Fix Canada

[shamus111]

Fix Canada

The newspapers are now hinting that we may be headed for another Quebec referendum (#3) because of the Adscam Inquiry. And they hint that because of the sponsorship hearings, the outcome of this referendum could be different that the last two – the opposite of what was intended by the sponsorship money. We await the outcome of this referendum as if it’s something not unlike a scheduled hockey game. It happened twice before so there is no need to get excited about it. It may happen again but there is no need to change anything. After all, we have Chretien’s Clarity Act and the Ottawa politicians get the last word. Therefore nothing in Canada will be allowed to change. We are stuck in the status quo.

But Canada, in reality, is a dysfunctional dictatorship where democracy is an illusion. Canadians do not elect their prime minister. He/she is only elected leader of a political party by the members of that party. Canadians have no direct input into this decision. Only this prime minister, who is not elected by all Canadians, will decide if or when Canadians are allowed an election. Parliament only sits about 3 months a year and during the remaining months this prime minister rules the country by order in council – unquestioned authority to push his policies.

Canadians do not elect their governor general. He/she is chosen by the unelected prime minister. Canadians do not elect their senators -- appointed for life (Until 75 or die) by the same unelected prime minister. Canadians do not question their appointed Supreme Court judges who may indeed have many hidden prejudices and special interests -- feminism, homosexuality, prisoners’ rights. These are the same people, dressed up like bishops, who change and therefore make more Canadian laws than parliament.

Canadians are walking around with blinkers on if they cannot see these problems.

Constitution

The Canadian Constitution cannot be changed without the cooperation of seven provinces that have half the population, plus Ottawa. Politicians do not act. They react. There is no doubt that there will be a reason for them to react if Quebec or another province calls a referendum on confederation.

Canadians need a Confederation for Tomorrow Conference and soon. The Liberals will delay this proposal forever because of what happened to Mulroney at Meeche and Charlottetown when he and Joe Clark attempted to amend the constitution. Both Mulroney and Clark wanted an updated version of the present Charter and they wanted to give even more rights to Quebec and every feminist and left wing group in town. Constitutions should not be written to cull partisan votes from favored provinces or special interest groups and Canada should not be held to ransom by separatists.

1. This constitutional conference should be held in a small town in a remote place in the West -- away from the central-Canada pressures (Quebec with $5.5 billion in equalization (welfare) payments annually) and away from the have-not Atlantic Provinces.

2. It should run in the belief that if we don't get it right this time, Canada could eventually join the US, all together or one province at a time. This has many positive and many negative factors. Canadian soldiers have fought beside US soldiers in WW1, WW2, Korea, Gulf War, Balkans and Afghanistan. The differences between Canadians and Americans are almost non existent -- same language, customs and history. Canadians have a federal health-care system and the Americans do not. This difference could be eliminated if or when the Americans get health care from their government.

Global issues have arrived with the international global economy which cannot be hidden under a sea of constant Liberal/socialist propaganda. Canada should be a politically functional democracy -- not a straightjacket of Liberal political policies in league with the UN.

3. A simple and easy amendment formula for the constitution should be worked out -- 3 provinces -- 25% of Canadians -- which cannot be blocked by federal politicians opposed to changes. A mandatory review of the constitution should be held every ten years on a certain date.

4. This new Canadian Constitution should be put to all Canadians in the form of a binding referendum question. The Queen, as in the present Charter, should not be required to sign it. This is a Canadian issue and a Canadian referendum should nail it down – not a group of pompous politicians standing around as the Queen signs a piece of paper and cameras click.

Special Interest Groups

5. Special-interest groups, lobby groups, unionists and federal bureaucrats should have no input in this Constitutional Conference.

6. It should be a constitution for Canada and Canadians -- not an international Charter for “everyone” in the world, as per the present Charter of Trudeau and Chretien and loved by all international socialists.

7. All aboriginals living in Canada should be recognized as Canadians. (They are not now.)

8. The present Charter -- which Quebec refused to sign and which gives special rights to special people -- should be abandoned.

