NDP Our Vision for Canada
Democracy in Canada is in urgent need of repair. New Democrats believe it’s vital that trust and confidence in our practices and institutions be restored.
That means making sure Canada’s electoral system truly represents the expressions of voters, ensuring Parliament reflects real party support across Canada. It means cleaning up the appointments process, abolishing the unelected and unnecessary Senate, and eliminating obstacles to the right to cast a ballot. Making Parliament more accountable also means policing lobbyists and protecting public servants who report unethical practices.
New Democrats are committed to the kind of mutual respect among levels of government that is the hallmark of cooperative federalism; that makes collaboration on social and economic policies work, and that ensures the universality of social programs. Respect for each government’s specific areas of jurisdiction is vital to ensuring a healthy democracy.
For New Democrats, cooperative federalism is also asymmetrical federalism; recognizing and encouraging Quebec’s unique national character in North America, with French as the language of daily life and work.
Our federalism supports Quebec’s right to its own progressive economic and social practices, and to the development of its own sense of nationhood.
New Democrats believe in working with Canada’s First Nations, Inuit, and Métis people to move toward self-government in practical, concrete steps, supporting the settlement of land claims, and backing up these actions with investment in the urgent social needs of Aboriginal communities.
There are many ways of being a Canadian. By strengthening political democracy and strengthening Canadian federalism, a New Democrat government will strengthen the bonds that pull our diverse populace and unique communities together into one truly democratic federation, a model that would serve as an inspiration and a worthy example around the globe.
New Democrats believe in:
New Democrats believe in:
New Democrats believe in:
New Democrats believe in:
New Democrats believe in:
New Democrats believe in:
New Democrats believe in:
That means making sure Canada’s electoral system truly represents the expressions of voters, ensuring Parliament reflects real party support across Canada. It means cleaning up the appointments process, abolishing the unelected and unnecessary Senate, and eliminating obstacles to the right to cast a ballot. Making Parliament more accountable also means policing lobbyists and protecting public servants who report unethical practices.
New Democrats are committed to the kind of mutual respect among levels of government that is the hallmark of cooperative federalism; that makes collaboration on social and economic policies work, and that ensures the universality of social programs. Respect for each government’s specific areas of jurisdiction is vital to ensuring a healthy democracy.
For New Democrats, cooperative federalism is also asymmetrical federalism; recognizing and encouraging Quebec’s unique national character in North America, with French as the language of daily life and work.
Our federalism supports Quebec’s right to its own progressive economic and social practices, and to the development of its own sense of nationhood.
New Democrats believe in working with Canada’s First Nations, Inuit, and Métis people to move toward self-government in practical, concrete steps, supporting the settlement of land claims, and backing up these actions with investment in the urgent social needs of Aboriginal communities.
There are many ways of being a Canadian. By strengthening political democracy and strengthening Canadian federalism, a New Democrat government will strengthen the bonds that pull our diverse populace and unique communities together into one truly democratic federation, a model that would serve as an inspiration and a worthy example around the globe.
5.1 Cooperative Federalism
New Democrats believe in:
- Governing in accord with cooperative federalism
- Updating the Social Union Framework Agreement by strengthening social rights and establishing federal spending parameters in areas of provincial jurisdiction
- Insisting on respect for the principles of universality and non-privatization of our public services; and
- Holding annual First Ministers’ conferences and working closely with the Council of the Federation.
5.2 Renewing Canadian Democracy
New Democrats believe in:- Reforming Canada’s electoral system through mixed member proportional representation
- Ensuring electoral reform is based on a transparent process with wide citizen involvement
- Assisting under-represented and marginalized groups to participate fully in the political process
- Protecting the right to vote by ensuring that regulations on voter identity do not unduly restrict a citizen from casting a ballot; and
- Investing in public education addressing democracy and politics, primarily for young people.
5.3 Renewing our Institutions
- Abolishing the unelected and unnecessary Senate
- Ensuring greater transparency in the appointment process for federal agencies, by submitting nominations to Parliament
- Improving the level of debate in the House of Commons, preventing harassment and promoting civility
- Honouring fixed election dates unless government is clearly defeated in a non-confidence motion; and
- Preventing Members of Parliament from changing party allegiance without first resigning and being re-elected.
5.4 Official Languages and Bilingualism
New Democrats believe in:
- Upholding the Official Languages Act and the language rights in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms
- Strengthening the role of the Commissioner of Official Languages
- Enhancing minority language services in education, community health, and child care, in consultation with representative organizations
- Ensuring better representation of linguistic communities in public broadcasting (CBC-Radio- Canada); and
- Strengthening exchange and immersion programs for students, civil society and businesses.
5.5 Quebec and Asymmetrical Federalism
New Democrats believe in:- Recognizing the national character of Quebec, based in particular on a society with French as the language of work and the common language of the public domain; a unique culture expressed through a sense of identity and belonging to Quebec; a specific history; and political, economic, cultural and social institutions of its own
- Affirming asymmetrical federalism, recognizing Quebec’s need for appropriate tools to meet its unique challenges
- Recognizing that Quebec can withdraw, with compensation, from federal programs that fall within its jurisdiction
- Supporting Quebec’s role in promoting the French culture in North America, while respecting the right of linguistic minorities within and outside Quebec; and
- Creating the conditions enabling Quebec to sign the Canadian Constitution.
5.6 Rights of Citizenship
- Promoting and funding civic education for citizens
- Ensuring genuine consultation with citizens and civil society organizations in developing public policy
- Protecting the right of volunteers and non-governmental organizations to promote and defend rights without adversely affecting their charitable status; and
- Safeguarding the right of groups or communities to pursue good faith public interest actions without risking judicial reprisals by lobbies or corporations.
5.7 First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples
New Democrats believe in:- Implementing the recommendations of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and Jordan’s Principle
- The inherent right to self-government and rights established in Treaties
- Working with First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples to implement self-government
- Establishing new procedures for land claims that respect Aboriginal title and that are independent, efficient, just and equitable
- Protecting and promoting the diverse languages and cultures of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples; and
- Ensuring equitable participation of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples and governments in Canada’s stewardship of the environment and resources, and on appropriate boards, commissions and international delegations.
5.8 Ethics and Transparency
- Whistleblower laws that protect public employees reporting unethical practices
- Strengthening the independence of arm’s length officials such as the Auditor General and the Ethics Commissioner
- Increasing the powers of the Privacy Commissioner to protect identity and personal data
- Improving access to information and ensure timely processing of requests; and
- Laws to stop the “revolving door” between political life, the public service, and corporate lobbying.
quote by :Cheryl McNevin Baron Apparently we don't all want an inclusive and fair Canada since enough people keep voting for those nasty Cons and Harper to keep him in government. Oh Canada! What has happened to the county I love?
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