always hear they are waiting to catch the big guys, but that day doesn't seem to come, if they charged the little street dealers that are sucking kids into this lifestyle, the big guys would soon run out of people to sell to. Besides the big guys are too well connected to ever get caught on the street. <br /> <br /> Also on that issue, make poverty history, so that kids can grow up in safe environments, with a parent at home to care for them,(if they chose to), daycares are important because they are a necessity, but many parents would like the option to raise their own kids. Children need to feel they belong, so if there is nobody at home, cause both parents are working two jobs to pay the rent, then the kids are going to find somewhere else to belong, and that is not always the best place for them. <br /> <br /> Native Land Claims.- Uphold the treaties that were agreed upon in the past, and ensure that their self-government has a safety net, until they are on their feet, too much poverty is going on presently, many promises from Feds, that haven't been followed through on. Especially in the North, not enough housing, or doctors, and many of these communities were designed by the government, when the Native people were forced off their land, and gave up their natural nomadic lifestyle, but no adjustment period was put in place. <br /> <br /> I think we could assist with the doctor shortage, by requiring new immigrants, who are fully qualified in the healthcare field, to make a commitment to 5 yrs in a remote community, as part of the conditions to immigrate. This was done in the past, quite successfully.<br /> <br /> NAFTA.-Abrogat asap, as well as WTO. Neither work for Canada. <br /> <br /> Government Accountability. - reduce power in the Office of the Prime Minister, same with political parties, 2/3 majority to make decisions on policy of a party, and all laws etc would go through Parliament. Not sure about the Senate, but perhaps abolish it altogether. Or alter the way people are appointed, to elections(by the people), every 5 years, so it isn't tied to Federal elections.<br /> <br /> Make MP's more accountable, reduce the bureaucrats and red tape, ensure that MP's can investigate, be informed before they vote on policy, and make them accountable, to the voter not the party. Recall would be an improvement, but we would have to have clear platforms to recall them on.<br /> <br /> Judicial appointments is another area, which needs revision, I don't agree with the current, PM appoints all these people, how can they be impartial?<br /> <br /> CBC - returned to being a public service, not biased, by any party or bound by their influence, all reporters and staff, would find the freedom exiliarating, I don't think you would find discomfort in being able to freely report the news. More Canadian news, investigative journalism, and legislation to prevent funding loss, because of unbiased reporting. They would still be regulated so that they don't get paid to mislead the public, and serious penalties would be used to deter them from deliberately misreporting, or lying. <br /> <br /> Ok, think I covered all your questions.

   

[QUOTE BY= Spud]<br /> So assume that you are now running for the office of Prime Minister,what would your political platform be on the following issues,and how would you achieve them? <br /> Taxes.<br /> National Defence.<br /> Education.<br /> Health Care.<br /> Enviroment.<br /> Finance.<br /> Drugs.<br /> Native Land Claims.<br /> NAFTA.<br /> Government Accountability. <br /> Feel free to throw anything else in here too <img align=absmiddle src='images/smilies/wink.gif' alt='Wink'> [/QUOTE]<br /> <br /> Well, to take a leaf from the Liberal Party's book, my platform would be filled with promises I don't intend to fulfill at all. So here goes my "Red Book":<br /> <br /> Taxes - if elected, will end the GST and cut taxes for the poorest 98% of society; taxation will be voluntary.<br /> <br /> National Defence - if elected, we will build an 80m tall wall all around Canada patrolled by steroid-injected knights.<br /> <br /> Education - if elected, we will invest in a cutting edge new program based on subliminal education; this will allow you to learn while watching television, films, et cetera without ever having to lift a book.<br /> <br /> Health Care - if elected, healthcare will be our number one priority<br /> <br /> Environment - if elected, we will buy everyone cars that don't cause pollution - don't try to figure it out - its too complicated for you, but trust us, we have connections with scientists that are really really smart, a whole lot smarter then you.<br /> <br /> Finance - if elected, we will finance treasure hunts around the world; we will use the treasure we find to finance everything else (and more treasure hunts).<br /> <br /> Drugs - if elected, we will make a national drug plan that provides free medication for all Canadians, whether they like it or not.<br /> <br /> Native Land Claims - if elected, we will work with Canada's aboriginal peoples, and by work with we mean get the Queen to give them a rock. That'll shut them up.<br /> <br /> NAFTA - if elected, we will invoke a little known clause in the NAFTA pact that will allow us to put tariffs on American and Mexican imports, but will forbid them from putting tariffs on our exports.<br /> <br /> Of course, I would just end up governing with an iron fist, but what can the voters do? I mean, in four years I'll put out the same platform and they'll vote for me again.