What do you think about the Canadian Senate, Equalization Payments, United Nations, Citizenship and Immigration, Human Rights Tribunal, Coastal Tanker ban, Carbon Tax, Official Languages Act, CBC?

Three days ago, John Feldsted, a regular contributor of opinion commentaries to this blogsite, emailed a 22-question survey to me. He stated that no candidate appearing on our doorstep in October’s federal election. is likely to ask them, because as he stated, “They fear your answers.”

I’ve spent the past couple of days thinking about the questions, and answers that would be a fit for me – you can see them below.  They cover a broad spectrum, and it will be interesting to see what the compiled answers turn out to be.

I have included John’s email address at the bottom of this, so feel free to complete the questionnaire, and forward your answers as well.

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1.   Should we abolish the monarchy in Canada?  ... No, it is part of our heritage

2.   Should we change the Citizenship and Immigration Act to prohibit dual citizenship?  ... Yes.  People should either want to be Canadian, or not

3.   Should we stop the flow of illegal migrants into Canada?  ... Yes

4.   Should we abolish Human Rights Tribunals and have courts deal with complaints?  ... No

5.   Should we abolish the Senate?  ... my preference would be NO, however I think it should have an equal number of senators, based on the population of their province.  That said, I believe the Maritime provinces should be one region, as should Northern Canada

6.   Should we repeal section 318(2) of the Criminal Code regarding hate speech?  ... I am unsure on this question.  This section provides two options for punishment.  The first being that ‘an individual found guilty of an indictable offense would be liable for a term not exceeding two years’ – or second ‘an offense punishable on summary conviction’.  I think punishment should fit the degree of the crime, in which case perhaps only option number two should be required?

7.   Should we require that 70% of provinces representing at least 50% of the population agree to the calculation formula for equalization payments?  ... Yes – no additional comment required

8.   Should laws respecting oil tanker traffic on the west coast apply to all coastal areas?  ... Yes.  This coastal tanker ban on coastal BC is little more than political payback to enviro’s who helped elect Justin Trudeau’s Liberals in 2015, in the hopes they do so again in 2019.  There is no reason there should be a ban or the West Coast, if it doesn’t also apply to the East Coast -- the same conditions apply.

9.   Should federal carbon taxes by applied to imported petroleum products?  ... Yes ... and the tax applied should be higher.  Most oil shipped by tanker to the East Coast, comes from countries with lack to little enviro protection.  It is more than unfair it should arrive in our country without the same taxes applied.  Canadian oil is the cleanest in the world, and yet it has heavy taxes as though it is somehow a poison

10.Should our governments be prohibited from contributing to charities?  ... Yes 

11.Should we continue to provide financial aid to foreign nations and organizations?  ... Yes; however, the mandate to provide should be tightened up.  We shouldn't be sending money to dictatorship that take most of the financial aid and tuck it away in hidden bank accounts, leaving little to actually provide aid to citizens.  Financial aid should be tied to measurable markers of improving the health and safety of citizens of the country receiving it

12.Should we continue to contribute billion$ to the United Nations? ... No.  The UN has become of the most toothless organizations in the world, with countries run be dictatorships being allowed on a multitude of panels that require real democracy. The UN should get back to protecting countries being over-run by neighbouring countries, using military action when needed --- providing humanitarian care for countries suffering from natural disasters – etc.

13.Should we rescind the Official Languages Act? ... No

14.Should we reinstate the death penalty for murder?  ... Yes, but for defined reasons (ie murder / rape of a child ... murder of police officer ... ethnic hate murders ... etc)

15.Should we support western provinces if they elect to leave Canada?  ... Yes
 

16.Should we privatize the CBC?  ... No. That said, the CBC should get out of live streaming of specialty music channels – there are enough private companies doing this ... not counting News programing, the majority of programs aired should be Canadian produced ...

17.Should we make the promotion of foreign legal systems unlawful in Canada?  ... an emphatic Yes

18.Should we insist that all immigrants actively assimilate into our society?  Assimilate is such a harsh word (we are the Borg – resistance is futile).  I would prefer that when immigrants arrive, they should be required to take a program or workshop that provide information on the history of our country (including the role migrants played in building our nation), along with the role, rights, and obligations of citizens in a democracy.  This would be separate from requirements for Citizenship

19.Should we deport residents who have not assimilated within a five-year span?  .... No.  Who is going to determine who has and who hasn't?  What degree of assimilation would be needed?  This would provide too much room for political interference

20.Should we eliminate deducting union dues from taxable income?  ... No, but paying them should not be mandatory

21.Should we decertify labour unions who engage in political activity?  ... No however they should lose their non-profit status (if they have that?) ... or union members should not be allowed to declare as tax deduction

22.Should we decertify non-profit organizations who receive foreign funding? ... Yes 

The questionnaire John sent out only required a simple Yes or No.  With that in

mind, don’t feel the need to provide answers --- I have done this simply to hopefully provoke thoughtful what reflection on how and why you might want to answer the above questions.

Those who wish can return completed surveys to jfeldsted@shaw.ca with the subject line Political Survey.

He has indicated that he will ... try to compile a summary of answers during the summer if time permits. 

AND FINALLY .... if you care to share any of the thoughts you might have on any of the questions being asked by John Feldsted, please take a moment to share them in the Comments Section below.