Pubdate: Tue, 07 Nov 2000
Source: Globe and Mail (Canada)
Copyright: 2000, The Globe and Mail Company
Contact:  http://www.globeandmail.ca/
Forum: http://forums.theglobeandmail.com/
Author: JOHN IBBITSON

DAY'S PLAN FOUND IN SECRET PAPER

Free Vote On Marijuana Use, Sale Of CBC, End Of Native Tax Exemptions Among 
Policies Outlined

TORONTO -- Under the prime ministership of Stockwell Day, Parliament would 
hold a free vote on marijuana use, natives on reserves would lose their 
sales-tax exemptions, the CBC would be put up for sale, and 25 per cent of 
the voters in a riding could unseat a member of Parliament.

These and many other policies are contained in the official but 
confidential policy background document sent to Canadian Alliance riding 
candidates in the coming federal election. A copy of the document has been 
obtained by The Globe and Mail.

The policy overview is to be used by candidates when questioned by 
reporters, in debates or during door-to-door-canvassing. It not only 
elaborates on the broad outlines of Alliance policy contained in the 
party's released election platform, but also offers "talking points," 
explaining how to answer questions or elaborate on issues.

The policies as outlined in the background document go considerably farther 
than either Mr. Day or his official election platform have been prepared to 
venture.

For example, the Alliance has proposed referendums on contentious issues if 
there was sufficient public interest, without defining how that interest 
would be measured.

The overview, however, sets a target of "3 per cent of the total number of 
voters who cast ballots in the last election" as the minimum number of 
names needed on a petition to force a referendum on capital punishment or 
abortion.

Based on 1997 federal election returns, 395,244 signatures would be 
required to force a referendum under Alliance rules.

The Alliance platform vaguely states that it would allow the Canadian 
Broadcasting Corp. to "raise private capital," in order to secure new 
funding. The talking points maintain that the broadcaster could be put up 
for sale. "The Canadian Alliance government will consider bids for CBC 
television and internet services, subject to majority Canadian ownership . 
. . the government shouldn't compete with private broadcasters," it states.

Phil von Finckenstein, director of communications for the party, insisted 
the policies contained in the briefing binders were not final party policy.

The documents "are put together by researchers to give candidates 
background information on issues," he said in an interview.

The policy document gives a number of details that have not been discussed 
on the campaign trail.

For example, Mr. Day has often promised tax credits for parents sending 
their children to religious or other private schools.

The platform overview goes considerably further: "The Alliance will 
undertake negotiations with the provinces to ensure that all parents have 
equal access to education that reflects their beliefs and preferences since 
the parents know what is best for their children."

Such negotiations could lead to vouchers, in which parents can deposit 
their education taxes in the form of tuition payments to the private schools.

"In essence, it will lead to a two-tier education system," protested Liz 
Sandals, president of the Ontario Public School Boards' Association. 
Wealthy citizens will be able to combine their vouchers with private 
resources to send their children to exclusive schools, she maintained, "and 
then you will have the poor, who in essence will become trapped in a 
default public system."

Similarly, while the Alliance election platform states only that aboriginal 
people should "pay their fair share of federal and provincial tax," the 
talking points specify that residents on reserves would lose their 
exemption from paying GST on goods purchased on or delivered to a reserve.

"The Canadian Alliance will ensure that Status Indians living on-reserve 
have the same tax obligations as aboriginal people living off-reserve and 
all other Canadians," it states.

The document also proposes that any federal-provincial disputes over fiscal 
issues, such as the bitter conflict between Ottawa and the provinces over 
whether health care was adequately funded, would be resolved by binding 
arbitration, greatly weakening the federal government's power.

The overview is "simply there to help candidates who haven't been fully 
briefed on the issues to become fully briefed," Mr. von Finckenstein 
maintained.

Canadian Alliance platform highlights: A Time for Change

Highlights from the Canadian Alliance's A Time For Change: Platform Overview:

National Referendums: "A Citizens' Initiated Referendum would occur if 
voters collected sufficient signatures on a special petition, to force a 
nationwide vote on a particular policy, law or subject. The Canadian 
Alliance proposes that 3% of the total number of voters who cast ballots in 
the last election would have to sign such a petition."

(Based on the 1997 election results, 395,244 names would be required to 
force a referendum on abortion, capital punishment or other subject.)

CBC TV: "The Canadian Alliance government will consider bids for CBC 
television and Internet services, subject to maintaining majority Canadian 
ownership. . . . The government shouldn't compete with private broadcasters."

First Nations: "The Canadian Alliance will ensure that status Indians 
living on reserve have the same tax obligations as aboriginal people living 
off-reserve and all other Canadians."

Recalling MPs: "Recall of an MP could occur if voters in a specific riding 
collected sufficient signatures, on a special petition, to force a 
by-election. . . . The Canadian Alliance has proposed that the petition 
should be signed by at least 25% of the total number of voters who cast 
ballots in a particular riding in the last election."

Free vote on marijuana use: "The Canadian Alliance has no agenda to 
decriminalize marijuana, however we will commit to a national debate and a 
free vote in the House of Commons on the use of marijuana."

Abolishing Employment Equity: An Alliance government will appeal the 
Employment Equity Act, which preferentially hires women, aboriginals, 
visible minorities, and the disabled for federal-government positions. 
Special programs for the disabled will be preserved.

Funding for Private Education: As well as providing tax credits for parents 
with children in private or religious schools, an Alliance government would 
negotiate with provinces "to ensure that all parents have equal access to 
education for their children that reflects their beliefs and preference 
since parents know what is best for their children."

Supreme Court Justices and other major appointments: "The Alliance will 
require Parliament to approve major appointments like Supreme Court 
justices, heads of Crown corporations such as the CBC and the Governor of 
the Bank of Canada."

Tougher drinking-driving laws: The Alliance would lower the blood-alcohol 
level for impaired-driving from .08 to .05.

Using the Notwithstanding Clause: An Alliance government would use the 
constitution to override the Supreme Court, if necessary, to preserve laws 
banning possession of child pornography.

Infrastructure: An Alliance government would focus on upgrading north-south 
transportation corridors between Canada and the United States, "in order to 
create a seamless, integrated transportation system that will improve the 
movement of goods."

Student Loans: Eliminate the existing Canada Student Loans Program for 
college and university students and implement an income-contingent loan 
program, in which loans are paid back based on income.

Subsidies: Eliminate all regional subsidies, including Atlantic Canada 
Opportunities Agency (ACOA), Canada Economic Development-Quebec Region 
(CED-Q), Federal Economic Development-Northern Ontario (FEDNOR) and Western 
Economic Diversifications (WED). "The Alliance believes in tax cuts for the 
many instead of failed subsidies for the few."

Via Rail: "The Alliance will privatize Via so that travellers will be given 
more efficient travel options."

Airlines: An Alliance government would negotiate a liberalized Air Service 
Agreement with the United States and other countries to increase foreign 
competition on Canadian routes.

Foreign Aid: Developmental aid (as opposed to humanitarian aid) "should be 
focused on regions where a crisis would directly affect Canada's political, 
economic and security interests (Eastern Europe and Russia, the Middle East 
and the Pacific Rim . . . to oversee humanitarian aid, incl. Africa.) We 
will replace CIDA [Canadian International Development Agency] with a new 
agency at arm's length from the government, with development and relief 
organizations directly represented on its board."
- ---
MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart