Category Archives: Federal

Federal, Homeless, Provincial

Callousness, irrationality or amorality?

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I was pondering the fact both the provincial and federal governments are pursuing policies that de-house people, forcing them into homelessness; and the fact that both levels of governments continue to choose not to engage in policies to re-house people. Leaving me to mull over why both levels of governments seemingly aspire to increase the numbers of homeless, as opposed to decrease the number of homeless on the streets.

The only rational explanation would appear to be that these are anti-terrorism driven policy choices. Drive enough Canadian citizens into life on the streets; make it difficult, if not impossible, to get back onto their feet and into housing; force them to live under bridges, in, around and under other pieces of infrastructure; you have in place a solid first line of defence against any terrorists targeting our nations infrastructure. While perhaps effective, this entails a callous disregard for, and devaluing of, the people being (ab)used.

Alternatively, we are dealing with government behaviour, thus there is a high probability that these are simply your average run of the mill, day-to-day irrational government behaviours.

Of course, given their ideology, there is the distinct possibility that the BC Liberal Party and the Canadian Conservative Party just lack the ethical and spiritual values that would make the levels of homelessness and poverty unacceptable; values that would necessitate pursuing policies to reduce homelessness and poverty.

Mr. Campbell, Mr. Harper: is it cold -blooded anti-terrorism, irrational behaviour or a lack of ethical and spiritual values?

Federal, Homeless

Tragically …

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… the irony of earmarking $105 million to help children in Africa and Asia, is lost on Mr. Harper and his fellow Ideologues in the Conservative party.

A government that vigorously refuses funding to provide the support and programs Canadian children need to get them off to a good and healthy start to their lives and schooling.

This refusal to do our best for ALL Canadian children results in a privileged class of children gaining a decided and unfair advantage from the start of their lives over their less wealthy peers. Adding to the growing imbalance and unfairness of Canadian society.

To add insult to the injury Mr. Harper is doing to these most vulnerable young Canadian citizens, he also vowed to double aid to Africa by 2008-09. This promise of increased aid to Africa comes on the heels of the UN report censuring Canada for the number of citizens living in “3rd world living conditions”.

When a government chooses to pursue fiscal and economic policies that promote the transfer of wealth to a privileged class favoured by government policies, the government has a moral responsibility to ensure that those Canadians forsaken by government policy do not find themselves living in “3rd world conditions”.

Given the federal government’s pursuit of policies that result in the creation of an ever faster growing class of Canadians unable to afford basic shelter, the federal government must either change policies or formulate ways to ensure the availability of affordable housing for all Canadians, not just those privileged to be economically enriched by government policies.

Affordable housing is a necessity, not just for the fairness and balance of Canadian society, but for the continued growth and health of the Canadian economy. Similarly programs that promote the wellness, health and education of all Canadian children promote the Canadian economy. Both are part of the infrastructure needed for Canada to compete and prosper globally.

In an increasingly integrated world, Canada simply cannot afford the ideological blindness of our current government policies. Indeed, Canada cannot afford the competitive disadvantages contained in the policies espoused by any current national party.

Federal political parties and politicians must formulate policy based on what is needed for the long-term health and growth of the Canadian economy not on ideology. Otherwise Canadians must look elsewhere for the leadership needed to thrive in a fast changing world.

Or we may well find ourselves looking for foreign aid, as more and more Canadians find themselves living in what we think of as “3rd world conditions”. The conditions far too many Canadians, and a shaming number of Canadian children, currently live in.

Federal, Hmmm, Homeless

Senate reform 101

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Senate reform seems to sink into a quagmire of complexity and political self interest. Is it not rational to change our frame of reference on the question of Senate reform?

Canadian citizens footing the cost of the senate need to get value for their money.

Canadian citizens need to derive benefit from the monies spent on the Senate, but Senate changes become lost in arguments about the form change should take. What we need is a change that requires no amendments to any legislation governing the Senate, but results in a Senate/Senators benefiting Canada.

Simple. We change who is to be appointed to the Senate, not the how, directing the Prime Minister to appoint Senators from a pool meeting the requirements the Canadian people feel will benefit the country.

I would like to propose that we use the Senate to support advocates, agents of change …. Use whatever label you choose for those who champion causes such as homelessness, poverty, climate change, child care etc.

As a country we face the need to address many social, economic fairness and environmental issues. Issues that we need to have a public debate on in order that we can formulate effective and cost efficient policies to address these issues.

