Canada's Opportunity: Collaborative Politics, Shared Success

"The Conservatives acknowledge they don’t have all the answers, nor the resources to tackle the problems on their own."

Of course not.  Nobody does - that's why we work together.  Including with Opposition Parties in Parliament.

See, when all of your energy and resources are being spent on partisan wins rather than social issues, everyone loses.  Live together, die alone, etc.  You gotta have a little faith in your fellows.

So, now that you're asking, here are some ideas that need to be moved on:

 - a digital government strategy.

 - increased support for social entrepreneurs for R&D and social development

- increased support for life-long learning that makes it easier to foster flexible workers and innovative thinkers

- a centrally coordinated mental health strategy that takes a serious look at the impacts of mental health on work - we are moving in to a knowledge economy, after all

- redefine Canada's international role to be what we have always been the best at - the world's diplomat

- oh, and diversify the economic portfolio by drilling more into innovation, not just oil - the former will have a much healthier life span.

That's a start.  I'm always happy to chat more and make connections with some of the Islands of Excellence developing tomorrow's solutions; nothing makes me happier than being the stone in the soup.

Is Ontario Ready for Collaborative Change?

The idea is to remove barriers to employment for everyone — not just able-bodied people, but also those with obvious physical or hidden mental challenges. With ODSP caseloads growing by 5 per cent a year, and most of the new and returning recipients coping with mental issues, it is no longer sensible or sustainable to hive them off and write them off.

 

There's growing consensus that the systems we have here in Ontario aren't working.  Healthcare is too feudal, social service supports are too fragmented - the list goes on.  The system that worked well enough once upon a time is past it's best-before date.  The problem, however, is the political risk that comes with big change.  In today's polarized, hyper-partisan political climate, it's guaranteed that opposing Parties will decry anything that speaks of bold reform.  But we can't go on as before. 

 

What's a province to do?

 

Here's a radical notion - picture we had three political leaders that thought more of achieving results, even if through working together, than of scoring political points by working against.  Imagine there was a core set of values that the Liberal, PC and NDP leaders all held and were willing to build shared solutions around.  Why, if there was an attempt by all three Parties to find and communicate consensus to stakeholders and voters, those big changes everyone says are necessary might just be doable - and with all Parties working together, we could actually get viable solutions that would be both effective and have longevity.

 

Of course, that's not doable with the current configuration - just witness the goings on at Queen's Park of late.  With Premier McGuinty exiting the stage, there will soon be a new leader for the Liberals, likely to be one of a few women with track records of finding shared solutions.  Andrea Horwath, for her part, has occasionally played the role of peace maker.  That leaves Tim Hudak as the sole leader who is adamantly committed to an election and hasn't exactly carved out a reputation as a team player.

 

Hudak has committed to a Spring election, no matter what happens between now and then.  Like Rob Ford, he's not interested in working together - he just wants to win.  Especially for Hudak, it's critical he does; if he doesn't, that's two general election losses and a lost by-election against him.  It would be the end of his political career and result in a PC leadership race.  IF that scenario were to play out, a strong contender for the PC leadership role would be the amazing Christine Elliot - a woman who is unquestionably in politics for the right reasons and willing to work with anyone to address the issues that matter.

 

 I'll get in trouble for writing this, surely - in partisan politics, you're supposed to wish the worst possible leadership on your opponents, not the best.  I'm terrible at being self-serving that way - besides, I actually love the idea of a Legislature that functions the way parliaments were intended to.  It might make for boring TV or news, but so what - you want spicy political entertainment, watch Game of Thrones.  Just imagine the possibilities if Ontario had three women leaders with shared goals willing to put the best interests of the province ahead even of their own partisan aspirations. 

 

It might just be the only way Ontarians can move forward - together.

 

And Chuck Norris' "Something Much Worse" Than Socialism is - Paul Ryan?

GOP VP Candidate Paul Ryan:

And the greatest of all responsibilities, is that of the strong to protect the weak. The truest measure of any society is how it treats those who cannot defend or care for themselves.


Got it.  Paul Ryan believes it's the job of the strong to carry the weak; very NDP of him.



GOP Supporter + Icon of Tough Chuck Norris:

“We know you love your family and your freedom as much as Gena and I do, and it is because of that we can no longer sit quietly or stand on the sidelines and watch our country go the way of socialism or something much worse."

Socialism... you know, where those with resources, the strong people, protect the weak.  Especially from themselves.

It's suddenly all clear - the "something much worse" Norris is going to stand against is... Paul Ryan!

Good thing you have Clint and Obama's Chair in your corner, Mr. Ryan - you're gonna need 'em.