Vote – it is more than a “right”

September 8, 2021

• Something to Think About

This year Canada is facing more political challenges than it probably ever has since confederation.  As a nation we participated in two world wars, during which Canadian people came together to fight for freedom and ultimately victory.  Today, our country is more divided than ever, along religious, gender, racial, sexual preference, and many other grounds.  Here are some important considerations for Canadians as we weigh the platforms of each party, let’s all come together to vote.

Debt:

Debt is a major consideration as we view each political party’s platform.  Canadian debt comes in two forms “personal” and “national”.  Both forms of debt are higher than they ever have been and, as at this writing, few, if any, viable solutions have been enacted in either case.  Currently, national debt is at an all time high and so is consumer debt.

What strategy does each party have to manage debt?

Budget:

We all know that we cannot spend more than we have without accumulating debt, and once the costs of servicing that debt exceed our income there are few choice available.  We can cut back our expenses, increase our income or try to do a little of each.  If those solutions don’t, or can’t, work the only remaining option is to file an insolvency proceeding – if we have sufficient income, we can try to make some sort of proposal (a repayment arrangement) or we can seek a legal remedy that forgives the debt entirely, bankruptcy.

What strategy does each party have to manage the budget?

Cost of Living:

The cost of living in Canada has grown exponentially in the last few years.  Housing costs have skyrocketed, and are driven by speculation, foreign investment, and low interest rates.  The impact on the average Canadian worker is immense, house prices have doubled in the last four years in most markets.  The cost of groceries has exploded and there is a growing shortage of goods across the country that is also driving up prices of everyday items.

What strategy does each party have to manage the cost of living?

Taxation:

The old saying “there are two things you can be sure of in this life, death and taxes” seems to hold true.  Canadians pay more taxes in more forms than citizens of almost every other country in the world.  Taxes never go down, and if they do it is usually optical, one tax may go down while another is created or another goes up. 

What strategy does each party have to manage taxation?

Freedom:

Freedom of expression and freedom to travel has long been a pillar of Canadian society.  In recent years we have seen many of our freedoms, that we used to take for granted, eroded.  Academic freedom has been under assault, media freedom has been constrained, censorship has been increased to unprecedented levels.  Freedom of interprovincial business activities has long been restricted and prevents small businesses and consumers from transporting certain goods across provincial boundaries without penalty.

What strategy does each party have to manage your freedom?

Healthcare:

Healthcare is a perennial issue that surfaces at every election.  Canada has the worst healthcare in the G7, it is costly, and extremely cumbersome with people literally dying for the want of medical care.  The spotlight has been shone very brightly on deficiencies in our eldercare systems during the past two years. 

What strategy does each party have to manage healthcare?

Education:

Canada’s education system certainly has room for improvement, it too is divisive along religious and linguistic and other lines.  Colleges and universities have evolved into profit centres that pursue the enrollment of foreign students, who pay significantly higher tuition fees than Canadian students.  Education costs remain high and often leave graduated students facing decades of debt.

What strategy does each party have to manage education?

Environment:

Environmental issues are important to all Canadians prominent issues in the media include having clean drinking water and dumping sewerage and much more.  Some Canadians are concerned about fracking and the oil industry, others are concerned about the safe disposal of radioactive waste, or batteries and waste from worn out solar panels and windfarms. 

What strategy does each party have to manage the environment?


The above points represent some very important issues that we will look to our politicians to reconcile with our nation’s laws, rules, and regulations.  Voting is more than merely a “right” it can be an avenue for change and the expression of the will of the people. 

IMPORTANT:

In Canada, we do not vote for the nation’s leader (directly) we vote for a local representatives.  Some Canadians don’t recognize the names of the political parties, the colours of the parties nor the local party candidates.  Before you head out to vote make sure you know which candidate represents your preferred party and familiarize yourself with the party’s logo and colours.