First Minister
First Ministers
Ontario
Premier: Jared Windover Deputy: Eva Pham
Canada is a country at a crossroads. We are a new country, but we are a strong country. As a people we are proud, polite, and prudent, seeking to resolve issues before they become problems. We as a people are presently facing issues that have been in mind since before Confederation, as well as issues that have never been faced before. As governmental officials, we, fellow Delegates, have a duty to this country of ours, but more than that to all those who call themselves Canadian. The public has given us these offices, and they deserve officials that will work towards a common good, for all Canadians. In the past, there has been a lot of backroom dealing, “hand-wavy”-politics, and to be blunt, conning. I, as Premiere Jared D. Windover of Ontario, shall not stand for that sort of mockery of our governmental system.
As Premiers, we are given some of the most pressing, yet difficult issues to analyze. These include, but will likely not be limited to; Senate reform, Buy American, and re-examining our trading partners. Not only are these issues open to a wide variety of interpretations, but each of those interpretations is a complex issue in its own rite. I, as Premier of Ontario, would like to outline as best I can the position of Ontario in each of these matters, which we as a province feel would be best for Canada.
To begin, Senate reform is as old as Canada itself, and is perhaps the most difficult issue we will be discussing. It is clear that reformation needs to happen, but the nature of that reformation is murky at best. Whether it is Meech Lake and Charlottetown, Murray-Austin, or the idea of a “Triple-E-Senate,” this issue is pervasive and multi-faceted. We shall begin the argument on a solid logical footing. The Senate should ultimately reflect the interests of Canada as a whole. These interests lie solely in the individuals making up Canada, not in natural resources, GDP, or land area. Therefore the Senate represents the interests of the individuals making up Canada. This is, effectively, a question of survey sampling. What is needed is a method of selecting Senators such that they will represent the views of Canadians in the most accurate way; anything less would be illegitimate. Therefore, each senator should represent the interests of an equal number of people in the country. Assuming each senator must come from a particular province, and therefore represent the interests of that province, Ontario is strongly in favour of representation by population. As well, considering the feelings (the majority of which are justified) that the Senate is illegitimate and undemocratic, Ontario is in favour of each Senator being selected by provincial popular polling. It is unquestionable that this transition would be a difficult period, but to preserve the integrity of the Senate, we feel that it is necessary.
Second, the Buy-American Provision and possible Canadian exemption are on the forefront of Ontario’s mind. Considering that the United States make up over 80% of Ontario’s trade, we are naturally, looking for a Canadian exemption to this provision. We are in strong agreement with the (somewhat hostile) strategy of utilizing an ultimatum in the form of our energy exports. Any option we have to maintain the United States as a trading partner should be exercised. We, obviously, cannot predict, nor control the actions of Mr. Obama, however we feel that the United States are making a grave error in falling into such protectionist practices, and will quite likely exacerbate this recession if this trend is not reversed. The conditions leading to the Great Depression are common knowledge, and we as a country are now tied more strongly to the United States than we were then. While we are generally against “strong-arming” as a negotiating method, we feel that this situation requires it.
Finally, the issue of our current and future trading partners ties quite strongly into the previous issue. Our feelings on trade with our neighbour to the south have been made clear. As far as other trading partners, Ontario would like to examine methods by which we can increase trade with China, specifically exporting vehicles, as their rising affluency will be accompanied by an increased market for automobiles. We would like to work with the rest of the delegates to design a coherent plan allowing for greater expansion into China. As far as method is concerned, subsidizing our auto exports, improving transport channels, and re-examining our trade agreements (such as the 1999 bilateral trade agreement) are all viable, and deserve careful consideration. I’m certain that the opening up of trade between Canada and China would be beneficial to the other provinces as well.
In summation, Ontario is looking to make some real progress at this conference, and hopefully find some common ground with the other provinces on these provocative issues. We are for a senate reform, under aforementioned conditions (representation by population etc.), we feel that the Buy-American provision must have an exception made for Canada, and will take whatever steps are necessary to accomplish this. As well, we wish to expand trade with China, and would like to develop a nation-wide plan to accomplish this. These will certainly not be easy issues to discuss (let alone resolve), but I, personally, am optimistic about this conference, and hope that my enthusiasm is shared. Our role in the ever-changing global political system is ours to discover.
