Executive Summary
Rohan’s Green Deal provides a step by step framework in transforming Canada into a competitive economic future that saves our people and environment. The framework places a large emphasis on technological development, a just transition plan, the use of scientific data and evidence based research. It is important to note that while this framework is a step-by-step approach, many of these ‘Sections’ can be done simultaneously.
The plan advocates for sustainability. This means that every aspect of our lives is interconnected – in other words, the environment impacts our public transit, our approach to privacy, education, and vice versa.
This plan advocates for collaboration between the private and public sectors to ensure a united Canada.
Rohan’s Green Deal is divided into 2 Parts. The first part is The Green Framework which outlines the steps to achieve an innovative and profitable green economy. The second part, Beyond the Green shows how we can take our savings and profits from the Green Economy to further benefit our lives.
Part 1: The Green Framework
This part outlines how Canada should progress on its green path to ensure more job opportunities, cleaner waters, and become a world leader in sustainability.
Section 1: The Experts
Canada is a nation that is proudly built on diversity, heritage, and immigration. If Canada is to compete in a green economy that will be worth hundreds of billions of dollars, then it needs to be done through the consultations of our best experts.
- Find the best Canadian experts that reflect our country’s diverse population
- a) Economists
- b) Health Care Workers
- c) Former Business Executives and Innovators in the following industries:
- i)Manufacturing
- ii)Oil and Gas (as Canada transitions to a green economy, their use will be consultants for an energy strategy)
- iii) Renewables
- iv) Restaurants and Services
- v) Information Technology
- vi) Science and Research
- vii) Real Estate
- viii) Public Transportation
- ix) Unions
- x) Education and other relevant industries
- d) The experts collected must include vulnerable populations including those of colour, women, the disabled, and Indigenous peoples.
- If Canada is lacking in any of these areas, then we send word to influential and strong experts across the globe.
- Once we collect said experts, the goal should be to establish a consultation committee/group that works with the three levels of government and the private sector to advise the government on effective climate change and green policy, and how to best carry it out.
- We will ensure that no group is weak enough to communicate their perspective.
- The purpose of the CCC (Canadian Climate Committee) is to advise the government on how to best carry out their environmental objectives, including maintaining, advancing, and protecting a green economy.
- The CCC can be expanded and therefore expanded into several sub-committees as Canada continues our green pathway.
- All members must sign a Conflict of Interest agreement.
- To ensure public confidence, all discussion will made public except matters relating to National Security in which a full government statement can be issued explaining the purpose. Since the CCC plays a large responsibility to the public, the CCC is always accountable to the public first.
Section 2: The Backbones of the Green Economy
The transition to a Green Economy has to occur in multiple steps. It cannot happen overnight, it requires multiple background steps to ensure full potential. We are already at 82% renewable energy in Canada. We already have a head start.
2.1 Retrofitting our Homes and Energy
- One of our largest emitters in Canada is electricity (10%). One way that it can be significantly reduced is if Canada launches a massive energy efficiency retrofit of all buildings. Evidence informs us that this will create at least 4 million jobs.
- a) The expected cost is 50 billion dollars. This can be done by having the CCC develop a policy that unites the government and banks to provide incentives, zero-interest loans and grants, rebates, and other policy to ensure cost efficiency.
- b) However, not only would this result in many jobs, but also larger economic benefits. For one, it can raise GDP anywhere from 81 billion to 314 billion dollars. Also, building owners and other relevant stockholders will save 36 billion. This means the project only costs 15 billion
- c) This includes data centres that can power services such as Netflix since they can save money via renewables.
- Another way we can improve energy efficiency in Canada without much work is taking advantage of Alberta’s 90,000 orphaned oil wells. Alberta can take advantage of this dead ‘infrastructure’ to convert said wells into renewable energy projects, from carbon capture to solar, geothermal, and more. This will create 175 jobs per well (so over 15 million). This will also save Canada money rom its ever expanding annual expense of 1.2 billion for air pollution. This can also kickstart Alberta’s transition to renewable energy production.
