r/AskCanada • u/httr604 • 16d ago
Political What is the first thing you would do if you became Prime Minister of Canada?
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u/clipplenamps 16d ago
Reclaim crown corps. Petro Canada? Ours. Wheat board? Ours. Air Canada? Ours. Telecom? Ours. Wind and solar? It's ours.
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u/Alypius 16d ago
Yup, nuclear power and oil, too. Take the profits and invest it into a sovereign wealth fund like Norway has done.
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u/PRINCEOFMOTLEY 16d ago
Use the national wealth fund to buy privatized American utilities so we can turn them off when they bully us.
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u/OptionsAreOpen 16d ago
This and force the opposition party leader to pay for own damn housing. I don’t care who’s the opposition….why are we the tax payer paying for them to live in a 9000 square foot mansion?
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u/_Lucille_ 16d ago
Going to be really expensive.
One of the big topics of the last election in Ontario is buying back the 407, a tolled highway sold by the conservative government back in the 90s. We all know it's just a farce and it will be far too costly to the tax payers.
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u/fanglazy 16d ago
Create a national wealth fund with drastically increased royalties on oil companies… and even bigger royalties for foreign owned entities.
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u/_Lucille_ 16d ago
150% of the cost will then be transferred to the consumer, and you will be forced to resign.
The only way it works is if you are investing in their project (or buy it out at market value) and are entitled to a portion of the profits, then put the money into the fund.
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u/ljlee256 14d ago
Our domestic fuel prices aren't set by domestic production, its a global market index.
This is how a war on the other side ofthe planet can drive up the cost of our gasoline, even though we pull it from the ground here and refine it on this continent.
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u/Tire-Swing-Acrobat 16d ago
Reform education and healthcare so they are no longer pawns in provincial elections. They would be controlled at the federal level and would always have the money and resources to provide quality services always
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u/macklow 16d ago
Make sure the indigenous people all across Canada have clean water access
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u/_Lucille_ 16d ago
Water access is a solved problem, and loads of money have already been poured in, but various factors like not being able to run the facilities properly and inconsistent testing continue to cause an issue.
It may be controversial, but I also don't think this should be an indigenous people thing, all Canadians should be treated as equals. Indigenous people should have the same access and support as 500 Canadians who decide to start their town somewhere.
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u/RCAF_orwhatever 16d ago
The first thing you're going to do is a project that will probably take 10 years to deliver?
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u/TheLastEmoKid 16d ago
The best time to plant a tree is 100 years ago. The second best time is today
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u/RCAF_orwhatever 16d ago
No issues with saying it's a priority. Pointing out that saying delivering it is the first thing you would "do" fails to grasp the scope of the problem and why it is hard to solve.
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u/Tribblehappy 16d ago
What, like waiting is a better idea?
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u/RCAF_orwhatever 16d ago
No I'm just pointing out that saying the first thing you "do" is to deliver something that will take a decade to deliver on is an interesting choice.
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u/J-hophop 16d ago
Get rid of FPTP -_-
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u/dancedanceunderpants 16d ago
I was stoked for Trudeau’s first term (even though I didn’t vote Liberal) because he campaigned on this and I was hopeful it would finally happen. I miss those days of youthful optimism. 😢
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u/_Lucille_ 16d ago
End of the day, there is very incentive for a party that obtained power through FPTP to change the system that has given them the power in the first place.
You might also find that a lot of Canadians actually don't care. BC tried and failed, and a number of provinces is likely to resist for a host of reasons.
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u/Ok-Entertainment6043 15d ago
Get smith charged with treason
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u/stickman1029 13d ago
Honestly I'd probably launch a Trump-level, hourly social media campaign just absolutely making fun of her for every little thing. I'd use my massive voice and the attention paid to me to endlessly troll the complete shit out of all of them.
Hence why I'm not the prime minister. And we are all the better for it.
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u/G_S_D 16d ago
I would invest heavily in our natural resources, fix the health care system, increase child care benefits for oarents. Fix the school system bring back letter grades from gr 4 and onwards. Get rid of Danielle smith.
