It is now official, Jean Chretien has called a fall election for November 27, 2000. The Liberals will argue that the motive for the snap election, just 3 and ½ years into the current mandate is an ideological one, while their opponents contend that it is based on Chretien's arrogance as he believes this is his last and best chance to win another term in office. Many issues will surface during the election campaign, but undoubtably this election will mark a major turning point in the history. It may even decide whether the Canada as we know it, the nation that has evolved for over the past century will continue to exist. What kind of Canada do we want for the 21st Century?
In 1993, the Liberals were voted into government based on both the desire for change and the payback to a Mulroney government that had for so long ignored the outcries of its citizens. The Liberals promised to scrap the unpopular GST and abrogate from the controversial Free Trade Agreement with the US, and promised jobs, jobs, jobs to the electorate. On the first 2 promises, the Liberals reneged on their pleadge and their job creation program has turned into the HRDC billion dollar boondoogle that we see today. There has also been character issues and accountability problems with the crackdown of the APEC protest, the Hepatitis B compensation scandal, and the Information Act battle. The Chretien Liberals have demonstrated time and again their arrogance to the Canadian people, and a growing backlash against them is mounting.
On the Left, there are those dissatisfied with their inability to strengthen health care and social programs for Canadian families. On the right, significant tax reform are cried out for as well as debt repayment and scrapping gun registration. All sides are arguing for a more open and accountable government. The Liberals with their so-called 'mini-budget' have positioned themselves in the middle of the political spectrum, arguing that they represent the best choice for all Canadians. What are the alternatives?
The Alliance and their 'agenda of respect' relies and a platform of fiscal responsibility and champion the cause of tax/debt reduction, parliamentary reform and law and order issues. The CA has made major strides in coming out of the shadow known as the Reform Party, softening it's image in order to appeal to a broader cross section of Canadians, especially in vote rich Ontario. Leader Stockwell Day is doing his best to deflect concerns about his social conservatism and religious fundamentalism, but Canadians as a whole are not completely sold. The Alliance wants less central government and wants to transfer more powers to the provinces. If they were to make good on this pledge, then it would certainly be the death of universal, public health care as we know it. The Alliance does not subscribe to national standards of health care as they do not advocate and federal involvement in enforcing them. With their promised cuts and debt reduction plans, their would almost certainly be an erosion in social programs. Transfer payments to less fortunate provinces and economic diversification programs would eventually be a thing of the past. If left up to the Alliance, people would be left up to market forces and 'sink or swim' values.
The Progressive Conservatives have never fully recovered that the anti-Mulroney backlash from 7 years ago and is still in deep debt and disarray. The affable Joe Clark is making a concerted effort to position the PC's somewhere in between the Liberals and the Alliance, but there is very little room to get a foothold. Clark will have to rely on his all his experience, personal likeability, and his photogenic daughter, in order for the PC's to maintain the minimum 12 seats to remain an official party in Parliament.
So too with the Alexa McDonough's New Democrats, with the political climate shift to the right, the NDP has come upon some tough times. Their pro-labour, tax and spend, socialist values do not reach most Canadians hearts anymore. With provincial support for NDP government waning, federal support is almost sure to follow suit. Even some labour leaders have expressed dissatisfaction with the current direction of the party, and their crucial support seems to be jeopardized. Healthcare is the main plank in their platform, but even this important may not be enough for them to strike a chord with voters.
For all the media attention on the major parties and the issues of the day, NONE of these parties is talking about what changes are need to preserve Canada. The debate about the Free Trade and NAFTA has waned in the eyes of the media, but concerns about those liberalized trade agreements are becoming more real. Canadian businesses are being bought by American corporations at record pace and increasingly entire sectors of our economy are dominated by foreign-based firms. The Liberal answer? More deregulation, privatization and greater foreign ownership. Agreements such as NAFTA are being used by US companies to sue our government under the national treatment clause when their profits are hampered by government regulations, even in the case of protection of our resources, environment or health reasons. The Canadian Action Party is the only party dedicated to the abrogation of NAFTA and is against any so-called trade agreement that give transnational corporations power over nations and leave governments powerless to intervene on behalf of its citizens. Canada's very sovereignty is vulnerable to such trade pact. Unless NAFTA is repealed, Canada might one find that it much cherished social programs and public health care challenged as an unfair subsidy by US firms.
CAP is the only also party committed to banking and monetary reform. Only when there are reforms in these areas can the government be able to reduce taxes, pay off the debt, and provide adequate funding for a variety of social programs, health care, education, the military, and culture. They advocates a return to the system of money creation through the Bank of Canada used from 1939 in order to fund our armed forces in World War II until 1974. Instead of fighting a war, we will use the Bank of Canada to stake our place as one of the most prosperous nations in the world.
This year's election will indeed signal a significant change in the direction of Canada for years to come in terms of social and economic policy. It might also decide whether Canada will continue to exist as a sovereign country. None of the parties, be it the Liberals or the Alliance or any of the other parties are seriously looking at the threats to Canada's very existence as a independent state. When you go to the polls next month, ask yourself one question, "Do I believe Canada is a unique and sovereign nation with a culture and institutions that should be preserved?" If yes, then there is only choice this November.
Please visit the Canadian Action Party Website for more details on our party platform.
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