 A colleague asked me the other day, what I would do if I were,
magically, the Prime Minister of Canada, with a supportive legislature.
I thought it was an interesting question, since I keep saying I've
given up on the political process as a means of achieving meaningful
change. My answer (after having some time to think about it):
- Tax Reform to Drive Economic Reform: I
would replace the entire current system of taxes, duties, 'free' trade
agreements and subsidies with a progressive but
simple system of high taxes on all unsustainable and socially
irresponsible economic activities
(use of non-renewable resources, pollution and waste, transportation of
materials and goods over long distances, imports from countries with
low social and environmental standards etc.), designed to achieve
a 100% cradle-to-cradle economy; plus a substantial excess wealth tax.
I've written about this before, and it's revenue neutral, and would
allow us
to end across-the-board income, payroll and sales taxes that punish
sustainable behaviours, and to steadily reduce wealth disparity.
- A Wilderness Trust: Creation and nurturing of a national Wilderness
Trust, beginning with all existing tracts of Crown and government lands in
excess of 10 contiguous acres, expanded by purchase of sensitive and
high-biodiversity properties, all to be set aside in perpetuity for
zero development and natural stewardship. There would be special
incentives for donation of additional parcels to this Trust.
- Democratization of the Political Process: As I described in my
recent post on reforming government, this would involve replacing the
current electoral system with a Single Transferrable Vote proportional
representation system, and creation of online sites where
proposed legislation would be posted for discussion and amendment, with
all electoral candidates and parties legally required to commit before
the election to which proposed legislation they would introduce or
support if elected.
- Reform of Canada's Defence and International Aid Mission:
Requirement that all activities of our defence forces be for the
defence of our country and for unambiguous peace-keeping in countries
where there is peace to keep (not impossible or ideologically-motivated missions like
Afghanistan), and including the commitment of a significant portion of annual
government revenues for humanitarian, infrastructure and social aid
programs in struggling nations.
- Land and Resource Ownership Reform: Limitations on how much land
can be owned by one individual (directly or through corporations).
Prohibition of owning land or natural resources in municipalities in which you do not live.
Standards for environmental stewardship of privately owned land.
- Experimental Autonomous Communities: Encouragement of communities
to take full responsibility for the well-being of everyone living in
their community, and for its self-sufficiency, and, subject to oversight
and acceptance of certain principles, granting of full autonomy to
those communities.
- Education Reform: An aggressive program to replace institutional
education with autonomous, community-based, self-managed,
life-long learning and apprenticeship initiatives, leading as quickly
as possible to the elimination of compulsory education.
- Volunteer Force: The encouragement, celebration and support of full- and
part-time volunteers to self-organize and apply themselves to any
social activities they have passion for.
- Integrated Health & Welfare Program:
Establishment of universal access to and minimum
standards for food and water quality and public healthcare, including
the precautionary
principle, permaculture, sustainable agriculture, and a prohibition on
exporting water. Programs to enable and encourage prevention,
self-diagnosis and self-treatment of illness. Decentralization of
healthcare bureaucracies to enable autonomous, community-based
healthcare that meets specified high standards.
- Anti-Sprawl Land Use Standards:
Encouragement of brownfield redevelopment and prohibition of
'greenfield' development. Programs to repurpose developed land for a
mixture of commercial, industrial and residential uses to eliminate the
need for commuting.
This is a great priority-setting question for a Friday, so I'm going to ask you, dear readers, the same question:
If you were suddenly elected the President or Prime Minister of
your country, and had a supportive legislature for your reforms, what
are the ten most important changes you would make?
Conditions: They
have to be revenue neutral (you can't finance more programs with less
money, and you can't just say you're going to eliminate government
'inefficiency'). You cannot presume that governments in any other
country will support you, or align their programs and laws with yours.
And your proposals need to be specific, not just principles or broad objectives.
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MADE IN CANADA
trust your
instincts 