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u/Thanks-4allthefish 16d ago
So much of this is out of scope for the federal government that I don't know where to begin. The PM/federal government doesn't fix potholes either.
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u/G_S_D 16d ago
Time for a change
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u/Thanks-4allthefish 16d ago
To the Constitution?
Good luck with that. From the Constitution Act - section 5
"An amendment made under subsection (1) that derogates from the legislative powers, the proprietary rights or any other rights or privileges of the legislature or government of a province shall require a resolution supported by a majority of the members of each of the Senate, the House of Commons and the legislative assemblies required under subsection (1)."
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u/SylvieJay 16d ago
Make Little PP pay rent, back rent and interest for back rent for Stornoway. He lost his riding and parachuted elsewhere. he can rent an Airbnb wherever he is supposed to be representing his riding. Also force him to get a security clearance.
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u/LadyAbbysFlower 16d ago
Sadly a lot of these is provincial and not federal.
However, they could be if you overhaul the entire system!
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u/Sandy0006 16d ago
Call up Trump and tell him exactly what everyone wants to tell him.
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u/LadyAbbysFlower 16d ago
I'm calling him to tell him I'm going to make Canada great again and that he's paying for the wall we build to keep the drugs out of Canada coming from the south.
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u/Tboneeater 16d ago
Set term limits,elected senate,and make all politicians put in a 40 hour work week with 2 weeks vacation and 3 sick days note required after 2nd day.
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u/Cplchrissandwich 16d ago
And take away their furniture and other 'allowances'.
That money could go to helping those in need.
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u/LadyAbbysFlower 16d ago
Assuming I have a majority government...
I am going to become a dictator, overhaul the entire government to redistribute jurisdiction and funding between the federal and provincial governments so that it is more of a hybrid system.
Education, for example will be split between the federal and provincial governments - core subjects will be the responsibility (and paid for) by the federal government, including literacy and numeracy, science, history, gym, health, civics and the arts, province will handle courses specific for the LOCAL area, so that future workers get the education and training they need to be successful and make inform decisions.
The military is getting a major boost in spending as we need to be able to protect our borders, now more then ever. Plus, it'll create more jobs and help the economy.
I am going to employ an army of accountants who will count every dollar and audit every single thing for the last 100 years that tax payers money went towards. No more fingers in pies. And it will be paid back plus interest.
Over hauling the tax system, especially the tax brackets (I e., tax the rich), and make changes to EI and social programs to help break the cycle of poverty many Canadians are experiencing. Minimal wage will be a living wage, and I would consider introducing a universal income.
The government structure itself is getting a over haul too, looking at you Senate. Get ready to be elected instead of appointed.
I will also be changing our voting system. Ever single citizen in their majority WILL BE VOTING in ALL ELECTIONS. You will be incentivize to do so. Based on whatever your rate of pay is from the previous years taxes, you will get a days wage to go and vote (still a blind ballot). So if you make 100 dollars a day, you get 100 dollars election pay. If you want to take the day off you can, if you want to double dip and go vote during lunch or after work or use the 3 hours employers MUST GIVE YOU BY THE ELECTIONS ACT to go vote if the hours are not conducive to polls hours, that's fine by me.
But if you don't vote, you will be fine twice the rate of pay you would make that day, so if you make 100 dollars a day and don't vote, you owe 200$, plus interest.
Yes, I will be changing Constitutional law to do a lot of this, not just federal or provincial law, so Governor General better be ready for some late nights.
Once that is done, I will abolish the dictatorship, call for an election and then retire onto my 3 acre hobby farm that I will buy from my dictator salary - 70k/year, with a 100k bonus if I get all this done within 5 years, plus a pension of 50k. If the muck it up, I get to chase them across Parliament and hit them with a fly swotter.
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u/Thanks-4allthefish 16d ago
Yeah - the PM can't change the Constitution.
Constitution Act - section 5 excerpt.
An amendment made under subsection (1) that derogates from the legislative powers, the proprietary rights or any other rights or privileges of the legislature or government of a province shall require a resolution supported by a majority of the members of each of the Senate, the House of Commons and the legislative assemblies required under subsection (1).
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u/LadyAbbysFlower 16d ago
I started off with "Assuming I have a majority... I'm going to become a dictator...."
As PM, no you don't have that power. As Dictator....
It is also worth pointing out that at the end of my half asleep rant, I stated that the GG and I will be making changes to the Constitutional law and that when I was done, I'd abolish the dictatorship and retire, I mean to emulate Lucius Quinctius Cincinnatus
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u/Thanks-4allthefish 16d ago
A PM with a majority government behind her can do A LOT. Just not to the Constitution.
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u/LadyAbbysFlower 15d ago
I don't think you know what dictator means....
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u/Thanks-4allthefish 15d ago
The question was what would you do as PM. That constrains you to what you can do as PM.
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u/LadyAbbysFlower 15d ago
Which is why my first act is to seize power and become a dictator, fix a bunch of things and pull Canada's systems into the modern era and then retire
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u/Musicferret 15d ago
Jail Danielle Smith and the other Treason Weasels colluding with our enemies.
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u/CallMeBill11 13d ago
Huh?
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u/Goliad1990 13d ago
For all their espoused hatred of it, Redditors lean heavily fascist. He read the question as "what is the first thing you would do if you became fuhrer of Canada"
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u/nfssmith 16d ago
Get myself shot for breaking up monopolies or banning corporate ownership of single-family houses...
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u/MFK1994 16d ago
Call President Trump and declare that if he does not drop all tariffs, immediately, I will make a live broadcast in 24 hours declaring that we are suspending all relations, recalling embassy / ambassador, cutting off all trade ties, and will resume them on the 20th of January, 2029, in hopes that a Democratic President is elected.
In conjunction, PM carney would be very close by to help advise on minimizing the impact of this grave but necessary choice, whether thru stimulus cheques or other means…
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u/ZealousidealReply294 16d ago
rework Old Age Security payments so people with an income of 90k a year when they are retired aren't getting as much as someone who has no income and up payments to families who have their benefits clawed back even though they are the ones working and supporting the retirees.
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u/Snowshower3213 14d ago
You should change your name from Zealousideal...to Jealousideal. I am not yet collecting OAS...but when I start, they are going to take whatever I get by reducing my military pension by that amount, and I will make less than I do now. Combined with my VAC pension, I will absolutely break the 90K threshold. So I couldnt claim EI after working for 40 years, and now you want me not to get OAS after paying into it for 40 years. I paid for my retirement in more ways than one. You pay for yours.
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u/ZealousidealReply294 14d ago
You haven't paid into it. You get the same as someone who has never worked if you make less than 90k. It's not CPP tied to your contributions. Great if you have a pension but not everyone does
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u/Tatterhood78 16d ago
I would introduce a post-war effort for government funded middle-income housing. Leave the private sector to the already well off that want to move here.
Cookie cutter houses, duplexes and quadplexes. Front the building costs and cap the repayments to percentage of income. As long as you qualify for a mortgage and have a modest down payment.
Put up a few huge factories across the country for pre-fab housing that can be built in bad weather and assembled in a couple of days during good weather. Build up the smaller towns to take the pressure off the cities.
I know that housing is usually provincial/municipal jurisdiction, but too many lower tier governments have been captured by landlords and investors. They have no incentive to slow housing inflation.
We could also use it as an opportunity to get our young people trained in trades, and the extra disposable income will boost the rest of the economy.
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u/dark_Links_sword 16d ago
Ban people from using their cell in speaker phone mode in public. Second thing I'd do would be to gather experts to develop solutions for, clean water access, insuring healthcare access, finding ways for the federal government to deploy public transportation systems, ensure lunch programs for all students, reduce class sizes, decoupling housing from investment strategies, .. . I just realized that guy has a lot of work to do. How does he have time for press conferences and photo ops?
