Now is the time to make difficult decisions to drive change and ensure Canada’s long-term prosperity, say Coalition co-chairs
As part of the Coalition for a Better Future Campus Tour program, the co-chairs met with students at the Clayton H. Riddell Graduate Program in Political Management at Carleton University in Ottawa.
Left to right: Hon. Lisa Raitt, co-chair, Coalition for a Better Future; André Turcotte, Program Director and Hon. Anne McLellan, co-chair, Coalition for a Better Future.
In the face of pressing geopolitical challenges, Coalition for a Better Future co-chairs say that now is the time for political leaders to come together and be willing to make difficult decisions to improve Canada’s long-term prosperity.
“Donald Trump has kind of given us a bit of an opportunity to do the things that we should have been doing, taking tough decisions on interprovincial trade, building pipelines, which are very controversial, about getting stuff done that we know we need to do,” said Hon. Lisa Raitt, co-chair of the Coalition for a Better Future, “But everyone was just a little bit afraid to do it because you didn't want to lose their voting block.”
Speaking to students in the Clayton H. Riddell Graduate Program in Political Management at Carleton University in Ottawa, the co-chairs stressed that Canadian leadership has struggled for years to increase productivity. The Coalition’s Scorecard Report highlights the lack of business investments in research and development and workers.
“Donald Trump has kind of given us a bit of an opportunity to do the things that we should have been doing, taking tough decisions on interprovincial trade, building pipelines, which are very controversial, about getting stuff done that we know we need to do.”
~ Hon. Lisa Raitt, Co-chair, Coalition for a Better Future
The Hon. Anne McLellan, co-chair of the Coalition for a Better Future, said that elected leaders urgently need to come together to address Canada’s lagging productivity problems.
“It is time. If there's any tiny silver lining in Donald Trump's threat of tariffs, it may be that he brings the premiers together with the Government of Canada to finally deal with a problem that leaves tens of billions of dollars a year on the table — lost economic activity because of interprovincial trade barriers,” said McLellan.
The co-chairs were speaking at a Coalition Campus Tour event, which Shell Canada supports. The tour brings the co-chairs to post-secondary institutions across Canada to engage with students about how public policy is integral to fostering a stronger, inclusive and sustainable economy, underscoring young people's role in defining the future they desire.
Program director and session moderator André Turcotte asked if Canada has the political system necessary to make difficult decisions.
“Yes, absolutely, I think, with a majority, 100 per cent. And you also need the buy-in from the provinces too,” said Raitt, referencing the fiscal crisis of 1993 and the Great Recession of 2008 as examples where collaboration with the provinces and premiers empowered leaders to implement changes effectively.
Raitt also said part of the Coalition's work is encouraging political leaders to think about how to make decisions that improve our economy without interference from external factors like elections. She said the Coalition also has a role to play in engaging all of civil society, encouraging open dialogue, fostering collaboration across political lines and pushing for changes that address the complex challenges facing Canada today.
“If there's any tiny silver lining in Donald Trump's threat of tariffs, it may be that he brings the premiers together with the Government of Canada to finally deal with a problem that leaves tens of billions of dollars a year on the table — lost economic activity because of interprovincial trade barriers.”
~ Hon. Anne McLellan, Co-chair, Coalition for a Better Future
“History dictates when Canadians get off their butts and act, and that's the problem. So the Coalition is about trying to encourage people to think about it without an external factor there to spur it on,” she said.
Youth pessimism a ‘wake-up call’ for leaders about the country’s economic future
Raitt highlighted that Coalition polling, led by Nanos Research, indicates Canadian youth are pessimistic about their futures, saying it is a “wake-up call” for leadership to find solutions to issues such as housing affordability, wage stagnation and access to quality jobs.
McLellan stressed that young people have a role to play in solving economic challenges.
“This is about your future. I'm a boomer, guys, this is about your future. And what are you going to do about it? And what does economic growth mean to you?” she said.
“At the end of the day, if we do not focus on inclusive, sustainable economic growth, we are going to fall behind all other countries to which we would normally and wish to compare ourselves to. Which means a lot of these young people will leave Canada and go to those countries.”
Hon. Anne McLellan
Co-chair, Coalition for a Better Future
When asked by Turcotte how to overcome skepticism that the Coalition’s message is a voice for the private sector, Anne said she understands the skepticism. Still, she said people must get beyond it because the data in the Scorecard clearly shows where Canada is falling behind.
“At the end of the day, if we do not focus on inclusive, sustainable economic growth, we are going to fall behind all other countries to which we would normally and wish to compare ourselves to,” said McLellan. “Which means a lot of these young people will leave Canada and go to those countries. Why would they stay here? If these metrics are telling us we are not competitive, that we are not inclusive, that, in fact, Indigenous people have no future in this country, even though they were the First Peoples, that in fact, our young people are not getting the supports they need in employment and training programs to be contributing members of our workforce and our society and build families. So yeah, you can be skeptical.”
But, she went on to say that the private sector is needed to create jobs and build a robust economy.
“At the end of the day, the reality is that there are entities and individuals who raise capital, build things and grow things.”
Raitt echoed the sentiment, saying that many individuals, companies, and families who have found success are seeking ways to give back and improve society. “Just because you are in commerce doesn't mean that you're not empathetic to what's going on in the world,” she said.
Addressing political polarization and gender harassment in Canadian politics
The co-chairs were asked to address the current domestic political tone and how to overcome obstacles like polarization among parties to achieve policy changes.
Raitt acknowledged that political polarization is a significant hurdle and stressed the need for cross-partisan collaboration. If she were still in elected office, she said, “I would try to make friends with people across the aisle.”
McLellan underscored that building working relationships is essential for elected officials and their staff, as it helps them consider all aspects of policy decisions. She says the Coalition's cross-partisan approach strives to demonstrate how to navigate differences.
“Regardless of the party and who's the government, we should all think that we're there to serve Canadians and deliver the best public policy, the best execution of those policies we can,” said McLellan.
Both co-chairs also raised the issue of gender harassment on social media as a factor dissuading talented women from running for office.
“It's sexualized, violent harassment is what we're getting,” said Raitt. “It's very different than somebody yelling at you in their front door. Yes, okay, everyone gets it. It's okay. But the stuff you're getting now with the anonymity of social media is scary.”
“We see people who are sitting Members of Parliament right now announcing that they are not running again because they do not choose to live in that world with that level of harassment and bullying, and that is a problem,” said McLellan. “We need to take that on board and stand up against it, and that's something we can all do.”