9. All Canadians -- not "everyone" in the world -- should be equal before the law and their governments. (Not now.)

Property Rights

10. Canadians should have property rights in their Constitution, anywhere in Canada and should not be deprived of property without proper and legal compensation. (Not now.)

11. Canadians should have a constitutional right to sell their property to anyone they please whenever they please.

Supreme Court

12. Supreme Court judges should be questioned by provincial appointees about their competence and prejudices prior to taking up their appointments. These provincial delegates should also have the power to turn down these appointments with reason.

13. Supreme Court decisions should be based on common law and case law -- not the abandoned Charter, which gave special-interest groups, special rights.

Immigration

14. All immigration, as in Quebec and Switzerland, should be a provincial or a municipal issue.

15. Illegal immigrants should be kept in custody until they are deported as soon as possible. This should not require lawyers and courtroom appearances.

16. New immigrants (With a 5 year wait for Canadian citizenship) who are convicted of any criminal offence should be deported immediately or on completion of their jail sentence. Illegal immigrants, who have been deported and return again, should receive a mandatory 10 years in prison and again deported.

17. Canada should have a ten-year moratorium on immigration. No more acceptance of refugees unless each individual case is presented and discussed in parliament.

Canadian Political System

18. All elections, federal, provincial and municipal, should be held on a specified date, at the same time.

19. The prime minister, should be allowed only two terms in office, if he is reelected by all Canadians.

20. All federal politicians should have fixed terms in office -- no more than two terms in any political office -- no more Canadian Chretiens, Cuban Castros or Mugabes of Zimbabwe. No more prime ministers for life or those attempting to manipulate the system and stay for life.

21. Politicians who, having served two terms in office, should not subsequently be allowed to hold a position within government administration or a position in the private sector directly dealing with the government.

22. The Canadian Senate should be a triple E Senate -- equal, 2 from each province, effective, and elected.

23. The Governor General should be elected at federal elections.

24. All Canadians should be allowed to vote for the person who wants to be prime minister of Canada -- not just his friends in his political party.

25. All Canadians, like Australians, should be required to vote or pay an additional tax.

26. The present "first past the post" voting system should be abandoned in favor of a "proportional representation" system. With this system the majority of Canadians would be represented in parliament -- not the majority Liberals who only represent less than one in four Canadians -- 41% of the 61% who bothered to vote.

Referendums

27. Canadians should have binding referendums when a specified number of signatures can be achieved.

28. An issue on a referendum that fails should not be allowed on another referendum for 10 years.

29. Canadians should be allowed a binding referendum to dump or recall the prime minister if enough signatures can be achieved.

The process to put a referendum into operation should favor the people – not the politician.

Crooked Politicians

30. Politicians whose conduct is under investigation should be sent subpoenas -- not an invitation as Chretien received from the APEC inquiry. Politicians who are under investigation because of conflict of interest should not be investigated by an Ethics Commissioner or an RCMP Commissioner who were appointed by that politician as in the Shawinigan shenanigans caper.

31. The RCMP commissioner should be appointed by a committee of provincial delegates -- not the prime minister whose ethics and criminal activity may be under investigation.

Taxes

32. The National debt -- $600 billion -- should be reduced to zero.

33. All government budgets should be balanced.

34. The government should have tax-and-expenditure limits. MPs or a prime minister who fail in this category should have their salaries reduced by a set amount.

35. The Canadian dollar should be on par with the US Dollar or the US dollar should be adapted as Canadian currency. If the Europeans can travel all over Europe and use the same currency, Canadians should be able to travel this continent using the same currency or one that is recognized and equal.

36. Mulroney’s GST should be cancelled.

37. All taxes should be collected by provincial governments who should then send a cheque to Ottawa to support the much-reduced Ottawa government.

38. Special treatment for special favored provinces should be abandoned.

39. Canadians need to know about the vast number of taxpayer funded travels of politicians and bureaucrats outside Canada -- information that is now denied.