- Foster and provide incentives for green tech companies to build more renewable energy that is capable of driving cities, homes, our cars, and even big data centres like Netflix. This also includes providing greater incentives to develop innovative solutions such as SMRS Nuclear tech, including end of use re-purposing for the North (where weather is very different) and exporting to the world.
- a) If businesses decide to use over-seas datacenter they get tax breaks and incentives if they use a data centre that has at least 50% renewable energy.
2.2: Fostering Innovation and Creativity
A Green transition plan needs innovation and creativity. An American study from 2019 found that it brings at least 66% more jobs than the fossil fuel industry; for the sake of our economy, it must be done in a safe and just manner (fn). Modelled on the MaRS Toronto centre for innovation, there is a need for a centre for sustainability that puts capita and innovation together.
2.2.1: Mars For Environment (MFE)
- Have the CCC work with the government to establish a hub that is fostered to developing replacements and green technology.
- For instance, the CCC can work with the government to set deadlines for bans on certain plastic to further incentivize businesses to develop alternatives.
- This hub (MaRS for Environment – MFE) will work with the government and private sector to provide similar type (or different) incentives and programs to develop said products, and then these products can be sold on the free market.
- Programs and incentives can also be given to green oriented startups.
- Key Components
- Part of the investment will ensure that Canada has green manufacturing jobs, recycling jobs, resource extraction jobs for green tech, and more to ensure more products are made in Canada. This ensures more jobs another ensures our products are amongst the greenest in the world, therefore placing more faith in the Canadian economy.
- A big emphasis should be fostering the developing renewable energy in oil rich provinces.
- Part of the investment will ensure that Canada has green manufacturing jobs, recycling jobs, resource extraction jobs for green tech, and more to ensure more products are made in Canada. This ensures more jobs another ensures our products are amongst the greenest in the world, therefore placing more faith in the Canadian economy.
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. Housing MFE will likely require adaptative reuse of an existing building; and as such, listed below are steps to ensure optimum implementation:
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Preserve the building’s exterior character. This minimizes MFE’s overall environmental footprint.
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To ensure maximizing economic and environmental efficiency, implement the latest HVAC systems including:
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Heating and Cooling
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Air Circulation
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Fresh Air Intake
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Install triple-pane krypton filled thermal windows. The benefit is that the spaces between the panes are filled with gas to slow heat transfer through the window. Gas is preferable to air since it contains less moisture, thereby significantly reducing the cloudiness often seen in windows. Krypton is a preferable gas since it is extremely energy efficient and non-toxic.
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An open-concept interior easily facilitates adapting the space to future needs with minimal waste.
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Install charging stations and make the building bike friendly.
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Explore feasibility of a green roof, which offers significant benefits including:
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Protecting roofing material from external weather conditions such as the sun, rain, wind, and temperature fluctuations. In turn, this can double or triple the roof’s lifespan up to 60 years
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Acts as a sound barrier, thereby providing a quieter working environment for developing climate solutions and minimizing disturbance to the general population.
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Acts as a natural fire-resistant layer.
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Use solar panels as primary electricity source.
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Purchase Bullfrog (or equivalent) services to offset conventional energy use. However, the aim should be to achieve net-zero emissions.
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Install rainwater collection and storage systems for the purposes of using said collected water for irrigation purposes.
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Explore options to make a net-zero interior design.
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Introduce a mandatory separation system for recycling, waste and compost.
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2.2.2: Additional Investments
- Another part of the investment should include integration of Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Things, and 5G. These components are critical to green tech, as evidenced by numerous innovative products – such as those shown at CES 2020. To ensure job protection, there will be a continuous training program aimed to protect at risk industry workers to transition to the new industries that it creates.
- a) Invest in circular waste technologies for solar panels, biofuel, nuclear energy and more.
- Invest in Artificial Intelligence, computer science, and other related industries to ensure that Canada has the best R&D and technology in the world. If this means paying for top talent or getting the best equipment from across the globe, or in our own home then we must do so. We need to ensure that the best of the best are fostering innovation and creativity.