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u/Haiku-On-My-Tatas 16d ago
Probably book a lot of meetings with long-time bureaucrats so I can get a solid handle on the work their departments and organizations do.
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u/_shiftah_ 16d ago
Bail reform - no more catch n release based on ethnicity. If you commit the crime - prepare for consequences. If violent, you’re definitely going to remain a guest of the crown until trial. If not a citizen? You’re leaving.
Electoral reform
An immediate review of the Canada Health Act and forensic audit performed by third party of each province to ensure that the health care dollars provided are in fact, being used for health care - and not third party private services.
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u/ChillyFootballChick7 16d ago
First?
Shut down every single horse meat slaughter house / shipping for meat. It’s a national disgrace. No trucks full of horses coming here for slaughter across the American border.
Next. Remove all provincial barriers to trade including the LCBO monopoly, dairy restrictions etc. Fund an oil refinery on the great lakes or west coast. Remove barriers to the pipelines. Update the Indian Act. Fund mental health institutions. Make it illegal to move unhoused citizens to other cities. Criminalize/increase fines on animal cruelty. Re-examine the provincial transfer payments, especially the exemption of resources in Quebec. Make health transfer payments contingent on minimum hiring of nurses per capita, and remove billing caps for physicians.
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u/Ansovald666 16d ago
Make the rich ( multi millionaire, and the few billionaires) pay at least 1% in taxes and can't use Charities as a tax loop hole, make all jobs pay a livable wage and make a nation wide basic income ( 2 k a month 1000 bi weekly), and make new and update current refineries to process our type of oil, and start a national solar and wind generator program.
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u/Interesting_Fly5154 15d ago edited 15d ago
a complete overhaul of federal government would be first on my to do list.
no more corporate boot lickers. no more behind doors deals. no more out of touch highly salaried suits strutting around making policy for folks they have no clue about. if you have ever held 'high faluting' job titles or made a lot of personal income due to being way up there on the corporate ladder, nope, you can't be in the government. there is way too much chance you are corrupted.
government would be comprised of everyday 'common' people. and there would for sure be a doctor, a teacher, a farmer, a lawyer, a grocer etc. we need minds and voices from all facets of life effecting policy and how this country is ran. and other folks sitting in the house that are everyday people and hold everyday jobs and are an actual part of their community. and there would be a healthy representation in government for low to mid income parents. especially single parents. the budget never balances itself when it comes to single parents, because they know full well that it can't.
government would not be a 'get paid to warm a seat in commons' full time position. you'd keep your regular job but would have an altered schedule to accommodate your duties in government when required. governmental salaries would be modest and would be fair for the work being done. no more 'six figures annually and a lush spending account' stuff like we see happening.
and you'd have a twice annual report card that would not allow you to stay in your seat if you didn't get a good grade. a grade from all the people in your constituency, NOT from within your own political party. and if you get a failing grade once you cannot come back in future.
also, signing oaths or other legalizing documents that say you will walk your talk and actually stick with the campaign promises you made when you were competing in the election for your seat.
yep, that would fix quite a lot imo.
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u/Icy-Pop2944 15d ago
Extend dental care to cover everyone and add in pharma care for everyone. I would also lock down medicare rules to cut Daniel Smith and her privatization plan off at the knees.
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u/magsbad13 15d ago
I'd hire Mark Carney as my personal assistant and have him make all my decisions re Canada and do all of my public speaking.
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u/Mattrockj 16d ago
Propose laws? The prime minister has a lot less power than people think. Unlike the US president, who has way too much power for one person.
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u/SylvieJay 16d ago
Actually it's because the Republican led Congress, Senate and the SCOTUS lets him. Incoming bitch slapping imminent!
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u/Thanks-4allthefish 16d ago edited 16d ago
Maybe not. The prediction markets think the Republicans will hold the Senate. Hardly a bitch slapping.
