Let us move as a united society to Canada 200

Cutting provincial barriers would help, Les Bowd writes

In 1967, 20 million Canadians embraced and participated in their 100th anniversary enthusiastically. The stirring strains of Bobby Gimby’s C-A-N-A-D-A or Woody Guthrie’s rendition of the Canadian version of This Land Is Your Land, euphoria generated by the new Canadian flag, and the global reception of Expo 67 in Montreal, all contributed to the pride we felt for our country and its place in the world.

Much has changed in 50 years. We’re now a nation of more than 35 million, multinational and multicultural people. We repatriated our Constitution in 1982. Global trade supports a relatively vibrant economy. Financial discipline saved us from the worst impact of the market meltdown. Canadians are seen as “nice people” with a high quality of life.

However, there is much that we could do to make this country a great one globally. In our efforts to advance across many fronts we seem to have inadvertently slipped backward. If we are to become one Canada again we need to ensure our path toward Canada 200 is positive. We must pay immediate attention to key areas that affect our ability to go forward together.

Trade, education, health, the economy, Canadian citizenship and identity, a renewed Constitution and a return to political civility all need to be addressed.

Our nation is a world leader in establishing global trade arrangements. Yet we cannot trade/sell a bottle of beer across many provincial boundaries. Every Canadian should be able to sell or buy goods and services anywhere in Canada.

Canadian students should be free to attend college or university across the country. Admission should be based on ability, not geography. A national effort is required to equalize tuition and residence fees across the country.

We take pride in our “universal health-care system.” But increasing inter-provincial restrictions make it difficult for Canadians to obtain health services across the country. Further, different funding mechanisms in provinces place many at a fiscal disadvantage. Establishing one Canada heath card entitling free access to medical services across the country is urgently required.

Inter-provincial economic competition is extremely dangerous. Initiatives taken to attract businesses, through tax breaks and other incentives, are haphazard across the country. The time has come to collaborate on the development and execution of a comprehensive national economic strategy.

We should relish the diversity of national origins, cultures and religions. Honouring our First Nations should also be front of mind. The language and culture of our two founding nations should be enshrined in any renewed Constitution.

However, to build a “One Canada” philosophy, we need to assert we are all Canadians first. This will allow us to develop an integrated national perspective.

Some may suggest this is a too-idealistic vision of what Canada can be. To achieve this we must seriously consider a totally different Constitution. What was appropriate in 1867 does not fit a 21st century Canada. Although the 1982 repatriation did modernize federal and provincial responsibilities, it also reinforced the provincial powers that have contributed to the disparity. We must be prepared to question whether the current structure of federalism fits our future needs.

To achieve this ambitious goal, one additional major change must occur. Politicians must commit to returning civility to our democratic institutions.

Having almost destroyed the concepts of integrity, truth, shared consultation and mutual respect in political processes across the country, they must now work vigorously to reverse this situation.

Many countries around the world are struggling to redefine their national and global purpose. However, Canada is poised to provide a glowing example of how we should move forward into the middle of the 21st century and travel the road to Canada 200.

But, we must do it together as one Canada again!

Politicians must commit to returning civility to our democratic institutions.