Modeling Journey

It is time for the three Parliamentary opposition parties to send their leaders (plus 3 or 4 supporting people) into a room, lock the doors, and let them hammer out the outlines of a Save Canada Plan.

When should they do it? Right now, and they should work throughout the weekend to finish it.

Why should they do it? Because the Tory government has clearly shown today that it does not intend to be honest with Canadians, and will not take steps to assist those who are and will be hurting due to the recession.

What should the Save Canada Plan cover? Simple: a four year program for reducing the painful impact of the recession. Included in this program could be the following steps:

1. Significant infrastructure funding, especially of the cities.

2. Changes to the RRSP rules so avoid seniors being hit by the current rules (the Tory proposal is a mean, insufficient one).

3. Increased unemployment benefits, which include more flexibility as well as more money for longer periods.

4. Funds for major industries (the auto and forestry ones are most important at this stage), which provide the citizens with some return for the risks they assume through their government funding these companies.

5. The introduction of proportional representation within 12 months.

6. Support for the financial system of Canada (the banks, credit unions, pension funds etc).

And then what? The parties vote out the Tory proposal, and then let the Governor General know that they are prepared to support a Liberal government which implements the Save Canada Plan. Canada will then have a proactive, new government within a week or so, supported by political parties which have the support of most Canadian voters.

I would recommend that the Liberal team be Dion, Ignatieff, Leblanc and Rae.