Madam Speaker, I am splitting my time.
The role of government is to provide a level of social order and progress that we cannot individually provide for ourselves. Canadians have expectations from government but they also have needs. Therefore the government's throne speech in view of this reasonable standard is a disappointment, especially from a justice system perspective.
It has been a long voyage for society, from tribalism to this Canadian Parliament. We indeed have accomplishments in Canada. We have built a country out of a harsh but bountiful land. However nation building is a passage, not an arrival. Canada must continue to live, renew and flourish. Canada is our home and our community but we just cannot take from it. We must give back. We must respect and nurture what has given us life by regarding basic principles.
Unfortunately a downward spiral of cynicism has gripped many. They have given up on politicians because they have come to believe that average Canadians are too powerless to change anything as large, amorphous and detached as the way things are done in political Canada.
In the current context of this House, the throne speech is said to outline the vision of the new government. However our society needs both sustenance and a hope to go forward. The throne speech sadly is a mere chart for interim crew duty on the ship of state and not a bold course for our ship to sail through the winds of change. The Liberals have charted a course with their statement. If it is a vision at all, it looks like we are sailing into the fog with faulty forecasts, with a ship they have not maintained and with an ill-prepared crew. The bunch cannot be trusted.
Canadian democracy as imperfect as it is has nominated this Liberal crew and they have now tried to reassure us in this throne speech that we are on a voyage somewhere.
There is a proverb that says that where there is no vision, the people perish, but he that keepeth the law, happy is he. Where there is no vision, the people get out of hand; blessed are they who keep the precept. Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; but blessed is he who keeps the law. Another proverb says that righteousness exalteth the nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.
I have risen to respond to the throne speech because I care deeply about our country and I despair at the kind of leadership and competence observed from the government. Many Canadians watching here today do not feel very good about politics. They have become very cynical about politicians and the process of elections. They do not know who they can trust.
However, I say that we can launch out, guided by love for our country, our community and a sincere concern for our neighbour. Joined together for the common good, we can discover what we can give to build this country rather than just calculate what we can get from the government which are really just other taxpayers.
One thing is for sure. If we in this House keep doing what we are doing, we are going to just keep getting what we are getting. It could be so much better.
Canadians do not ask for the impossible. They have reasonable expectations for their representatives. Although historical deference to Parliament is gone, Canadians basically expect three things: they want members of Parliament simply to be honest, to be competent and to have some leadership qualities to inspire. It is basic principles that matter, for by living by principles and receiving the humility that comes from them, we are empowered to learn from our history, act with confidence in the present and have vision for the future.
First we want our politicians to be honest. We want leaders to be forthright and have character. We want to be able to believe and trust what we hear. It has been said that character is what carries a person beyond adversity to the finish after the initial emotional reasons for doing the right things have faded.
Canadians deeply value honesty. Integrity in political life must come first. Therefore on this point do the Liberals have any integrity left in view of what they did to the Somalia inquiry?
Second, Canadians want competence. We want politicians who are qualified to look after our national affairs and to have depth of wisdom and a commitment to principles.
When there are no easy answers forthcoming on the issue of the day, it has been said that federal politics is conflict resolution at the national level but it is also taking care of the business of the country in a wise manner for the long term welfare of future generations, not short term special interests or for only those who currently have the inside track.
We have much incompetence in government. Therefore we need our leaders to be competent, to be able to get Canadians to pull together and then wisely administer. However, on the topic of competent governance, we have a prime minister who has never given the country a balanced budget or had the courage to stem the rising tide of hurtful taxation. And now he wants to lead a spending charge again. Some competence, some leader.
In Canada the crime rate is too high. Victims are still not paramount in law and the Young Offenders Act remains in disrepute with the public and the provinces only have the broken promises of YOA funding. Tragic 745 hearings continue to tear communities apart. Our youth are enticed through a wide open legal door into prostitution and the supply of dangerous drugs has not been stemmed. Immigration fails to protect our borders and Canada is embarrassed before the world with the existence of the slavery pipeline. Federal jails cannot seem to hold dangerous offenders and we cannot even prosecute war criminals. That is the sorry Liberal administrative record. They are not competent.
Third, Canadians desire real leadership. We need inspiration and leaders who can lift us up. We need real leaders who can look beyond today and inspire us with a vision of substance of a better Canada, with hope and real belief that we can do so much better than what we have politically. After hearing the feel good banalities of the throne speech, does any Canadian really feel inspired and believe that we are being wisely led or being protected from the criminal and given community peace? Public acceptance for what the courts give is at an all time low.
However, there is a reformist alternative of democratic free market principles that rigorously defends equality of opportunity, denies discrimination in any form to keep a foothold and trusts the common sense of average Canadians to do what is right and just for the country.
Reformers say the ultimate authority of the government rests in the people and full democratic power should be given to everyone. The people are competent. Average Canadians can be trusted to do what is right for the country if they are told the complete truth and are finally given real political power. Reformers strive for responsible and accountable government rather than merely the current representative government.
I come back to three things in respect of vision for the country, honesty, competence and leadership. I am part of an honest, sincere group of colleagues who are competent and ready to govern and who are ready to inspire to take this country to a new level of democratic freedom, justice and social and economic prosperity.
On leadership, I remind my colleagues in the House that there is a vision of a new Canada. It is an exciting vision of a country that can finally become fully democratic and forever put aside the injustices from the old line political parties. We have a vision of a new Canada. Someday it will voters themselves who will decide how our country is run rather than four or five year dictatorships. Someday all Canadians will truly be equal when there are no more special deals for categories, groups and insiders.
Someday the justice system will represent mainstream Canadian values where we protect our children and properly denounce discrimination and violence. Someday the federal government will be an enabler rather than an oppressive tax taker. We can lead the way from the scourge of unemployment, for a good crime prevention program is low unemployment.
Someday we will shape a federation that is attractive enough for the discontented who say they want to separate to want to stay be fulfilled, lest they are left behind our dynamic and yet diverse society.
I say we can protect our children from the criminal. We can support those who need our help, not with another handout but with a hand up. We can finally say to the world community that Canada is a haven of freedom where we can be secure in our homes and have every opportunity to be fully engaged in the building of our national home. We can make our country fit for heroes to live in.
Our opposition benches will do their part to lead us to that new Canada. We will compliment the wise government policy, criticize the bad and propose constructive alternatives.
In conclusion, I say that the vision for the national voyage must be based on honesty, competence and leadership. May the legislation which flows from the government be honestly presented. May the government administer with the highest standards, guided by real accountability measures, and may the prime minister find himself and begin to lead, for whatever enlarges hope will exalt courage, for if he faints from these principles the nation knows that we on this side of the House are more than ready.
