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The Elders and the Future of Life Institute have written an open letter addressing world leaders
“Our world is in grave danger. We face a set of threats that put all humanity at risk. Our leaders are not responding with the wisdom and urgency required.”
https://futureoflife.org/open-letter/long-view-leadership-on-existential-threats/
What does this mean for Canada?
Individuals and civil society groups are working now on a Cooperate for Canada campaign to urge the Liberals, Greens, NDP, and Bloc to cooperate during the next federal election in order to prevent the possibility of the Conservatives forming a majority government. Given current polling in the United States and Canada and the strength of right wing populism – even authoritarianism – globally, Canadians urgently need a unified progressive choice in the next federal election. To make this happen we need the progressive parties to devise a cooperative approach – rather than their traditional competitive tactics. Why?
The dangers Canada will face if this happens – politically, economically, environmentally, and democratically – are frankly terrifying.
It is highly likely that the Conservative Party of Canada (CPC) could win a massive majority in the next federal election and Pierre Poilievre become Canada’s Prime Minister. The dangers Canada will face if this happens – politically, economically, environmentally, and democratically – are frankly terrifying. The threats to the survival of our children and grandchildren will be overwhelming.
A Conservative Party of Canada majority government would mean loss on many significant policy fronts. A CPC majority would lower taxes on corporations and the wealthy while cutting social programs to “reduce government spending”. Support programs such as child care, dental care, pharmacare, affordable housing, potentially public pensions, sustainable jobs support, and environmental protections could disappear. Democratic rights would be weakened. Most alarming, Pierre Poilievre has stated a CPC government will use the Notwithstanding Clause which would imperil the rights of Canadians.
On the climate front, it may mean irreversible and irreparable loss. The next ten years are critical if we are to minimize and adapt to the climate emergency that we are currently experiencing. This requires strong political commitment and leadership. But the CPC denies the climate emergency and supports fossil fuels over renewable energy. A CPC government during these crucial years will be disastrous.
The CPC doesn’t so much win elections as the competing progressive parties lose them by refusing to work together and forcing voters to split their votes based on very modest policy differences.
Polling predicts the CPC will have a governmental majority despite progressive parties, not the CPC, promoting policies which are supported by a majority of Canadians. The CPC doesn’t so much win elections as the competing progressive parties lose them by refusing to work together and forcing voters to split their votes based on very modest policy differences. Furthermore polls indicate the majority of Canadians support policies that progressive parties advocate.
We implore progressive party leaders to begin the work of developing a cooperation agreement for the next election.
Our desire is to make sure the values and policies supported by the majority of Canadians are those enacted by our federal government. But to do this we need the Liberals, Greens, NDP, and Bloc to cooperate during the next federal election. We therefore call on the Liberals to build upon the supply and confidence agreement with the NDP which has enabled this minority government to legislate a carbon rebate, school food programme, ‘seniors in poverty’ payments, dental care, pharmacare, environmental protections, energy retrofits and funding for housing initiatives. In addition the Liberals have governed in a relatively stable environment for a minority government, while Canada recovered from the pandemic, faced inflation, a housing crisis and wars in Ukraine and Gaza. Therefore we implore progressive party leaders to begin the work of developing a cooperation agreement for the next election. That agreement may include identifying ridings where the Conservatives are likely to win but not guaranteed and commit to run only one candidate in opposition. Alternatively, during this critical time of crisis, under the Election Act and grounded in the supply and confidence agreement, the Federal progressive parties could come together to form a Coalition for Canada which would give Canadians a clear choice for the next election.
This is not a “normal” ask but these are not “normal” times.
This is not a “normal” ask but these are not “normal” times. We are living in the midst of escalating, converging, multiplying crises that our systems are not designed to handle. We cannot afford a “business as usual” approach. The next election is critical and calls for great courage – individually and collectively. We think the Coalition for Canada would have the capacity to meet these challenging times and we will support political parties in the work of unifying the progressive parties leading up to this federal election. We believe this united progressive political left in Canada will provide the leadership our nation needs to respond to the letter from the Elders and Future of Life Institute.