Time to Fix Canada

"I am a Canadian. Canada is the inspiration of my life. I have had before me as a pillar of fire by night and a pillar of cloud by day a policy of true Canadianism, of moderation, of conciliation." - Sir Wilfred Laurier.

Boy, those were the days.  Eloquent politicians with a message of hope, of direction and commitment to the betterment of Canada and Canadians.  Let's compare that to what we have today.

We have self-serving governments who see their fiefdoms as separate from the whole.  We have opposition parties who do not see any value in separating criticism from opposition.  We have a polarized media who are sanctimonious in their editorial.  We have an electorate who is apathetic and, at the same time, ignorant of about that which they are apathetic.  We have a financial system out of control, a healthcare system in decline, a justice system that looks like Swiss cheese and an educational system that has trouble with its raison d'etre.

There are so many problems in Canada that any single and simple fix is like putting a band-aid on a grenade wound.  We have complex problems that require complex solutions.  The first solution?  Our constitution.

The Constitution Act, as amended in 1982 but still reflecting the BNA from 1867, is so far out of keeping with the 21st century Canada that it is almost laughable.  Our country has changed since confederation.  Our population has grown and moved.  We have many cities more populous than some of our provinces.  More people live in cities than in rural environments.  Health care delivery grows more complex every day.  The disparity between rich and poor is a widening gap.  Our tax system has more loopholes than a Turkish rug.  We do not know why we need a military with all the toys... we just know we need one.  Lobbyists and special interests are running our policy making.  We have governments who couldn't care less about the electorate or democracy, just so long as their brand of policy prevails.  We have governments who pontificate their purity at the time of elections then break their promises once elected - all because they have not the guts to tell us the truth.  In truth our politicians are managers... not LEADERS.

You want to change Canada for the better?  Forget tinkering with healthcare or the justice system or transfer payment to provinces.  Bite the bullet.  Change the Constitution to reflect a modern Canada.  And do it soon.