Thoughts on BC Politics and More

Dominic Cardy, leader of the Canadian Future Party In Davos, we witnessed a moment that tells us as much about our global predicament as about the profound choices facing Canada and the free world.  Prime Minister Carney’s address to the World Economic Forum was remarkable, chiefly because he did what too many leaders refuse to do. He acknowledged bluntly that the old world order is gone. As he put it, we are living through “a rupture, not a transition” in international politics, an era where the rules that once constrained great powers no longer hold, and a harsher geopolitical reality is upon us. This observation is obvious to anyone paying attention.  The certainties of the last 75 years are dissolving under the weight of rising autocracies, shifting alliances, and economic coercion practiced as statecraft. Where Carney was incisive, and where many of his predecessors were timid, was in naming the problem. The rules-based system of the post-Cold War era is eroding, leaving ...

This past week, too much of our political speech has slid from protected political speech to straight up treason. With our independence under threat, we must wake up from our childish slumber, protected first by Mother Britain, who’s since moved on, and now our American dad has gotten into the pill bottles and is believing everything he reads on Truth Social. It’s time for us to grow up.   Like most Canadians, I was relieved when Prime Minister Carney took a hard line with President Trump. Demanding that the United States treat our country and its leaders with, if not actual respect, at least the show of respect, helps smooth over the cracks and potholes that appear in diplomatic relations.   At least, it did in the days when diplomacy meant embassies and ministers, not Twitter and social media influencers.   But it’s clear that the drive towards the annexation of Canada is underway. The arbitrary and reality-unmoored trade war the United States began with Canada and Mexi...

  CLICK HERE for video of the campaign launch for the Canadian Future Party, with leader Dominic Cardy

It is ever clearer that Donald Trump wants his first months in office to unfold like a blitzkrieg, and that Canada, already in his line of fire, increasingly figures in his battle plans. If we are serious about defending ourselves against that assault, we need to demonstrate that the strengths of Canada include the institutional capacity of our parliamentary system, democratic culture, and shared values. A government of Canadian unity and resolve can put us on the right path. A grand coalition of political rivals, unified to meet the threat head-on ... CLICK HERE for the full story     NOTE ... this idea was also proposed by Canadian Future Party leader Dominic Cardy, one week ago. Canada Needs Unity Not Chaos At This Time of Crisis

DOMINIC CARDY, Interim leader, Canadian Future Party Brian Mulroney changed my mind. I turned eighteen just before the Free Trade election of 1988. I was weighed down with a suspicion of anything American, and I was on the left: opposing Mr. Mulroney was my obvious position. The more I paid attention to the campaign, the more Mr. Mulroney convinced me. His arguments about free trade were forward-looking; his arguments about the values behind free trade forced me to consider where the money to support our social programs would come from. Since then, my faith in free trade between free peoples has only grown stronger. When was the last time a politician changed your mind about something important? With his power to communicate complicated ideas in simple terms Brian Mulroney could have been a demagogue. Instead, he spent his political capital on attempted transformation after transformation. Free trade followed by Meech Lake, when that failed the Charlottetown Accord, and th...

  I recently read Jamie Watt’s book entitled “ What I Wish I Said - Confessions of a Columnist ”. It’s an excellent collection of columns he’s written for the Toronto Star over the past five years, with extremely honest, refreshing and candid takes looking back on his work.   Jamie wrote a column on January 5th of this year that I think is extremely noteworthy, looking back through the lens of our activities at that time with Centre Ice. The title of the column was “ In 2023, Canadians Deserve a Grand Vision from our Political Leaders” .   At the time that column was published,  Centre Ice  had been around for nearly 10 months. We had quickly evolved from a  Conservative  platform to one that represented a wider scope of  Canadian  voices. And so we changed our name to reflect that.   We were getting ready for the third of our three policy conferences that attracted speakers and attendees from all three major federal politi...

  I was asked about the Canadian Future Party’s policy on immigration, and related plans. We have a massive shortage of workers, which is increasing as Baby Boomers age. Therefore, we propose: (1) Open stream for tradespeople and other immigrants ready to get trades training, to deal with shortage in the construction industry (2) expand trades programs across Canada, with federal support; (3) begin a national dialogue on Canada’s identity and values, to encourage social cohesion and creation of an inclusive civic nationalism; (4) work with medical societies, provinces and others to ensure medically trained immigrants are on a path to practice within three months of arriving; (5) allow provinces greater control over immigration, reflecting provincial needs and challenges. That’s where we are for now! Our Canadian Future https://www.ourcanadianfuture.ca   CLICK HERE to get involved

I’d like to thank you and all our  Centre Ice Canadians  supporters for three significant accomplishments: 1. “Thank you!”  for the strong support of Advisory Council Chair  Dominic Cardy’s   announcement last week  that he’s leading a group that is launching  The Canadian Future Party.  If you’d like to learn more and get involved, please  click here. 2. “Thank you!”  for the strong fundraising support over these past few weeks. We have now  raised the full $30K  required to pay the final amount owing on the national survey that was a key factor in the decision to move ahead with the formation of a new party.  As you’ll see further below, to fully wind up our efforts we’ll need to raise a final $3,500 for our last remaining legal and accounting fees - if you can help with that please  Donate Here.      3. “Thank you!”  for your huge support over the past 18 months that has allowed us ...

  It’s that time. We need to know. What do you think:    Does Canada need a new federal political party ?   Here at Centre Ice Canadians, we have spent the last six months or so thinking about that question and asking for your thoughts. During that time, we have put together, driven by the input from folks on this email list, a draft policy framework  and a constitution. We have done the behind-the-scenes work so we can move ahead - if that is the right decision to make.   We have invested the time and money to explore the idea. Thank you to everyone who helped with both – and please help our volunteer team offset costs with a donation to cover our research and admin costs .   We have heard the pros and cons of starting a new party. There is no question it’s a huge project. No question that there is absolutely no guarantee of success.   Here’s how I see it. There’s only one reason to start a new party: if existing parties don’t offer ser...