To the commission on electoral reform:
Canadian society like a child is growing up.
Like an alcoholic, Canada's government feels entitled. Like a drunk it will not change until it must.
Government accountability and responsibility have become golden handshakes.
Objections arise with the Westminster system of government.
It guarantees some Canadians are more equal than the rest.
There are 308 people representing 35 million people. That's one for every 114,000 people. It is unworkable.
Government pays itself handsomely.
Salaries have soared. They are not result oriented. Bonuses and benefits are immoral and obscene to those who pay for them.
In a society of equals, bonuses and benefits should be every Canadian's right.
Education and health should also be Canadian rights.
Government has become a game of mostly borrowed money.
Government is not a game. We should all be going in the same direction. We should balance the budget.
Stop extravagance in the name of Canada. We are not American.
Freedom of information must be just that, not a wall of secrets.
The decision making process must be open. Secrets beget lies. Openness breeds conversation which incubates ideas. Media must codify to shoulder responsibility to report government decisions.
The Senate is a repository of prominent Canadians and political party insiders. They are appointed for life and not accountable to anyone. Rules of operation, salaries and benefits are murky, ill defined and costly.
An independent and accountable civil service should operate Crown corporations.
Canadian government employees are not guaranteed a right to privacy. They must be accountable.
Canadian government employees are ineligible to collect a government pension while working.
All Canadians should swear an oath of loyalty to Canada with penalties for non compliance.
The alternative is moral and financial bankruptcy.
My suggestions:
Eliminate the Senate, today.
Eliminate political parties, today.
Reduce the number of MPs from 308 to 18. One for every two million people.
National referendum, today.
Jon Ronan, Prince George
