Quitting smoking, losing weight, doing more sport… Traditional New Year’s resolutions often fade after a few weeks. Never mind, we have prepared a dozen for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to start 2023 on the right foot.
1 – Resist the smell of elections
In December, Justin Trudeau won his first real duel against Pierre Poilievre, during the by-elections in Mississauga-Lakeshore. But above all, that shouldn’t give him the idea of calling Canadians to the polls before the Conservatives have time to realign their strategy. Elections in 2023? No thanks ! The agreement with the NDP allows the Liberals to keep power until 2025. When Jagmeet Singh threatens to tear it up, he mainly does political theater to come out of the shadows. Go on governing. Point.
2 – Peace in the world, peace in Ukraine
Peace in the world. We wish each other every year… and even more so with the war that is ravaging Ukraine and shaking up global geopolitics. On the economic level, we must review our relations with dictatorships like Russia and China, which can use our economic dependence against us. On the military level, we must regain our strength. With military spending at 1.3% of GDP, well below the level of 2% recommended by NATO, Canada looks like a dunce.
3 – Defend French, beyond fine words
It’s dragging on, it’s dragging on this project to reform the Official Languages Act which is in its second version. It was hoped that he would be adopted before Christmas. But the Conservatives have asked a lot of questions and the Bloc wants to take its time to align it with Bill 96 in Quebec. So, still nothing. It really should unblock it, because after the bill, it will then be necessary to write the regulations. In the meantime, it is the French who are the losers.
4 – Money for health
During the last election, Justin Trudeau had promised billions to the provinces which have been demanding more money for health care for years. With the aging of the population, there is no doubt that they will need it. We would like Ottawa to finally table a quantified offer, instead of lecturing the provinces and blocking discussions by first talking about the conditions that would come with this money. If nothing is announced between now and the spring budget, disappointed citizens are likely to blame the Prime Minister for it.
5 – Deliver us our passport, name of God!
Do not adjust your device. You are not in the madhouse of Asterix, but in the federal government which is entangled in the provision of services to the population. We see it with the passports that still take many months to be delivered, keeping Canadians prisoners of their borders. It’s insane. It is shameful. A solution must be found before next summer, when the expiry of the first passports issued for 10 years will create extra work.
6 – Adjust the shot for firearms
Last spring, the Trudeau government tabled Bill C-21 to ban assault weapons, and so much the better. Except that at midnight minus one, he slipped a “small” amendment of 478 pages which raises fears that certain hunting weapons are also targeted. Let us quickly resolve this confusion which has caused the hunters, supported by the Conservatives, and the aboriginal communities, who have the ear of the NDP, to jump.
7 – Bring the web giants to heel
After several years of waiting, will we finally see Ottawa get the web giants back in line in 2023? Let’s hope so. Our cultural milieu is in dire need of a change in the Broadcasting Act to protect our culture against the steamroller of foreign multinationals. And our media, which are falling one after the other, must be able to negotiate on equal terms with Google and Facebook. Enough, Wild West!
8 – A commission to clean up sport
The scandals plaguing Hockey Canada are just the tree hiding the forest. Sexual, physical and psychological abuse poisons many other sports such as water polo, boxing, gymnastics, artistic swimming, alpine skiing… In 2023, Canada is ripe for a national commission to break the omerta sports federations and to overcome the toxic culture in which our young athletes live.
9 – No pace, this censorship!
Ottawa is closed like an oyster. Good luck to citizens or the media who make an access to information request. The delays are ridiculously long, the documents submitted are largely redacted. Last year, the Information Commissioner received 7,000 complaints, a jump of 70%. Clearly, the transparency of federal institutions took a hit under the Liberals. A democratic country deserves better.
10 – And you?
And you? What would you put on Justin Trudeau’s list of resolutions? Dear readers, write to us. Your opinion captivates us and feeds our Debates section. With that, we wish you, on behalf of The Pressan excellent year 2023.