What Issues are most important to you?

[Timetrvlr]

What is important to you? I have identified several issues that are important to me. They are:

Universal Health Care

Jack Layton's NDP has made a firm commitment to preserve and improve the present sytem and has earmarked a lot of money to pay for the upgrades. The Conservatives want to open up the system to private health care and that will destroy it. The Liberals are wishy-washy on the issue, I suspect they will open up the system to private health care also. Layton wants to fund the training of more Nurses, Doctors and other health-care providers. Isn't that a more effective means of shortening wait times?

Child Care

The future of our country rests on the shoulders of our children. They must have first class day care and better educational opportunities from pre-school through University. Since Mom and Dad both have to work these days, doesn't it make sense to have government licensed and regulated day care centres in every neighbourhood? These centres would filter out the pedophiles so prevalent in family-style day care and provide pre-school socialization and educational opportunities for everyones kids, especialy those from very poor homes. That's what Layton wants to do and it makes a lot of sense to me. Harper wants to give every family a check and let them fend for themselves. I'm not sure what the Liberal plan is, does anyone know?

Higher Education

Another thing that bothers me is the fact that ordinary working-family kids don't have many opportunities when they graduate from high school. Who can afford the high costs of tuition and books these days, much less the minimal costs of living? What's a kid to do? Either get a job flipping burgers or try to get into trades training of some sort. Even that's expensive. Essentially, we are throwing our young people away after high school; what a waste of young minds! Surely we can afford to spend another four years of education preparing them for the workplace. I agree it shouln't be entirely free but we shouldn't be burdening them with a heavy load of debt at the beginning of their careers. We must make higher education more affordable, not raise tuition fees!

The Environment

We live in a sick world. We dump all our emissions into the atmosphere, landfills, lakes oceans, rivers and then wonder why the smog is so bad, we find turds on our beaches, our lakes are dying and we have multiplicity of health problems. Should we change? I think so, if only to stop 2200 people in Ontario from dying of asthma every year. If we can save a few lakes and slow down global warming, well, that's just a bonus.

So, which party is commited to stopping the environmental damage that our beloved corporations are inflicting on our environment? Both the Conservative and Liberal parties depend heavily on Corporate donations to fill their massive campaign warchests so they owe a great debt to corporations before they are ever elected. The NDP struggles along with mostly private donations from ordinary folks like you and I. Please note that the NDP has a comprehensive Environmental plan that will work and create jobs and create new technologies in the process.

[geoffrey]

Taxation

The government takes too much money, this is shown in surpluses. I strongly support Harper's plan to make scholarships tax free up to $10k, as well as the other tax cuts. GST cut especially will mean good things for the economy, too bad he won't eliminate it completely. Liberals tax plan is acceptable, but doesn't cut GST which I feel is important. NDP doesn't support tax cuts.

Crime

I want to see immigrant criminals deported and citizen criminals put in jail. I have no faith in house arrest or conditional sentences. Gun crimes should give you at least 10 years.

Accountability

The amount of money that the Liberals outright stole is unacceptable. This money belongs to you and me, and they stole it out of our pockets. This cannot happen again.

Health Care

With none of the parties supporting any privatisation, I don't support any of them. The CPC does say they will allow private delivery, which I guess its the best plan out there anyways.

End to Waste

I don't believe in giving money to the Russians for them to cut their pollution so that we can meet some number on paper... especially when our situation is getting worse for greenhouse emissions. Kyoto is a joke, lets stop supporting it and offer a made-in-Canada solution. The US, a country that did not ratify the agreement, is doing better on emissions then we are. How pathetic.

I don't believe in child care programs either, but none of the parties will back me on that. In any case, I'll have to support the CPC here, because I'm even more against instituionalized cookie-cutter daycare centres. Sending children to these massive social-education complexes personally scares me, not saying they will be abused, but I hardly see how parental choice is offered when the government tells your kids how to behave.

[Harare]

I simply don't understand this statement -

Universal Health Care

Jack Layton's NDP has made a firm commitment to preserve and improve the present sytem and has earmarked a lot of money to pay for the upgrades. The Conservatives want to openopen up the system to private HC & that will destroy it. The Liberals are wishy-washy on the issue, I suspect they will open up the system to private health care also. Layton wants to fund the training of more Nurses, Doctors and other health-care providers. Isn't that a more effective means of shortening wait times?

There a many socialist run countries like UK, New Zealand, Germany and France that have both private and publicly run hospitals. The competition keeps the Government run entities honest and everyone benefits.