- Establish a fund to make investments in trades, apprenticeships, programs, education and other relevant materials that are required for our green economy.
- Advertise and Market to Youth to pursue green jobs.
- Set a mandated transition date for all materials in Canada to be either recycled, repurposed or sent into the supply chain. Our goal is to have a Zero waste society.
Another key component to foster innovation is to provide incentives to foreign investment/companies who promise to create green jobs in Canada.
2.3: Our Ecosystems
The world eco-tourism industry is worth 70 billion USD. However, Canada’s potential to join this industry is at risk. While we are making efforts to clean up our ecosystems, we must ensure that we are going up and not down.
- Continue conservation efforts of our forests and oceans.
- Work with the CCC to establish a plan for cleaning up Lake Erie and Lake Ontario, which are critical to our eco-tourism business
Section 3: Plastics, Technology, Eco-Tourism
Currently, the clean energy economy is only worth 20% of our energy industry, yet it is currently worth about $56 billion in GDP as of 2017. Moreover, its annual growth at 4.8% is outpacing the Canadian economy’s 3.6%; and jobs in clean energy through 2030 have an expected growth rate at 3.4% compared to 0.5% decrease in ‘typical’ energy. These numbers do not even include the electric car industry, which is worth 14 billion, and expected to become worth $24 billion in 2030 with only 48% of all cars expected to be electric. In addition, there are numerous economic benefits in areas such as battery development, sustainable housing, ocean cleanup tools, & R&D. At full capacity, Canada can become a global leader in the emerging green economy – ultimately, a transition that will yield significant benefit to Canada at home and in the world stage.
3.1: Plastics
- Plastics are a public health detriment to our society. There is no question about the troubling amount of micro and nano plastics in our body.
- We need a phased transition from all plastics with the last phase obviously being PPE and other medical supplies.
- Please see 2.2 for how the transition to products would be done. Dates would be set by the CCC and government.
- Require all plastic imports from other countries in accordance to the phased targets to be charged tariffs and provide incentives to those with sustainability in mind.
- Currently, we throw away $ 7.8 billion annually in plastics (87%). Yet a zero-waste economy could create as much as 30 times more jobs.
- Establish a nationwide supply chain used to repair and reuse our current supply of plastics for recirculation into the economy. For unrecoverable plastics, explore alternative uses such as energy conversion.
- Invest in further developing mechanical, chemical recycling and waste-energy systems.
- Given that many of the plastics in Canadian landfills are from other countries, MFE can offer training and certification for foreign businesses interested in selling in Canada and being a part of our zero-plastic-waste economy. This ensures that Canadian businesses and products remain competitive.
- Require all plastic imports from other countries in accordance with the phased targets to be charged tariffs and provide incentives to those with sustainability in mind.
- Develop waste-based energy systems that do not involve the emission of heavy metals, dioxins, and furans. Alternatively, the MFE could be used to develop emissions capturing technologies.
- The advent of AI-based recycling sorters should encourage further investment in such technologies on a commercially viable scale. Studies note that some re-cycling efforts are impeded by the pigments and additives within plastics. As such, also ensure that the AI sorters will be able to detect and remove such substances.
- To ensure a circular economy, if any of the products are single use such as an advanced version of sustainable cutlery, said products can be converted to electricity and biofuels. Work with CCC, MFE and private sector to accomplish this.
3.2: Mandating a Switch to Electric Cars (Date set by Government working with CCC)
- Electric Cars have the potential to transform the Canadian economy. Each electric car saves $7500. Assuming that the rate of replacement of an electric car remains the same, Canada could save at least 247 billion dollars.
- To put it in more relatable terms, Electric cars prevent fine particle pollution, a substance emitted from typical cars that is the responsible for the deaths of many every year. A study examining its impact in New York found that fine particle pollution causes over 300 hospitalizations and 200 deaths every year.
- Electric cars, however have so much more potential. Canada has a long lasting legacy of manufacturing cars. Taking advantage of this, along with the CCC and the MFE, Canada can help transform and retrofit abandoned buildings, factories, and similar into green manufacturing, recycling and other related industries that ensure Canadian jobs.