Sincerely,
Jared D. Windover
The Honourable Premiere of Ontario
Ontario
Premier: Jared Windover Deputy: Eva Pham
Canada is a country at a crossroads. We are a new country, but we are a strong country. As a people we are proud, polite, and prudent, seeking to resolve issues before they become problems. We as a people are presently facing issues that have been in mind since before Confederation, as well as issues that have never been faced before. As governmental officials, we, fellow Delegates, have a duty to this country of ours, but more than that to all those who call themselves Canadian. The public has given us these offices, and they deserve officials that will work towards a common good, for all Canadians. In the past, there has been a lot of backroom dealing, “hand-wavy”-politics, and to be blunt, conning. I, as Premiere Jared D. Windover of Ontario, shall not stand for that sort of mockery of our governmental system.
As Premiers, we are given some of the most pressing, yet difficult issues to analyze. These include, but will likely not be limited to; Senate reform, Buy American, and re-examining our trading partners. Not only are these issues open to a wide variety of interpretations, but each of those interpretations is a complex issue in its own rite. I, as Premier of Ontario, would like to outline as best I can the position of Ontario in each of these matters, which we as a province feel would be best for Canada.
To begin, Senate reform is as old as Canada itself, and is perhaps the most difficult issue we will be discussing. It is clear that reformation needs to happen, but the nature of that reformation is murky at best. Whether it is Meech Lake and Charlottetown, Murray-Austin, or the idea of a “Triple-E-Senate,” this issue is pervasive and multi-faceted. We shall begin the argument on a solid logical footing. The Senate should ultimately reflect the interests of Canada as a whole. These interests lie solely in the individuals making up Canada, not in natural resources, GDP, or land area. Therefore the Senate represents the interests of the individuals making up Canada. This is, effectively, a question of survey sampling. What is needed is a method of selecting Senators such that they will represent the views of Canadians in the most accurate way; anything less would be illegitimate. Therefore, each senator should represent the interests of an equal number of people in the country. Assuming each senator must come from a particular province, and therefore represent the interests of that province, Ontario is strongly in favour of representation by population. As well, considering the feelings (the majority of which are justified) that the Senate is illegitimate and undemocratic, Ontario is in favour of each Senator being selected by provincial popular polling. It is unquestionable that this transition would be a difficult period, but to preserve the integrity of the Senate, we feel that it is necessary.
Second, the Buy-American Provision and possible Canadian exemption are on the forefront of Ontario’s mind. Considering that the United States make up over 80% of Ontario’s trade, we are naturally, looking for a Canadian exemption to this provision. We are in strong agreement with the (somewhat hostile) strategy of utilizing an ultimatum in the form of our energy exports. Any option we have to maintain the United States as a trading partner should be exercised. We, obviously, cannot predict, nor control the actions of Mr. Obama, however we feel that the United States are making a grave error in falling into such protectionist practices, and will quite likely exacerbate this recession if this trend is not reversed. The conditions leading to the Great Depression are common knowledge, and we as a country are now tied more strongly to the United States than we were then. While we are generally against “strong-arming” as a negotiating method, we feel that this situation requires it.
Finally, the issue of our current and future trading partners ties quite strongly into the previous issue. Our feelings on trade with our neighbour to the south have been made clear. As far as other trading partners, Ontario would like to examine methods by which we can increase trade with China, specifically exporting vehicles, as their rising affluency will be accompanied by an increased market for automobiles. We would like to work with the rest of the delegates to design a coherent plan allowing for greater expansion into China. As far as method is concerned, subsidizing our auto exports, improving transport channels, and re-examining our trade agreements (such as the 1999 bilateral trade agreement) are all viable, and deserve careful consideration. I’m certain that the opening up of trade between Canada and China would be beneficial to the other provinces as well.
In summation, Ontario is looking to make some real progress at this conference, and hopefully find some common ground with the other provinces on these provocative issues. We are for a senate reform, under aforementioned conditions (representation by population etc.), we feel that the Buy-American provision must have an exception made for Canada, and will take whatever steps are necessary to accomplish this. As well, we wish to expand trade with China, and would like to develop a nation-wide plan to accomplish this. These will certainly not be easy issues to discuss (let alone resolve), but I, personally, am optimistic about this conference, and hope that my enthusiasm is shared. Our role in the ever-changing global political system is ours to discover.
Sincerely,
Jared D. Windover
The Honourable Premiere of Ontario