40. All elected officials in Canada, their appointees and bureaucrats should only leave Canada for designated and preplanned international conferences -- no more constant foreign junkets that are hidden by the Access Act.

41. All itineraries of politicians should be available to the public immediately and on the Internet.

42. Travel allowances for MPs should only be within Canada and only include the MP himself. This travel should be at the most economical rate.

43. Canadians should have a flat tax. All Canadians, rich and poor, should be taxed at the same rate.

44. All foreign aid either loans or grants -- should be passed by Parliament each time for each and every loan or handout.

45. All grants to special interest parties, foundations or corporations, whether connected to the government or not, should be directed through parliament and receive public scrutiny. The Auditor General should be allowed access to all these books.

Reduced Federalism

46. Approximately 90% of federal bureaucracies should be abandoned or downloaded to provincial governments. The number of MPs should be reduced by 50%. HRDC, CIDA, EDC and the Ministry of Culture should be abolished immediately.

47.The issue of national bilingualism, Francophonie, callback of useless or corrupt politicians and multiculturalism should be put to the people in the form of a binding referendum question.

Parliament

48. Members of Parliament must be allowed to represent their constituents -- not the present system where they are merely disciplined trained seals in the guise of parliamentarians.

49. All votes in Parliament should be free votes. The wants and the needs of constituents should be uppermost – not party policy and agenda.

50. Pay and perks of politicians in office should be equal to lower management in the private sector.

51. MPs should be taxed at exactly the same exorbitant level as other Canadians for all their incomes.

Access to Information

52. Canadians should have access to all government information other than restricted defense information.

53. The daily whereabouts of all MPs should be published.

54. All foreign travel of all MPs and the reasons, should be passed in open Parliament and published immediately.

55. The names of MPs absent from Parliament and the reason should be published each day.

What you see should be what you get.

56. The TV camera in Parliament should be allowed to view the whole picture -- not just the 3 or 4 MPs strategically situated in front and behind the one speaking.

57. Provinces should be on an equal footing with Ottawa except for defense, banking and security.

Let me know if you see any of these changes during the next 20 years. Keep the faith.

http://shamus11.blogspot.com/

[fellowtraveller]

Your post is much too long, can't be bothered analysing every line.

But this one caught my eye: "After all, we have Chretien’s Clarity Act and the Ottawa politicians get the last word. Therefore nothing in Canada will be allowed to change "

I do not agree that the Clarity Act has much clout in Quebec. Parizeau was asked this very question a couple of days ago and his response was: 'Get serious. If Quebec has decided to leave, ultimately Canada will be obliged to negotitate"

He's right of course, and Duceppe is well aware of this reality.

To be honest, I have to agree with Quebec commentators who declare that every day there seems to be less and less reason for Quebec to remain in Canada.

Who will speak for Canada?

[Technocrat]

Immigration

14. All immigration, as in Quebec and Switzerland, should be a provincial or a municipal issue.

15. Illegal immigrants should be kept in custody until they are deported as soon as possible. This should not require lawyers and courtroom appearances.

16. New immigrants (With a 5 year wait for Canadian citizenship) who are convicted of any criminal offence should be deported immediately or on completion of their jail sentence. Illegal immigrants, who have been deported and return again, should receive a mandatory 10 years in prison and again deported.

17. Canada should have a ten-year moratorium on immigration. No more acceptance of refugees unless each individual case is presented and discussed in parliament.

This is possibly one of the most most silly things i have ever read... reasons as follows.