- One of the components is lithium ion. Rather than getting lithium ion from countries with poor ecological footprints or from long distances, we can take advantage of Canada’s oil industry by transitioning them to lithium ion production and extraction.
- The aim should be for a just, but also a relatively quick transition to electric cars. The CCC can work with the government to ensure a good date for the end of the transition period.
- During the transition, the CCC can work with MFE to commercialize the recently discovered technology that converts lithium waste to powerful reserve power.
- Invest in filling Canada with super-charging stations. Work with the CCC and the car industry to develop a universal charging standard to encourage easy adaptability and second-hand market.
- To ensure that Canadian electric cars are not just made for us, but set an example for the rest of the world, we can sell our parts to abroad companies and countries around the world. By doing this, Canada starts and becomes an instant leader in green manufacturing.
3.2.1: Tech Investment
- Electric cars, while great, currently rely on lithium ion batteries. While electric cars have a low footprint, the footprint of the lithium ion by itself is significantly damaging.
- Work with MFE to develop and commercialize graphene battery technology. Graphene is cheap, abundant, and more powerful. We can easily isolate and obtain graphene through carbon-sequestering technology. This technology can not only work for cars, but for smartphones, headphones, speakers, and more.
- Provide training and transition programs for the impacted oil and gas industry workers.
- Use the Internet of Things and AI to accelerate fully autonomous driving that is fully controlled on the grid. This ensures fuel efficiency and maximizes safety in ways that humans cannot.
3.3: Eco-Tourism
- Foster the development of eco-tourism startups and programs within Canada
- Provide incentives to international travellers to come to Canada for eco-tourism.
- Prioritize the creation of green space, parks, and centres in urban areas to foster jobs and stimulate our tourism. The determinants and other related factors can be decided with by government with CCC consultation.
Section 4: The Rest of Oil
Canada has the responsibility to balance realistically help the world transition away from coal, but also kickstart an international transition to renewables. Therefore, while Canada’s green transition is underway, our oil and gas can be sold around the world. However, as we transition to clean living, we can replace the exportation of said oil and gas for renewables and clean tech.
For example: Suppose X amount of Oil and Gas exported is used for electric cars. Once Canada’s full transition to electric cars is completed and booming, we can start to slowly stop selling said amount of oil and gas to the world, and replace said exportation for the green alternatives. Since Canada’s economy will already benefit from a green economy and incur greater savings, profits from international sales can surge.
At this point, a mandated transition point must be set to transition Canada to 100% renewables.
Section 5: Transit and Airplanes
5.1: Transit
5.1.1: Public Transport
- Public Transport is vital to Canada. From the local transit system such as the TTC to the large scale Via Rail which gets us from coast to coast.
- However, our transit system is largely inconsistent. For instance, Vancouver’s transit system is the best in North America; however, the TTC is known as an over-crowded nightmare, and Via Rail is fiddled with inefficiencies and delays. Public transit should be fast and efficient.
- Have the CCC study the best transit systems across the world, including our very own Vancouver. Consult experts to determine the best plan since a better public transit means that Canada can be truly connected.
- Work with the MFE to convert and electrify (to graphene) old and new public transit systems.
5.1.2: Industrial Transport
- While delivery and transportation trucks are good for short distances, it is for the extremely long distances that it becomes inefficient and slow.
- If Canada becomes a nationwide green economy, it is obvious that different provinces will specialize in certain areas. For instance, Alberta may likely specialize in the renewable energy development, and Ontario in the manufacturing.
- As such, the problem becomes is how to transport materials from coast-to-coast, province to province, etc.
- Work with the MFE and CCC to award contracts (through bids or some other way) to companies such as Tesla to develop the Canada’s public manufacturing/industrial transportation system, ensuring that the North, Indigenous and rural areas are covered
- a) Example: Transporting manufactured goods to other provinces or food from the rural farm land to cities.
5.2: Airplanes
The aim of this is to work with MFE to develop new biofuels and sustainable fuels for airplanes. Said fuel can be sold to the world.