France for example has NO WAIT LINES. Surely we can do better than the French.

The PC's simply believe that private systems will deliver the service better than public, no-one is talking about removing universality or free health care.

[geoffrey]

There a many socialist run countries like UK, New Zealand, Germany and France that have both private and publicly run hospitals. The competition keeps the Government run entities honest and everyone benefits.

France for example has NO WAIT LINES. Surely we can do better than the French.

I agreed, there are so many better ways to do Health Care. Those that just stick to the shadow of Tommy Douglas are really blind to the reality that Canada does not have a first rate system.

And I simply cannot accept the French having shorter wait lines.

[Harare]

Issues that are most important to me all revovle around one word "JUSTICE"

A just voting system ie - set election dates and elected or abolished Senate. All appointees through multiparty committee rather than PMO.

A just tax system

A just government ie - no lobbyists or insider leeches. Independant ethics and auditor Depts.

A just criminal justice system - no wait times to get to court and accountable & elected Parole boards - real time for serious crime. Change the Youth Justice system.

A just security force ie - serious military, Customs, Prison and Police forces.

A just unemployment and welfare system ie - no more lifetime, able bodiied welchers

A just pension plan for Politicians - do some crime and lose your pension.

A just and unbiased government Radio and TV channel - no more subsidies for the Liberal propoganda machine.

A just Health care system - if you can't meet the SCC parameters then get out of the way.

[politika]

National Defense:

I think National Defense is an important issue facing Canadians and the world everyday. Shifting alliances, Terrorism and Global instability call for an increased budget for National Defense no matter how naive people are about how "safe" Canada really is. Harper has set this is a priority and hopefully will win the election.

Health Care:[/u]

I think Health care is another important issue and health care should remain public because it is what Canada needs is a program like this. It has been around for years and it should remain. Layton and Martin both use Private health care so they could care less if Health went private. Harper will defend and reduce wait times in Health care.

Economy

I think Canada should become more competitive in the international market to raise are economy even further and be ahead of our southern freinds. Harper will open up new markets and reduce taxes to business to allow them to expand and grow across the world. Martin will continue to ignore Canadian companies and have flags of other nations sailing over business's that are rightfully Canadian.

These and more are many issues that I think are effecting Canada today and need to be dealt with, with a neew government.

[Canuck E Stan]

For me it's Democratic Deficit.

Among the changes I would like to see are powers removed from the all too powerful Prime Minister,

A fixed election date.

An elected Senate would begin the process of the provinces being able to decide who represents them.

I would also like the Senate to be a 6 year term and not a lifetime position.

Rules about a person's crossing the floor, made to be independent until the constituents vote and say it's ok.

A government that's accountability would also be right up there.

It would be refreshing to have government that actually asks Canadians and not tells Canadians.

Hopefully Harper has heard the message, if not, the line forms behind me to vote him out.

[mar]

Hopefully Harper has heard the message, if not, the line forms behind me to vote him out.

I have a feeling a number of Canadians feel this way...that they'll roll the dice and see if the man they loathed two years ago has learned anything.

Me, I'm not a gambler. I don't believe not saying something is the same as advocating a new position and I don't believe that a man who wanted to callously sacrifice the lives of Canadian troops to curry favour with a foreign leader in an invasion the majority of Canadians did not support is a man to be trusted. Ever.

[Canuck E Stan]

And I can only look at what we have had to endure for the last 13 years with cuts in healthcare, education and military.

The same promises made and broken, election after election and each time with assurances they will kept this time.

Each paycheck means tightening the belt a little more because the standard of living hasn't improved in twenty years.

Costs keep going up,and the government is acting like some corporation proudly presenting surpluses like they were in the business to make money.

Meanwhile the homeless population grow,two incomes in a family are a necessity,families are out of touch with each other because the parents can't be home with the kids.

Places like Value Villiage are booming,crime is increasing,and the country in general is going nowhere fast.

I'll take my chances,I'll gamble, what's a few years on the road to improvement.

My kids have the rest of their lives, maybe getting a taste of what good government of the people might be all about will make sure something like the last thirteen won't happen again.

[Hydraboss]

"\" I have a feeling a number of Canadians feel this way...that they'll roll the dice and see if the man they loathed two years ago has learned anything.

Me, I'm not a gambler. I don't believe not saying something is the same as advocating a new position and I don't believe that a man who wanted to callously sacrifice the lives of Canadian troops to curry favour with a foreign leader in an invasion the majority of Canadians did not support is a man to be trusted. Ever.

I can loan you a set of dice if you like, but they're blue. Let me know.

