This election, join us in calling on all federal parties to deliver...

PLATFORMS NOT PRESS RELEASES. SUBSTANCE NOT SLOGANS

Canada’s economy isn’t the only thing in need of protection from US threats. We must also inoculate our democracy against the chaos of Trump’s impulsive approach to politics.

This means insisting that political parties who want our votes deliver clear and costed plans – not vague statements that are more slogan than substance. Vague commitments make it impossible to assess true trade-offs behind promises, leaving voters in the dark.

Since parties seem to have forgotten how to prepare meaningful platforms, our 'Platforms not Press Releases' campaign makes it simple for them to get back on track. We have a step by step plan parties can follow to build responsible platforms Canadians can trust.

All across Canada people are standing up for our country, embracing all that makes us polite, reasonable and steady. Let’s expect the same for our politics. The antidote to US style chaos and fake news begins with holding parties to account for comprehensive, clear and honest platforms.

Sign up or follow us on socials to make sure you get the latest on our analysis of party commitments.

Sign Up

Here are the top 5 principles that all parties must include in detailed and costed platforms in the coming federal election.

1. Don’t Promise the Impossible

When governments of all party stripes regularly run deficits whether or not there is a recession, promising both higher spending and lower taxes is rarely responsible. Parties must be honest about the choice we face: pay for the services we want, or scale these services down to the level we are willing to pay. Party platforms should present a vision for how to balance these trade-offs, rather than pretending it’s reasonable for voters to expect more while paying less.

2. Safeguard Canada’s Finances by Plugging the Biggest Budget Hole

Any party concerned about fiscal responsibility must have something to say about Old Age Security (OAS). It’s the largest expense in the federal budget, and it’s growing faster than most other expenditures put together. The Auditor General recently concluded that we don’t even know if OAS is meetings its objectives, because they haven’t been reviewed in nearly 75 years! This means we can’t assess whether over $80 billion a year in taxpayer dollars is being spent wisely.

3. Eliminate Poverty for Seniors

It’s time to lift all seniors out of poverty. We can achieve this goal if all parties offer an additional $5,000 to the half-million retirees who fall below Canada’s official poverty measure. The $2.5 billion annual cost could be paid by scaling back slightly OAS for financially secure retirees with household incomes over $100,000.

4. Compensate Millennials and Gen Z

Young people are picking up the slack for decades of poor preparation by past governments for the predictable costs of population aging. To secure healthy retirements for the large wave of baby boomers, younger people are paying more taxes, enduring high housing prices, coping with rising climate risks, and inheriting large deficits. They deserve compensation for this intergenerational solidarity.

5. Stand On Guard For the Future

Fiscal responsibility requires prioritizing long-term wellbeing, not just short-term political gain. To hold governments to account for thinking long-term, all parties should commit to adopting legislation that builds in safeguards for the wellbeing of younger and future generations.