Section 6: Fashion
The 10-15% decline in the fashion industry during COVID-19 demonstrates that not only is clothing considered ‘trivial’ compared to services such as Netflix and Disney+, but also that the lack of sustainability is damaging them in the long run. In particular, the sustainable clothing industry, including the second hand market has increased dramatically. In Canada, 85% of Canadians participated in the second hand economy which is valued at 28.5 billion. Clothing and accessories made up 1/3 of the second hand economy. By not retooling their products, clothing companies are missing out on a massive market. If these businesses want to survive, they have to go green.
6.1: Fast Fashion
- Fast Fashion: inexpensive clothing rapidly produced to keep up with market trends. Think of H&M or Neiman Marcus. However, COVID-19 has demonstrated that such businesses can easily go bankrupt since not only do they have to maintain physical stores, but they also do not have people interested in their massive inventories.
- “Textile production contributes more to climate change than international aviation and shipping combined, consumes lake-sized volumes of fresh water and creates chemical and plastic pollution. Synthetic fibres are being found in the deep sea, Arctic sea ice, fish and shellfish.”
- In addition, “The Ellen Macarthur Foundation has calculated that more than $500 billion of value is lost each year due to clothing underutilization and the lack of recycling while total greenhouse gas emissions from textiles production amount to 1.2 billion metric tons annually”
- Have the clothing industry work with the MFE, governments, and CCC to develop a new model for clothing. This includes recycling, repurposing, funding the development of sustainable textiles and green manufacturing, and the transitioning to e-commerce.
6.2: Luxury Brands
- To luxury brands, as shallow as it may seem, their entire business is built on exclusivity.
- At the same time, such products, unlike fast fashion are meant to last forever meaning that someone could keep a Chanel purse for a minimum of 15 years.
- Governments with the MFE and CCC can set up a transition for said businesses to a mandated buy-back program in which consumers can trade in their item for a credit to purchase a new product. The ‘old’ product can then be sold as ‘vintage’, at perhaps at a higher price.
- Alternatively, the business could transform the ‘vintage’ product into accessories or other ‘main’ products through re-purposing such as wallets and phone cases.
- However, if the product is relatively new, and therefore cannot be sold as ‘refurbished’ (rather than vintage) since it removes the exclusivity of the brand, the product can still be refurbished into an accessory.
- If these options fail, then the products can then be retooled and re-purposed for general market supply chain. The luxury brands can establish contracts with manufacturers and other relevant parties to ensure that when the materials are separated (etc), they do not bear the logo nor ‘characteristics’ of the brand.
- To encourage sustainability during the short term (and during the transition) incentives and rebates can be given to consumers to sell on the second hand market, therefore promoting sustainability and money circulation.
- Have the clothing industry work with the MFE, governments, and CCC to develop a new model for clothing. This includes recycling, repurposing, funding the development of sustainable textiles and manufacturing, and more.
- This still promotes circularity in the economy without damaging the brand.
Section 7: Agriculture
The pandemic has demonstrated that we need strong food security along with strong environmental protections.
- Ensure our farmers are at the table for programs impacting them
- Work with the MFE to develop clean fertilizer, with a transition mandate in place.
- Develop policies that help facilitate transfer of family farms
- Work with the MFE to develop another transition mandate (with consultation with CCC) to sustainable agriculture techniques which ultimately strengthen climate resiliency.
- Reduce food imports by 1/3 to bring 14 billion lost dollars back to the Canadian economy.
- Requiring the labelling of all food products clearly, including the countries of origin.
- Realizing that since food is becoming more and more scarce especially with the environmental impacts of meat and dairy production, slowly introduce the development of lab-grown food. Promote subsidies and other types of incentives in increasing amount depending on the amount that farmers incorporate vegetables into their crops.
Section 8: Indigenous Communities and Water and Economy
Water is a basic human right, yet it is not granted to one of our most vulnerable populations.
- Most (if not all) Indigenous communities have no access to no fresh water. This is simply unacceptable.
