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f JL Progressive Conservative 197 Party of Canada. C6 New directions for A25 Cana 198,Q,TE ( D o :,,"..;'. !':!ill .....~~.~ 11 T~'bi~~r It Contents·, .. I' Introduction. .. 1 Preserving Democratic Institutions. .. 2 Increasing Goverment Efficiency . .. 6 Achieving Canada's Potential . .. 9 ,. ( Supporting Individual Initiative 17 Enhancing Individual Freedom 19 ••• Consulting with Canadians 23 Building a Better Future 27 On May 22,1979, the people of Canada A great deal was accomplished in just 6 voted for change. Canadians said 'no' to months, and I owe a great deal to my Mr. Trudeau, 'no' to the notion that our Cabinet colleagues, and caucus members problems could be shrugged off or bullied who brought enormous energy and dedi- to solution, 'no' to a government grown cation to their new tasks; and to the mem- alarmingly aloof, incompetent and costly. bers of our party, without whose efforts On May 22,1979, our party was cho- and support, none of this would have sen to lead the nation - for the first time been possible. in 16 years - because we spoke to the A great deal- as you know onl y too nation's needs. We invoked the promise well- remains to be done. Canada is not of a new approach, a fresh spirit of con- yet the independent and creative nation structive partnership, candid and direct, that can be ours. But I believe Canadians and determined to deal with the very real will come to see the rightness of our reso- challenges confronting our economy and lution, come to share our vision of the our Confederation. We reflected and future, and turn again to us to realize the respected this country's greatest strength, dream. the hopes and aspirations of individual Canadians. We spoke for all we can be, for what Canada can become. And Cana- dians voted 'to give the future a chance'. On December 13,1979, after just 6 months in office, our government was defeated on its first budget. We were defeated - but we did not fail. Clearly, we made some mistakes. Clearly too, we were hampered in our progress by an obstructionist opposition. And yet for all this, we kept our word and honoured the spirit of our covenant with The Right Honourable Canadians-we began the changes that Joe Clark Canada called for, as this document September, 1980 portrays. We undertook reforms to make Parlia- ment itself more responsive and responsi- ble, and all of government more accessi- ble. We began to pare the cost of govern- ment, to curb the explosive growth in public spending that had driven up our debt and devalued our dollar. We moved quickly in a whole host of ways to liberate the initiative and spur the enterprise of all Canadians, and especially the young, the self-employed, and those engaged in small business. We produced a plan, both far-sighted and realistic, to tap the nation's energy potential. We dealt with the people and all of the provinces as equal partners working towards common goals. "- PRESERVINGDEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS • public opinion was molded more by direct appeal through the national media rather than through debate in Throughout the years of the former Our Parliament in 1979 Parliament; Government, Parliament has gone Unfortunately, 112 years after Confedera- • parliamentary debates and committee ownhill, the role of individual Mem· tion, the Parliament of Canada was hearings were rigidly controlled by the rs has been limited instead of viewed as increasingly irrelevant and government-of-the-day to avoid sensi- xpanded. Information which should unable to face the challenge that modern tive issues or potential embarrassment; long to you as the citizens of this problems present. Public cynicism had • the accountability of Cabinet to Parlia- untry has been withheld from you. developed because of factors both within ment was reduced through continually owwe, as a national government as and outside of Parliament itself: changing ministerial responsibilities; eof our first acts in office, have • the complexity, scope and cost of gov- • other forums (referenda, federal- un to change fundamentally, the ernment activities had made mean- provincial conferences) had usurped wers of the people's institution, the ingful parliamentary scrutiny more dif- Parliament's role in debating national wers of Parliament." ficult and time-consuming; issues. imeMinister Joe Clark • key decisions were made by Cabinet Televised House of Commons proceed- order or by regulation, thereby avoid- ovember 1979 ings revealed an arena where protagonists ing both the legislative process and attempt to outshout each other, where parliamentary review; information is hidden rather than shared, eProgressive Conservative Party • government secrecy reduced the avail- where decision-making is notable by its alueshighly our parliamentary system of ability of information (even to MPs) absence, and whose relevance to the real vernment as the most effective means making assessment of new policies world is not readily apparent. It is not ensurethe preservation of Canadian difficult; surprising, then, that the public has come mocratictraditions. Throughout to view