CAMPBELL: To unlock the promise of Canada, we need only remember who we are

Growing up in Canada, I found endless possibilities.

The country was thriving, full of confidence, and I was just a passenger on that train.

The world I was born into is different from what we see today.

It feels like there’s a sense of resignation among Canadians. People feel they’re falling behind. We’re told what to do, not asked what to do. Paycheques are shrinking, outpaced by inflation and the cost of living. For the first time, young people feel like they’ll be worse off than their parents. Hope is fading.

What changed? We’re still a country of vast resources. The world’s longest coastline, rich in fresh water and energy resources essential to life. Mineral, forestry, agriculture and human resources are abundant.

It’s time to unlock the promise of Canada again. But we can only do that if we re-engage citizens as the drivers of positive change. It’s time to ditch the labels that prevent us from questioning what’s gone wrong. It’s time to learn from each other and put aside the politics of distraction, deception and division.

We need a new generation of leaders.

We need a new discussion on possibilities and promise. We need to inspire people with the true gift of democracy.

For years, I’ve encouraged good people to seek elected office. At the local, provincial and federal levels, we need elected officials who recognize the new world, who replace empty words with positive and, when needed, bold action. We need elected leaders who want a future where rights are balanced with responsibility, where citizens guide government rather than government dictating to citizens, and where we unleash the power of entrepreneurship and the pursuit of excellence. 

When we were born in Canada, we all won a lottery! Now, the question is, what do we do with it? We can build a Canada where everyone has the freedom to chase their own dreams, doing what works best for them, their families and their communities.

A fresh wave of leaders brings fresh ideas.

The politics of condescension has no place in Canada’s future.  Each of us plays a vital role in a thriving democracy. We know what’s best for ourselves. Canadians are generous and capable of truly great things left to make their own decisions and pursue their own goals. 

Let’s face some undeniable truths. Canada has changed. It’s not that our goals were off base, but the plans we put in place to achieve them didn’t work.

Canadians can still dream of a better future, but governments are stifling their imaginations of what’s possible and stifling  innovation. The ongoing struggle to keep things the same, even when it’s not in the best interest of Canadians, doesn’t help anyone. Words are are used to hide the actions we need. Government needs to be liberating and open up opportunities, not dictating or stifling. It needs to encourage, not close down.

Canada’s size is comparable to the European Union’s. That vastness can be a strength or a weakness. Unity isn’t about hiding our differences; it’s about celebrating them. In Canada, we should celebrate different ways of doing things, different choices for different areas, so we can learn from each other. Embracing the diversity of people, places and perspectives will make us stronger. 

We have all the resources we need, but to the detriment of every Canadian the drive to use them has been held back, blocked and wasted in a world filled with distractions, complacency and slow progress.

My generation took Canada’s natural gifts for granted. The weight of mediocrity is crushing innovation and the creativity of those who live here. As confidence fades, the quality of life and future for most Canadians suffers. 

 Canadians know that choices have repercussions, but they’re eager to make their own decisions. With the freedom to choose, they’re ready to embrace the outcomes. They’re looking to regain control over their lives, their families’ lives and to provide a brighter future for their children and grandchildren.

Today, Canadians are facing the consequences of choices they didn’t make. For instance, we never surrendered the right to decide what’s best for our health. That right was taken away. Expected pensions are being depleted and funded by our children. Taking from tomorrow to pretend everything is fine today isn’t the responsible path forward.

Canadians, no matter where they live or what their political views, share similar goals. Who opposes the “middle-class family,” “small business” or “family farm”? Who opposes having the “best health care system in the world”? Who opposes taking care of the elderly who need help? Who doesn’t want unemployment insurance to support workers who are temporarily out of work?

Who doesn’t want their children to get the best education possible? Who isn’t an environmentalist who wants clean water to drink, fresh air to breathe and fertile ground to grow our food? Who doesn’t celebrate the diversity of life that enriches us all? Who doesn’t want to live in a world where they can pursue their own dreams without too much interference and where they can enjoy the fruits of their hard work?

Across the country, in every region, people want these things, but we’re not achieving those goals? What are we willing to do to make things work again?

The anger, partisanship, and intensity of politics often revolve around how to get there, not where we want to go. Labels blind us to possibility. Protecting the status quo stops the pursuit of new ideas.

It’s interesting how every politician from every party seems to say they want small businesses to thrive but fail to learn from and listen to the voices of small business even in their own neighbourhoods. Who doesn’t say they want to improve our quality of life, healthcare, education or live in a healthy environment? Who wouldn’t want affordable housing for everyone and neighbourhoods filled with the joyful sounds of children playing safely on their streets?

While elected officials claim to support equality while actually promoting and reinforcing inequality. The rule of law is being weakened by the politics of appointment. Nonpartisan institutions are being infiltrated by increased partisanship and wishful thinking.

We can achieve anything we set our minds to in Canada, but we can’t have everything we want right away. We’ll have to earn back the promise of Canada.

We risk losing the spirit that made Canada if we don’t change course — if we don’t listen and explore new ideas instead of clinging to old ideologies.

Questions, facts and thoughtful consideration lead to progress. Wishful thinking and ignoring the facts aren’t good guides to the future.

Conventional wisdom discourages questions and differing opinions. Too often, the response to outspoken individuals is to silence them and prevent them from sharing their ideas and their reasons for them. We’ve often try to silence them and belittle different perspectives. When the conventional approach dominates a immersed in change, it’s holds everyone back.

We can do better. A new world will open up to Canadians as we examine the facts unclouded by wishful thinking. We can create opportunities for the young and give back some of what we received from those who came before us.

When we shift from reacting to thinking, we give new ideas a chance and discover new paths to more choices, more opportunities and improvements in our lives.

Unity doesn’t require uniformity. In fact, it encourages open exploration of ideas. It requires us to explore possibilities and seek out new ways forward.

I’m looking forward to the conversation. 

Hon. Gordon Campbell was British Columbia's 35th premier, holding the highest office in the province from 2001 to 2011. Prior to winning a seat in the legislature with the BC Liberals in 1994, he was elected mayor of Vancouver three times in a row, overseeing much of the urban development that defines the city today.