- Incorporate the findings and recommendations of the David Suzuki Foundation’s Reconciling Promises and Reality: Clean Drinking Water for First Nations , John Hopkins University and other experts.
- Ensure that Indigenous peoples are at the table when it comes to improving policy.
- This also includes introducing programs to re-vitalize the Indigenous economy who hold significant environmental knowledge which can be used to bolster Canada’s efforts.
Section 9: 3D Buildings for the North, Low Income Housing, and the World
Cheap and affordable housing will become essential in the future. 3D Printed Housing is innovative, cheap, and affordable.
- 3D printed buildings are in its infancy, but showcase great potential. For instance a 682 square meter (7000 square foot) building was printed in Dubai.
- What makes 3D printing an appealing option is its affordability. In the US, per instance, a typical residential building will cost USD$78 per square foot (9 cents per square meter), whereas a 3D printed one will cost approximately $24 per square foot.
- Again, the government can work with MFE to foster the development and commercialization of 3D Housing. This includes the development of sustainable building materials Contracts can then be awarded to 3D printed housing and buildings that can be used to re-vitalize the North and Low Income Housing.
- Eventually, other countries across the world will need it, especially countries who may be sinking and need low-income housing to rebuild. This is a great economic investment for Canada who can then be ahead of the curve.
- Eventually, for urban areas, a mandate can be made to ensure that all new buildings will be 3D printed.
- Engage in transition for the construction industry to switch to 3D printed industries such as CAD software.
Section 10: Smart Growth
- As urban areas begin to expand, there needs to be an assurance that they incorporate smart growth principles.
- Smart Growth is an expert founded policy that advocates for more green spaces, better public transit, better spaced housing, a circular economy and more.
- It is imperative that to ensure healthy cities in which people can live healthy and longer lives that they can enjoy for generations to come.
Part 2: Beyond the Green
The completion of the green plan will make Canada billions and save Canada billions. In total, Canada will gain trillions of dollars that should be back in its economy. Aside from being in a much stronger economic position, including, significantly better able to pay off our debt, there is so much Canada can do with our savings. Again, many of these steps can be done simultaneously.
Section 11: Health Care
- Create programs and incentives to develop new and innovative PPE in Canada to ensure that we can be self-reliant in times of crisis.
- Place an emphasis on medicine development, research development and similar areas.
- Develop incentives and other programs by consulting with experts to attract expert talent in Canada.
- Consult with experts around the world and in Canada to re-imagine our health care system that fixes our issues with wait times, beds, and infrastructure.
- Prioritize the development of expensive medical technology in Canada to lower costs, and advocate for lower costs of medical technology. Increase incentives for donations to hospitals.
- Implement Parliamentary Committee on Health’s recommendation to include Prescription Drugs in our health plan. As such, consult experts to best implement Universal Pharmacare
- Re-Expanding our Canada Health Accord for the 21st century by prioritizing mental health and rehabilitation services – especially for students and the elderly.
- a) Ban all conversion therapy.
- Uphold Joran’s Principle to prevent discrimination against Indigenous peoples.
- Expand Tele-care and hospital infrastructure and benefits in rural communities.
- Acknowledging, working and training with health care experts to find policies that ensure they are protected against climate change.
- Remove barriers that prevent individuals donating blood that are scientifically false.
- As Canada becomes our own hub for PPE, we can then sell PPE in the world.
Section 12: Systematic Discrimination and Justice
As much as we may hate to admit it in the North, systematic discrimination is rampant in our society. It needs to be addressed.
- Set up independent transparent, public record investigation of systemic racism in government institutions.
- Bring marginalized groups to the table to develop a diverse consultation group to fix systemic racism.
- Make everything about all investigations and discussions public. The investigations should be watched by human rights watchdogs to prevent ‘sweeping it under the rug’.
- Make Residential Schools, Systemic Discrimination, Slavery, Japanese internment, Reconciliation and similar topics a mandatory topic in history/social studies class. Special training should be given.
