The CGRC’s mandate isn’t to be just another academic institute shining democracy’s spotlight of transparency on everything dysfunctional about Canadian governance on the federal, provincial and municipal levels. It’s a component of a multi-perspectival approach to meaningful and lasting reform and full rule of law accountability.
Strategizing how to effect this critically necessary process begins with edification. In the ‘Objective’ section is posted the results of five years of comprehensive research revealing the true nature of our political system and economy, which are far from being democratic and free market.
Next comes dissemination of this information and evidence to those who can use it to effect wide ranging change not just within their spheres of influence. Several networks of recipients are being contacted and synergized in a way that crisscross Canada in a most unique and empowering way.
The third stage involves formally entering the political arena, hitherto the exclusive and monopolized domain of four major parties. The CGRC is collaborating with the soon-to-be registered Canadian Citizens Party which will introduce itself as the only genuine source of structural change - fixing that which has been surreptitiously gamed for the benefit of not the 1%, but rather the 0.0001% - that cluster of super rich and powerful individuals, families and corporations who’ve dominated policy formation and executive decision-making for generations.
Are Canadians ready for something better than what’s been experienced for decades? The statistics are undeniable. The 2012 Manning Centre Barometer of how Canadians view politicians confirms the view something substantial must be done to fix government dysfunctionalities:
- 77% hold somewhat or very unfavourable feelings towards politicians
- 58% believe politicians are unprincipled
- 77% said politicians are untruthful
- 59% are of the view politicians are incompetent
- 90% stated politicians are more concerned with money than people, and
- 76% think politicians are “out of touch” with daily realities
It’s not a stretch to say governance, the vitality and strength of the economy and our standard of living will continue to deteriorate if nothing historic is achieved.
There are multiple interconnecting hurricane force headwinds facing Canadians and especially the next generation. Baby boomers are retiring in droves, putting an insurmountable strain on healthcare resources because of a major decline in the size of the workforce and reducing tax receipts. Productivity has been plummeting for two decades, and will continue, which prevents better wealth generation across most sectors and industries. Plus there's no building of a 21st century economy. Our public infrastructure is crumbling. The national and provincial debts are not being serviced properly. And our country has been the victim of ‘prosperity theft’ in the trillions for a quarter century and that will persist if the status quo remains intact.
All these realities, in combination, are significantly problematic. The CGRC and CCP offer an alternative future.