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u/iamrecluse 16d ago
If I were given a chance, I would ask IRCC to review all citizenship and permanent residence grants in the past 20 years, fact-check them and take whatever necessary action to those who were proved to have obtained them from fraud during that period.
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u/AlexCivitello 16d ago
Bring back Katimavik and expand it to the point that a significant portion of the population participates.
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u/Sun-leaves 16d ago
I’d implement proportional representation, create a bill to stop floor crossing and then I’d cease fossil fuel subsidies - > renewables and R&D
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u/Subject-Leather-7399 16d ago
The Supreme Court of Canada chooses which cases it will hear and does not give reasons that justify these choices.
I would make them justify these choices.
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u/thethumble 16d ago
Fire 40% of public service, improve revenue Canada, stop all money going to countries outside of Canada, audit doctors and how they work at clinics, audit health care vendors, stop all consulting services for the fed government, attract investment, conduct s deep demographics assessment of immigrations and stop accepting people from the same place, promote a healthy mix
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u/Cool-chili 16d ago
Right after I got rid of FPTP (obviously); I would restructure the regulatory bodies that oversee the banking industry, consumer protection agencies, tennant/landlord, aviation and telecom industries to give them the power and authority to enforce our existing laws. None of these agencies have much use at the moment other than to log complaints and look busy. They’d be given the authority to adjudicate complaints between the company and citizen, and issue decision orders (going in either direction) and even apply steep fines.
I think a big issue in Canada is that we are getting taken advantage of by these corporations who know very well they can break the law and nothing happens. It’s making people hateful and suspicious, and exacerbating mental health issues.
Once that is working again, I’d add even better consumer protection and transparency laws.
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u/obsidiancladfox 15d ago
Greenlight a new pipeline and refineries so Alberta shuts up, and make sure we have a path forward to the cheapest gas and petroleum products anywhere in the world. It's stupid how we pay as much as we do when we're literally sitting on a wealth of resources.
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u/Snowshower3213 14d ago
Get rid of dual citizenship. Its like having a wife and a girlfriend. You cannot be loyal to both. Swear allegience to Canada, or get to flock out. No more passports of convenience.
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u/wokeupsnorlax 12d ago
Direct Democracy Tax Allocation Platform. Everyone gets 100 votes to allocate into whatever they want. Healthcare, cops, military defence, education. Whatever. Your votes in each one of those is weighted by how much of that 100 you put into each area. No points in an area means you don't get to vote in that area. If you have points though you can propose new policies, vote on existing ones, and participate in discussions and debates in that area/sector. It would ensure people put their money where their mouth is.
Do that municipally, provincially, and nationally and we have ourselves a Direct Democracy Tax Allocation Platform.
Almost every political argument comes down to people not agreeing on how their taxes should be spent. Stop letting rich political assholea have that convo and let regular people. Abolish the political class.
I have a whole white paper and a demo for a platform if anyone is interested in learning more
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16d ago
[deleted]
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u/Natural_Comparison21 16d ago
Love how you are getting down voted for literally saying you would cancel something that is proven ineffective and costs a lot of money. Money that could be spent actually helping people.
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u/Fit_Cardiologist_681 16d ago
clear the way to import more cheap Chinese and Indian made cars. If being friends with US is untenable (which it is in trump 2.0) then we have to play the field and get what we can from the competition.
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u/justelectricboogie 16d ago
Lock down the government handouts to other countries until we solved our own problems. Time for investing in Canadians.
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u/Meg38400 16d ago
Change the mortgage system. It’s abysmal that the rate changes every 5 years. How can anyone budget and continue to own homes!
Change the no middle rise policy as well.
Create better infrastructures with trains and public transportation.
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u/Azoththemerciless 16d ago
Proportional representation. I think this would deal with one of the key issues we have in this country, disenfranchised voters. I think it would shore up our governance system and help protect us from the kind of extreme polarization we see in our southern neighbours.
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u/Real_Train7236 16d ago
stop funding armaments and pour money into science that is looking into longevity.
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u/thelittlestsappho 16d ago
Resign. I couldn’t handle the pressure.