- Consult with experts to consider implementing the Danish model that focuses on restorative justice except for the worst criminals. Evidence from Scandinavia shows that this model results in a lower re-offending and overall crime rate since rather than being stigmatized, criminals are allowed to re-integrate into society.
- Re-Working law enforcement. Making training longer and mandatory for all aspects of the law and judicial system. Training must include sensitivity training. Re-organizing police funds into community and social programs relating to mental health and similar aspects.
- a) Cleaning up our jury and legal system to ensure that nobody is ever treated like Colten Boushie again.
- Expanding Mental Health services to Indigenous peoples who are victims of generational abuse inflicted by colonial policies. Consult experts to find a sustainable solution that allows them to heal, therefore contributing to the economy.
- Ensure that marginalized and vulnerable communities become a thing of the past by re-examining funding, employment opportunities and projects. Enacting stricter laws for accommodating those with disabilities, being inclusive of people of colour, LGBTQ, and other individuals in public and private environment.
- Make the RCMP accountable to the people. All matters must be made transparent. Ensure that all RCMP are given training in cyber crime and that they are given sensitivity training to wipe out racism.
- Make carding and other profile measures illegal.
- Implement all recommendations given by The Parliamentary Inquiry for the Missing Indigenous Women and Girls.
- Crack down on domestic violence. Ensure all relevant personnel are given training and understand that both men and women can be victims of domestic violence so it encourages both genders to come forward.
- a) Invest in more women’s, male and family shelters including better mental health services.
Section 13: International Relations and Defence
- Prioritize trade with countries who share common interests with Canada such as sustainability.
- Adopt Honourable Conservative MP Erin O-Toole’s proposal to adopt a CANZUK which advocates for a closer relationship with Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. This calls for enhanced defence and security partnerships, developing cyber-warfare programs and intelligence support, and reciprocal freedom to study, live and work for citizens.
- Create a work-study program with India, in which it recognizes India’s rapidly growing economy especially in technology.
- Build up Canada’s cyber-security defence systems to prevent election tampering and interference with our policy
- UN reform. Advocate to make all agencies effective. Work with other countries interested in reform to see why some agencies work well and some do not.
- Go after illegal smuggling from the US to Canada
- Advocate for a legal worldwide ban on AI weapons.
Section 14: Education Reform
Education is our future. Without a strong education system, we are doomed. While a green economy will make many of these policies possible, some of these are likely to be long-term investments to ensure the survival of Canada.
- Eliminate all student debt. This will cost 1.6 billion annually. However, this will ensure that students are incentivized to pursue higher education which is becoming more important in today’s economy. 60% of jobs require university.
- Revitalize Trade schools as a way to educate and train individuals who want to work in aspects of the green economy such as manufacturing.
- Emphasize the importance of liberal arts and business. Writing, research and business skills are essential tools to survive in today’s world.
- Re-vitalize the education system to focus on environmental education, sustainability, and incorporate sustainability into the curriculum. The goal should be to encourage students to be leaders of tomorrow.
- Ensure all schools have sufficient computer access especially with digital technology becoming essential.
- Ensure that schools remain up to date with coursework and curriculum.
- Develop a consultation plan that ensures students with developmental disabilities are able to earn a high school degree and a university/trade school degree so then they feel better able to contribute to society.
- Invest money in individualized and personalized learning, and digital education systems to ensure individuals can supplement their learning with the ways they find best for them
- Re-allocate funding for schools to ensure that all students, especially vulnerable and marginalized communities are not left with run-down schools and/or left behind. Make funding for schools transparent to hold the government accountable. No student should be left behind because no one deserves to be taken advantage of, manipulated, or prevented to work.
- Increase Co-Op and Internship programs in high school.
- To prevent dropouts, develop a program that helps students who face extraordinary circumstances to continue their schooling
- Scrap outdated testing such as the EQAO which cost Ontario taxpayers an annual 40 million. Develop a consultation strategy to find better and more holistic methods of measuring student achievement.
- Re-visit teachers college requirements so teachers are better trained, can be held accountable for their actions, are provided sensitivity training, and are actually teaching well.
