Maintaining quality of life as people age, especially those needing support, is in the interest of all Canadians. Healthy and engaged senior citizens make an enormous contribution to the health of communities through their volunteer work, advocacy, and support for children and grandchildren. Past Liberal governments introduced programs to reduce seniors’ poverty, and today these [...]

Canada’s research investment is critical to our ability to compete in the global marketplace of ideas and build a sustainable, value-added economy. World class research generates innovation, creativity, productivity, and prosperity.  We have the talent, but world class research requires vision, courageous arm’s-length decision-making, the right balance between applied research and basic research, and stable [...]

The well-being of all Canadians depends on the health and resilience of land and aquatic ecosystems and the species that inhabit them. Governments, as stewards of the environment on behalf of the people, have a mandate to provide protection of conservation areas, research, regulation, monitoring and enforcement, and to ensure all development activities, whether individually [...]

SEASONAL JOBS As the co-founder of an international reforestation – and largely seasonal – business that has planted more than a billion trees across Canada, I recognize that skilled, experienced seasonal workers are productive, and the lifeblood of many Canadian communities and businesses. Canada’s seasonal industries such as fisheries, forestry, agriculture and tourism create valuable [...]

Canada’s publicly funded health care system is the envy of many nations, yet we have serious sustainability challenges that we need to overcome. In 2012, total health care spending in Canada was about $207 billion, or $5,948 per person. Virtually all of that funding was spent treating people after they became sick or injured. One [...]

Electoral Cooperation & Democratic Reform In 2011, Stephen Harper took power with less than 40% of the popular vote — meaning the Conservatives were elected by less than one quarter of Canadians. Since then, Harper has inflicted long-term damage on Canada’s reputation abroad and democratic institutions at home. Canada needs an electoral system that respects [...]

The Arab Spring and its aftermath have underlined how vital it is for countries in political transition to get advice on governance issues including constitutional development. Canadians are renowned for assisting with these challenges as our democracy and Charter of Rights and Freedoms are admired by constitutionally developing nations. Robust democratic institutions in turn are [...]

The well-being of future generations depends on a healthy environment Government’s responsibility is to protect the collective interest from the individual and cumulative impacts of private and public activities that threaten the health and safety of citizens and the vitality of our ecosystems. Air, water, lands, biodiversity, and climate stability are natural assets we must [...]

A key element of building a vibrant 21st century Canada is digital access, to enable citizens to fully participate in the economy and society, and have better access to government information and services. As B.C. Minister of Management Services, Joyce led a “Bridging the Digital Divide” project that connected 119 communities from 2004-2006. Today, B.C. is [...]