Voice of sanity

As the newest and latest Federal Election draws near in Canada, here are some of the highlights of the Green Party of Canada platform:

• Develop and rebuild Canada's aged and neglected rail lines to get people and freight off the roads and onto the rails. Create high-speed passenger rail lines, like the ones that exist in Europe and many parts of Asia, to connect key cities like Toronto and Montreal.
• Withdraw from the North American free-trade agreement (NAFTA) to negotiate a new trade deal that includes protection for human rights, jobs and resources.
• Impose a $50-a-tonne carbon tax that adds 12 cents a litre to the price of gasoline. Use carbon tax revenues to fund poverty reduction measures and reduce income taxes.
• Create programs aimed at restoring work-life balance, including a mandatory three-week vacation and reduce payroll taxes so that employers hire new employees rather than expect current staff to work overtime.
• Decriminalize marijuana.
• Restore the GST to 6 per cent from its currently 5 per cent, and transfer that revenue to cities for environmental infrastructure projects such as public transit.

Not a solution to everything, but the above measures would be a big step in the right direction.