My Election Platform

[bloodyminded]

I'll try to dig it up, but years ago I read an issue of Discover (or SciAm?) that had an article on scientific funding, especially in the health and pharmaceuticals sector.

The argument was that, in many cases, private corporations buy into research done and paid for publicly in universities when the potential for a marketable result is already quite high. In essence, they buy into something that is almost a "sure thing," put the finishing touches on, and claim ownership of a product that the taxpayers ultimatly developed through public R&D investment.

Yes. The high-tech industries often get similar, tax-developed plums.

[Michael Hardner]

If you're going to make a new upstart party, you might as well start with a unique take on things to at least get some attention.

My vote is, of course, Open Government. The US is trying to push forward with bringing sunlight into the darkness on the topic of government data but it's a tough climb.

You want attention ? How about $1.3 TRILLION DOLLARS` worth of inaccuracy in US government expenditures based on their own data.

What do you think this would be in Canada ? 130 Billion, using the rule of 10%, I suppose. That's the coming revolution that a good fringe party could surf to prominence.

[ToadBrother]

Health care is becoming too big for the provinces. The cost is ballooning to the point they're going to wind up spending the majority of their budgets on it. Ontario's health care budget is growing at such a rate it will consume 80% of the budget by 2030. Something has to be done or they'll only need one cabinet minister - because they won't be able to afford to do anything else.

Even if I agreed with you (and quite frankly, I see no evidence that monolithic structures in fact do manage things any better), I'm still asking you how you propose to make the necessary constitutional amendment to take health care out of the hands of the Provinces.

[Scotty]

Even if I agreed with you (and quite frankly, I see no evidence that monolithic structures in fact do manage things any better), I'm still asking you how you propose to make the necessary constitutional amendment to take health care out of the hands of the Provinces.

I seem to have a vague memory which says the federal government can take over matters which are in the provincial sphere of responsibility in the event they declare it to be in the national interest to do so.....

If not, I'd think the provinces would, once they realize how their health care costs are basically taking over their budgets, see the sense of giving it over to the feds.

Edited March 20, 2011 by Scotty

[ToadBrother]

I seem to have a vague memory which says the federal government can take over matters which are in the provincial sphere of responsibility in the event they declare it to be in the national interest to do so.....

Nope. The BNA Act, 1867 and the Constitution Act, 1982 set firm areas of interest between the two levels of government. Ottawa has no power (thank goodness) to just wantonly intrude into areas of Provincial responsibility.

If not, I'd think the provinces would, once they realize how their health care costs are basically taking over their budgets, see the sense of giving it over to the feds.

They Provinces cannot agree to any other mundane changes to the constitution. I don't think you're seeing reason here.