Parliament with some scepticism. nada'shistory, our nationaIParliament, The intransigent attitudes of govern- heritedfrom Britain and amended to ment leaders, deteriorating public rittheCanadian environment, has been support, and the complexity of current ~ primary institution dedicated to problems have seriously restricted the hievingnational consensus, pursuing ability of Parliament to function. A weak mmonobjectives, resolving difficult Parliament has real difficulties dealing oblems,and ensuring that the govern- with the issues facing the nation ... unity, ntis accountable to the people. uncontrolled government spending, Althoughthe system has its short- escalating inflation and unemployment. omings,the PC Party has a deep-rooted mmitmentboth to strengthen Iiamentand to increase public under- ndingand support of it. angebegins - Joe Clark and Maureen McTeer enter Government House for the aring-inceremony One of the most pressl g and urgent These changes in attitude on the floor • other proposed rule changes would priorities of the new government was to of the House of Commons demonstrated have given MPs more freedom in pro- reverse Parliament's sagging reputation that the new government was prepared to posing, debating, and voting upon andauthority by giving it the attention, take Parliament seriously. Even at the risk private members' bills. ability, and will necessary to undertake its of its own discomfort, the government These changes and proposals signalled responsibilities effectively. was willing to give the Opposition the that the new government was not going to tools with which to oppose the govern- focus all its attention on a handful of Reform, Response, Responsibility ment more effectively. Cabinet Ministers alone. It planned to use The Clark government demonstrated Of equal importance were actions the full resources of the House of Com- immediately that it was intent on chang- taken to give backbench Members of mons, deal with the private concerns of ing the attitude of the governing Party Parliament a more significant role and al1 MPs, and give Parliamentarians a tothe House of Commons. Cabinet more effectively use their talents: stronger voice in the legislative process. ministers were instructed to answer • within the PC Caucus, committees Significant measures were introduced openly and truthfully questions put to were established to parallel the com- to provide the public with greater access them in the daily Question Period. If they mittees of Cabinet and provide them to government information. The most didn't know the answer, they were to find with policy and program advice; important was a FREEDOM OF INFOR- outand report back quickly. MATION bill that, for the first time, Urgent motions, presented by opposi- • Members of Parliament were appointed to head task forces to exam- established in law the right of a citizen to tionmembers, were given serious consid- obtain government-held information. The eration by the government rather than the ine significant national problems, reporting directly to Parliament; bill embodied two essential principles automatic rejection that had previously which restricted the range of information madethem so irrelevant. • rule changes were proposed to allow that could be withheld and eliminated the The Prime Minister exemplified this MPs a forum for their concerns to be discretionary power of a Minister to newapproach with the style and precision expressed directly to responsible refuse to release departmental informa- ofhis responses to all questioners. And, Ministers; tion (that ultimate power was to be vested for the first time in our Parliamentary his- in an independent judicial tribunal). tory,the Prime Minister appeared before a Because of these factors, the freedom- Commons Committee to answer ques- of-information bill met with the tions on the organization and budget of acceptance of al1parties in Parliament as hisown office. wel1 as national approval from political commentators. By making Parliament itself more responsive and responsible, the Clark government kept its first promise with Canadians - a change in approach. I J - [, Cla,k ga"mm,nl ha, d,~matkall} • the government proposed that commit- Minority Government dvancedthe cause of open ad inistra- tees be given more staff and resources In our parliamentary system, a minority 'onwith its new freedom of information and the power to conduct independent government must perform a very difficult ill... the Tories have given the country investigations of issues or government balancing act preserving its ability to ebestopportunity it has ever had to actions; function as a government while, at the aluatethe work of the federal govern- • the government proposed that the same time, ensuring it is not defeated by nt... the Tories have concluded that Leader of the Opposition be given the the combined opposition in the House of enational interest is best served by a power to select two departments every Commons. Two factors are essential if a 'ell-informedpublic." year for intensive House of Commons minority government is to work at all ...

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