- In your opinion, how can we better support our middle class?
First, we need to define what "The Middle Class" is... it sounds great on the hustings and a lot of people consider themselves to be in the middle class, it discounts the working poor and those like me that balance between a middle class family and being under-employed like so many Canadians. While it is politically unpopular, we need to define what the poverty line actually is and ascribe our EI, federal funding, welfare, and all other government assistance systems with a calculation on what an actual working wage is in Canada - from sea to sea to sea.
2. What infrastructure needs can best help grow the economy, protect our environment, and meet your priorities locally?
We need to create a much more effective system to get proper supplies in the Northern territories, green technologies like solar/wind power, and we need to embrace the coming of driverless cars in both legislature and infrastructure. France, Switzerland, and the UK are writing policies that will allow driverless cars and we need to do so, as well. Also, the University of Calgary is working on making solar panels by 3D Printing technology - this is the type of thinking we need for the future. Infrastructure is expensive and takes years - politics ends up being a lot about "What have you done for me lately?" and can be too short-sighted because of it. We need to aim higher.
3. How can we create economic growth, protect the environment, and meet local priorities while ensuring that the most vulnerable don’t get left behind?
Employment and ingenuity will help us with all of these priorities and that means jobs and proper communication - a partnership between private and public - I grew up knowing that there were many businesses that would offer an internship opportunity and life-long employment followed by a pension and, partnered with retirement savings, this would sustain a person in their golden years. Unfortunately, those have been peeled back slowly, we're living much longer, and the NDP is pushing for the retirement age back to 65, yet a majority of us live well over 80 years in this country. Many internships that do exist are unpaid or low-paid positions. Also, many of them require a minimum of a bachelor's degree and the cost of post-secondary education and the debt that follows prevents a lot of our younger Canadians to get a full start in life for years. On the other side of things, at age 35, I am quite convinced that I'll never retire - certainly not in the way it used to be seen - and I fear removal of society. There are many seniors who retire as vibrant, healthy individuals with dreams of travelling and reaching new heights. Unfortunately, many Canadian's golden years are spent in nursing homes and seniors centres losing contact with "the outside world" and eventually succumbing to health issues. Perhaps a form of semi-retirement and more opportunities for our valued and experienced citizens to mentor students and new graduates could be created so all Canadians can benefit from their expertise? We also need to truly acknowledge our mental health crisis and improve services as well as fighting the stigma so people can come forward with their issues without fear of being condemned by our society.
4. Finally, is the implementation of these new priorities and initiatives realistic? Will it help grow our economy?
Yes - If we are no longer preventing Canadian ingenuity and energy to be stifled by a more effective management of their gifts, we will grow stronger.
5. This question is a priority list that isn’t particularly useful because priorities help other priorities develop - they are not a check list.
We need to kill the barriers of trade in between provinces and territories - This isn’t even on the list.
Gladly, the Liberals are trying to create a more open forum for discussions.
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