- Make digital literacy a requirement.
Section 15: Immigration
Like many developed countries, Canada is facing an aging population, meaning that immigration is vital if we want to sustain our economy. Luckily, there are ways we can accomplish a fairer immigration system.
- As provinces begin specializing in their own form of contributing to the green economy, each province will have their own distinct needs. Thus, giving more authority to provinces to decide which areas that they need re-vitalization.
- Increase private sponsorship percentage of refugees and used saved funds to support good private sponsorship companies. Place special emphasis on individuals fleeing due to political persecution or harm due to being part of a minority group.
- Develop accelerated certification programs to ensure that immigrants can easily transition into a Canadian system. Develop a consultation strategy to re-work how essential services for refugees and immigrants such as ESL, FSL and night-schools are worked and funded.
- Eliminate the Temporary Foreign Workers Program and address labour shortages by increasing immigration and working to establish PR access. This gives people who are vital to the Canadian economy the opportunity to constantly contribute to our society.
- Crack down on Human Smuggling across the border.
- Re-Work Immigration processes and develop strict laws to ensure that the thousands of deaths in immigration detention centres, including children never happen again.
Section 16: Technology and Privacy
While we understand that big data and technology is imperative for business, there are huge privacy implications that need to be enforced, plus we need to ensure that all people have access to the Internet.
- Revitalize Canada Post by expanding their duties to install community technology in rural communities such as broadband internet.
- Work with consultants, IT professionals and other stakeholders to develop a Canadian standard for data collection. The data should be anonymized so it is non-identifiable to who the person is. Movies like Galatica should not be able to become a reality.
- Enforce strong data privacy laws. If our allies request open-surveillance, the data they receive will be automatically filtered to be safe and private.
- Personable identifiable information can only be shared via a court order or legitimate times of national security such as a cyber-criminal.
- Prevent social media and political advertisement during election season.
- Bring broadband and high speed internet to all.
- Reform the CRTC to prevent the carrier monopolies jacking up our phone rates to ridiculous rates when Canada has the highest phone plan rates in a G7 country.
- Expand 5G and Internet of Things. Form a committee to ensure privacy and protection, especially in rural areas to expand their economic opportunities.
- Work with the private sector to make more affordable and accessible personal technology devices such as smartphones, tablets and computers to rural areas.
- Develop technology in partnership with private sector hat allows secure and tamper free voting. Look into the integration of AI in democracy.
- Promote and subsidize technology that is open source, which further opens opportunities in the gig economy.
Section 17: More
- Obesity has become a worldwide pandemic. It puts strain on the health-care system, and companies profit from putting individuals, especially children at risk. This plan calls for adopting similar rules to Japan in which unhealthy junk food was taxed. The taxed money can then be used to re-vitalize some aspect of the Canadian economy, and results show that they have led to a reduction of junk food.
- Replace the social assistance programs such as disability and unemployment with Universal Basic Income which is regularly endorsed by Economics Nobel Winners. Results from the Ontario pilot study, a Manitoba study in the 1970s, amongst other tests across the world show that UBI is more efficient than other social assistance programs. It will save money by streamlining the benefits system, reduce crime, reduce bad health, better incentivize people to participate in the economy and other costly poverty impacts. Consult with experts.
- Make climate change a Canadian issue rather than a political issue. It impacts all of us.
- Implement the Harper era former Governor of Bank of Canada, Mark Corvey’s suggestion to increase large corporate tax rates to meet the United States. Increasing this rate from 15% to 21% would give Canada the 400 billion dollars of tax revenue that Corvey describes as “robbing Canada blind” Small businesses of course would not be included.
- In light of the growing film and television industry during the age of streaming, ensure benefits and incentives for all stages of production in Canada. Provide greater incentives for involving Canadians in production, and even greater ones to businesses that engage in environmental responsibility.
- Develop a Global MFE that focuses on developing global environmental standards that can be adopted by the rest of the world.
- Scrap the First-Past-the Post. It’s time for proportional representation, a form of direct democracy, or some other form of election system.