14. Im not sure about this but i will go and learn what the swiss & quebec models are all about.

15. Really? I don't know about anyone else but if someone has immigrated here illegally, Ill give them the benifit of the doubt and @ least a chance to state their case. Its called justice folks... Its what creating a better society is all about? I can think of a few reasons why someone would immigrate here illegally... many from oppression in their countries of origin. The ones who have ligitimate reasons for coming to this country should stay... but cmon now were one of the wealthiest countries in the world we CAN afford to give people a chance to state their case. In fact if you want to take a historical perspective the european settlers who originally came to north america are all illegal immigrants. I guess its time the natives kick our butts back to europe

16. 5 years!!?? why so damn long? If you immigrate here and want to be a canadian i say why not? As for the breaking the law thing... does this include traffic violations, J-walking? By your definition you could kick someone out for downloading an mp3. Im canadian and i break the law everyday, why should someone else be treated different? You seem to be unable to grasp the concept of equality amoung people... hmm are you a neo-con by any chance?... sure seems so

17. 10 years WTF have you heard of demographics? Do you understand the current state of canada's demographics. Ill make it plain and simple... our replacement rate is very low. In order to keep our population numbers we need people... people help expand canada's ecnomy, generating revenue we need in order to sustain the increased burden that the baby boomers will place on the government as they retire and age. I recommend you read the book 'the wealthy barber' before you post such sillyness on immigration.

OK so the more i read from Shamus the more im coming to realize that he's probably a neo con, here is the funny part. Neo Cons tout that they beleive in the 'free market' and that all societies needs will be met trough the 'invisible hand'. OK i even have to admit adam smith was a friggin genious... no one else even comes clost to this guy. That however you must understand that the 'free market' requires a few important things; the free movement of goods, the free movement of people/labour, perfect information and all producers are price takers.

Adam smiths model of a free market system is only applicable if all these factors are in place, as they are not any reference that the 'market forces' should be the deciding factor is absolute hogwash.

Adam Smiths Wealth of Nations

Read for yourself... become informed, it is clear that you are not.

[shamus111]

Belinda’s Betrayal

By

James Bredin

No referendums, no recall and no set election dates,

No questions to those appointed and we can’t even debate,

No term limits for politicians who can stay for life,

Manipulating the system or changing parties without strife.

Add to that Belenda’s betrayal that boggles the mind,

As she left the good guys and went over to her own kind,

Her smirky smile set the stage and its difficult swallow,

Her reasons plus her new job sound absolutely hollow.

And Belinda while you’re at Human Resources Department,

Try to find that missing billion dollars in some compartment,

The Liberals never found it and said it was just lost,

And with their disciplined majority the issue was tossed.

Too bad the Adscam inquiry can’t touch that matter,

It’s just water under the Bridge for Liberals who chatter,

Maybe you could help them find it and bring about some change,

Or are my expectations too high and more than a little strange?

And how will the separatists in Quebec view your betrayal?

Will they now change their minds because of your Liberal portrayal?

And decide not to eventually have referendum three,

Referendums we are forbidden by your fellow bourgeoisie.

Wednesday, May 18, 2005

http://www.freethought.ca/forum/viewtopic.php?p=5333#5333

[The Terrible Sweal]

James Bredin!!! You ol' corndog you! Remember me?! It's me, The Terrible Sweal. Oh, what fun we used to have...

[g_bambino]

23. The Governor General should be elected at federal elections.

You can't elect the Governor General-- that person is the representative of the Canadian Sovereign, and so must remain as apolitical and non partisan as the Monarch themselves. To elect them would turn the GG into just another biased Ottawa politician, something I'm sure Canadians don't want, and the provinces would detest.

Personally, I'd like to see three, or five, or however many nominated candidates presented to the Queen, and she makes the ultimate choice of her Canadian representative. Means the GG can definitely no longer be seen as a lap dog to the PM who nominated them, and ensures the GG is above politics, as they should be.

[Riverwind]

26. The present "first past the post" voting system should be abandoned in favor of a "proportional representation" system. With this system the majority of Canadians would be represented in parliament -- not the majority Liberals who only represent less than one in four Canadians -- 41% of the 61% who bothered to vote.

This makes me laugh: the current first past the post system gives rural regions a disproporationate share of the vote because rural ridings have a much smaller population than urban ridings. If we had a pure proporational representation system in Canada the CPC would be toast since large population centers tend to vote Liberal or NDP. I assume that the guy who wrote this would not be happy with either of these parties.