An Open Letter to the Prime Minister Justin Trudeau:
Greetings. Regrettably we have never met, but if I might be half as uncouth and bold as you yourself are on the national stage, I have some advice for you.
I've read the policies that you've put forward - they are ambitious, to put it politely. And while I didn't vote for any of your candidates, and therefore did not politically endorse any of your policies, it must be said that you are indeed the incoming prime minister of all Canadians. And so I feel it is my duty to offer a list of "do's" and "don'ts" to you, the leader of our executive in Ottawa, especially given the fact that your party has been given the largest mandate since the 1990s.
To begin with don'ts, I would argue three major issues come to the fore very quickly: don't stop bombing the Islamic State, don't forget to repeal C-51 and don't favour the Wynne Liberals.
The first on this list ought to be self-explanatory, given the fact that a majority of Canadians actually support the mission against IS and bringing over refugees does not solve the growing instability in their homeland. Big announcements surrounding humanitarian aid may play well in Toronto-Centre, but these are real people who can no longer live in a region their ancestors have called home for centuries. You need to provide security as well as shelter if you truly want to help.
Next, repealing C-51 is probably more paramount than meets the eye, simply because it is widely acknowledged that you strategically chose to vote for the bill in case there was another terror attack. While this is incredibly cynical, and simply supports the worst rumors about your party spread by Harperites everywhere, it can be technically forgiven if C-51 is discarded quickly.
And lastly, don't forget to blatantly ignore Wynne and her crew of unprincipled operatives in command of the doomed ship called "Red Ink Ontario."
Your own father set a precedent for this in the way he stepped over the home government of Quebec, and instead appealed to the people directly - the spot where Liberal support actually rests. In fact, the more you ignore Liberal insiders, the better positioned with voters who hate them you'll be for the next federal election.
Moving on, the list of do's require very little explanation.
Do get your proposed electoral and senate reform committees off the ground immediately, since the longer you wait, the more likely it will become the pet project of the worst of your advisors and operatives. Just as for the NDP in Alberta, the clock is ticking and voters are fickle.
Do make sure you spend stimulus outside of your newly won and more urban ridings, as there are both actual and potential supporters who are looking for work. It really is a win-win, as there is still plenty of infrastructure that needs to be improved here in the West, and given shifting demographics, there are seats to gain too. Also, it's more honest vote buying than tax credits.
Do act on the Truth and Reconciliation Committee's recommendations.
But you would do well to follow your father's example here again and make the end of the racist, outdated Indian Act the ultimate goal.
And finally, if you are going to legalize marijuana, be 21st century about it and try to create a regime where bud is locally sourced, grown and taxed.
I don't partake of the stuff, but whatever I think of pot and its effects, the fact of the matter is that both federal and provincial governments are notorious for getting as much money from controlled substances as possible and keeping the money all to themselves.
If we must have intrusive sin taxes, at least let them go to local initiatives.
Mr. Trudeau, the future of this country really is in your hands.
Politically, you and I are very different, but we agree on one crucial point: Canada is not as great as it could be.
You have been granted a mandate no one could have predicted. It's in your interest to be bold and use it well.