Canadian troops deserve better than the present government (I'm ex-militia reserve read:short timer). You want to endanger troops? Keep doing what we're doing. Send them into actives without bullets or body vests for peacekeeping. They are just expected to what?...use harsh language?

I'll gamble. My kids are worth it.

[mar]

"\" I have a feeling a number of Canadians feel this way...that they'll roll the dice and see if the man they loathed two years ago has learned anything.

Me, I'm not a gambler. I don't believe not saying something is the same as advocating a new position and I don't believe that a man who wanted to callously sacrifice the lives of Canadian troops to curry favour with a foreign leader in an invasion the majority of Canadians did not support is a man to be trusted. Ever.

I can loan you a set of dice if you like, but they're blue. Let me know.

Canadian troops deserve better than the present government (I'm ex-militia reserve read:short timer). You want to endanger troops? Keep doing what we're doing. Send them into actives without bullets or body vests for peacekeeping. They are just expected to what?...use harsh language?

I'll gamble. My kids are worth it.

I agree with you entirely on the underfunding, ill defined mission and general dropping of excrement on the CAF by all governments, pretty much since the '50's (and I'm another short timer, tho not reserve).

To be honest, what I have heard outta the Conservatives is a lot of lip service, little concrete policy and nothing to make me believe they will not shortchange the CAF in the budget when push comes to shove but several things to make me believe they will involve us in more missions we are ill equipped to handle.

I have come to accept that Canadians like the idea of a military and love to wave the flag now and then but as a budgetary priority its somewhere below translation of all government publications into Babylonian.

I actually find the "my kids are worth it" comment made by you and another poster the most disturbing as it is in the long term I see the most danger in the present brand of Conservative Party. I did not feel this way about Mulrooney - tho I never voted for him - or Joe Clark. Since it has become popular for Conservative posters to say that a term or two out of office would do the Liberals good, I'll turn it around. If the Harper conservatives were to fail this time, perhaps by the next election more moderate people would gain a strong voice in the party and they would dump the imported Christian Right and NeoCon values and be ready to govern a country as diverse as Canada. This election has been lip service to being more moderate so clearly they recognize the problem.

[Canuck E Stan]

Why is voting for the Liberals not a gamble,it was for the last 4 elections.

Each time we the voters lost.

Isn't it time to stop kidding ourselves that these guys care,that to them it's only words to get elected and after the election is over it won't matter anymore?

Where are their strong values, every day in this election the values and principles change in their platform just to try to please the voter in order to get votes.

I'll give the odds to the other guy this time.

[mar]

Why is voting for the Liberals not a gamble,it was for the last 4 elections.

Each time we the voters lost.

Isn't it time to stop kidding ourselves that these guys care,that to them it's only words to get elected and after the election is over it won't matter anymore?

Where are their strong values, every day in this election the values and principles change in their platform just to try to please the voter in order to get votes.

I'll give the odds to the other guy this time.

Well on the economy the Liberals have presided over one of the strongest growth and income periods in Canadian history so that's not gamble.

As to the values. yeah, all parties pander to just about anyone in an election. Bet there's a lot of PO'd Christian Right supporters right now over Harper's promise not to reopen abortion and several other things.

[Spice]

Turn Ons

National Defense - the dismantling of the Canadian Forces over the past decade was shameful. And now people act surprised that the Liberals produce an anti-military ad?

Foreign Policy - Time to quit dithering and pandering to the anti-American crowd, and regain Canada's voice in international affairs. Canada is uniquely positioned to take the lead in certain peacekeeping/peacemaking missions around the world, and has staggeringly failed in this responsibility (e.g. Rwanda)

National Debt Reduction - Instead of arguing over who can spend the most, wouldnt it be nice if a party actually made an attempt to pay down the national debt, so that next time interest rate approach 10% the country doesn't go bankrupt?

Restoration of Federal/Provincial Boundaries - Let the provinces do their job, and the feds handle their own. Instead, all parties seem determined to pass off as much federal authority as possible to the provinces, while at the same time sticking their noses in provincial jurisdictions.

Turn Offs

Social Conservatism - Let those crazy kids have their abortions, bongs and gay marriages. Mind your own business.

Daycare Programs - Raise your own damn kids! Why are none of the parties questioning whether this is even necessary?

[Wilber]

Accountability

Democratic Deficit

Justice System

Military

Health Care

Not necessarily in that order but if we can improve on two out of five without going backwards on the others, we will be doing really good. If we can improve on three out of five we will be doing awesome.