Unfortunately we currently have no such debate taking place in this country. Currently we have politicians and their followers throwing around trite sound bites based on their ideology or what they think the public wants to hear – or both. Despite all the rhetoric, claims and promises these problems continue to grow and worsen.

These are complex issues containing far more gray than black or white, without nice neat solutions, often requiring multiple approaches to effect change. In other words – messy. The reality being that dealing with them will result in mistakes, some negative outcomes and someone, somewhere screaming out their upset. The type of issues that have politicians running for cover – or using trite phrases and telling the public what it wants to hear.

So we take those with a passion to address these issues, some brains, good communications skills, an ability to find compromise and consensus and other traits we think would be helpful and we appoint them to the senate.

Being a senator grants them financial security and independence, affording an opportunity to focus on the issues. It provides for travel, opens doors and provides a public platform to engage and address the Canadian public, a voice an ordinary citizen does not have. It provides an interesting and challenging group of peers to brainstorm with.

These senators can lead the public debate, generating ideas and feedback, building consensus on what course our country should pursue. This provides protection for the politicians while it ensures that the debates and policy decisions we need as a country take place.

By reforming the Senate in this way we create a Canadian institution that is focused on creating positive change, becoming a world leader in how to achieve change and growth

Federal

On Conservative MP James Moore

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The point is not if the NDP apologizes or not.

The point is: when is Conservative MP James Moore is going to resign.

He was elected to take care of the people’s business; not to merely “put in time” in the house, passing the time engaged in prurient thought of his girlfriend. His behaviour shows a lack of judgment and a total failure in the duty of care owed not only to his constituents but also to all the citizens of Canada.

His behaviour suggests, if not demonstrates, that he is there merely to collect a paycheque, remaining uncaring, uninformed and unengaged with the issues challenging the country. Mr. Moore behaviour, thoughtlessly voting as the party dictates, serves to block the debate and discussion we need on a myriad of complex issues.

Mr. Moore needs to be replaced with someone with an interest in addressing the pressing issues, particularly the complex and growing social issues, requiring thought and intelligent action.

The questions Stephen Harper needs to answer is – how many other Conservative MP’s are merely there to collect a paycheque and what in his management style stiffles debate and engagement in the issues, resulting in non-participating MP’s.

Federal, Municipal, Provincial

Politician Boot camp.

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I have started collecting the bits of paper that seem to be demanded these days for employment, such as First Aid level 1. While reading some of the recent comments by various politicians at all levels it occurred to me that it would benefit citizens immensely if politicians were required to complete a boot camp to reacquaint them with the reality most of their constituents face daily.

Instead of orientation that focuses on the ins and outs of bureaucracy and power, boot camp would ensure a solid understanding of the reality of life for the average citizen. All elected politicians would be required to be certified as having successfully completed boot camp in order to hold the position for which they were elected.

We would start by testing ingenuity, adaptability and fortitude by dropping politicians into an unknown city and requiring them to survive homeless and at the mercy of the systems they are or will be responsible for. By starting with the toughest challenge first we quickly weed out those wretches unfit to hold responsible office. This test also needs to be first because fairness requires we send the politicians onto the street with the highest reserves of stored energy (fat) and rest possible.

The second stage of training requires the aspiring politician to hold a minimum wage cleaning position and to survive on the wages earned at the minimum wage. This will reacquaint the aspirant with the concept of “working for ones keep” and provide direct experience with the difference between a minimum wage and a living wage you can actually live on. It also holds the promise of teaching the aspirant the value of a dollar and to clean up the messes they so often leave lying around the political, financial and spiritual landscapes.

The final stage is to hold a sales/service position at $15 an hour. This will hopefully provide instruction in the concepts of budgeting and avoiding wasteful spending. A sales/service position was chosen in hopes of giving experience and instruction in what is meant by service.

At the end of the process the politicians would be granted a certificate for a “Reality Check”.

I can hear the politicians claiming this would be a waste of taxpayers money. The certification already providing beneficial effects – the politicians have developed a concern for wasting taxpayers money! Further, with all the reality shows on television by filming and syndicating this process we can not only pay for the certification process but with skillful marketing make a profit.

Watching and listening to politicians these days it is clear they have no understanding of the reality most Canadians deal with and live in day to day, with no interest in gaining understanding. If they want to be in government of Canadians they should be required to have an understanding of all Canadians – not just the wealthy, big business, special interests and their own self-interests.