Sowing The Seeds, Saskatchewan 2009-2

SOWING THE SEEDS Framing the Issues to Regenerate Social Democracy in Saskatchewan The Challenges for the Party and the Leader

“This short paper is not a manifesto, but a document to start conversations. The issues presented below are as a result framed as questions, not answers. We want the leadership campaign specifically, and the political culture more generally to be about real ideas, real choices, and serious exchanges. If it is not, the outcome of either the leadership campaign or the next election(s) will be less significant than we would hope.”

Policy Framework Working Group Leadership and Policy Collective January, 2009

Sowing the Seeds Framing the Issues to Regenerate Social Democracy in Saskatchewan The Challenges for the Party and the Leader Social Democracy: Rebuilding an Idea This should be a social democratic moment. The follies of neoconservatism, the possible end of American economic dominance, climatic and military threats to the planet, and the consequences of narrow, short-term thinking are increasingly clear. A new generation of engaged, environmentally-oriented citizens is emerging. Compared to previous generations, the coming-of-age citizens are less likely to affiliate permanently to a particular party; their allegiances and votes are more contingent. The political terrain is up for grabs, especially if the three-decade-long romance with neoconservatism is at an end. While there is a political-philosophical void waiting to be filled, there is no certainty about who will fill it and with what credo. There is no clear, distinct, and contemporary made-in-Canada social democratic vision. There are constellations of left-of-center policies and good critiques of the dominant political and economic culture, but social democrats have failed to fire the imagination of the great majority of Canadians. How is social democracy different from “liberalism in a hurry”? What is the social democratic view of fiscal prudence, taxation, individual and collective initiative and ingenuity? What does social democracy value about the market economy and what would it change? In Canada social democracy has little status as a serious philosophy; indeed, serious philosophy has little place in our political discourse. (This is yet another triumph of neoconservatism: deep cynicism about ideas.) Hence the challenge is to define social democracy, distinguish it from liberalism, explain how it works, demonstrate its practicality, and translate it into a credible and inspiring provincial platform that among other things acknowledges the realities of the national and international context. This paper is based on 3 core ideas. First, social democracy matters – indeed we think the future of the planet depends on its succeeding market conservatism as the dominant political philosophy in the coming decades. Second, Saskatchewan is an ideal place for articulating an updated and inspiring concept of social democracy, especially now, in the context of a leadership campaign and in opposition. Third, if we succeed in creating a compelling fusion of philosophy, principles and platform, the NDP could regenerate itself. We are only 10 seats short of forming government. The coming years will be more difficult for the government than its gilded honeymoon phase. This short paper is not a manifesto, but a document to start conversations. The issues presented below are as a result framed as questions, not answers. We want the leadership campaign specifically, and the political culture more generally to be about real ideas, real choices, and serious exchanges. If it is not, the outcome of either the leadership campaign or the next election(s) will be less significant than we would hope.

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We believe there is a hunger for a party and a movement with which to engage, but it must be contemporary and forward-looking. If we build that vision and a hospitable place for taking ideas and politics seriously, we believe that they – former and current party members, younger people seeking to express their citizenship and sense of community, and that large group of people whose votes are up for grabs – will come. The Saskatchewan Context Saskatchewan used to play a major role in the Canadian political arena. From the Regina Manifesto to the New Deal for People to constitutional debates, we punched far above our weight. We can do so again. Moreover, nature has endowed the province with the resources and choices that are in many ways a microcosm of the issues facing the world. We have food, fertilizer, and fossil fuels in abundance. For better or for worse we have a quarter of the world’s uranium. We have gone through the mechanization of agriculture and the corporatization of food production, resulting in vast expanses of land and hundreds of rural communities struggling to survive. We are a trading province, so our destiny is linked to the globe. We are lucky to face the challenges we do – our endowments unleash limitless possibilities for a population of a million. We have the might and the potential to experiment and our scale makes innovation easier to pursue. We have a strong institutional framework. We have a great deal of social capital and a cooperative tradition. We are wired and connected. We are also demographically unique, both by composition and by age. Saskatchewan has a growing and youthful First Nations and Metis population and a relatively high proportion of senior citizens. We are also increasingly seen as a desirable destination for new immigrants. While First Nations and Metis people are taking an increasingly central role in the economic and cultural life of the province, many remain gripped by poverty and disenfranchisement. The future health of Saskatchewan hinges on establishing the terms and conditions for a meaningful partnership among all of our communities. We have cities but no metropolis; while this is in some ways a disadvantage in that large cities sustain their own economic and cultural growth, it is also an advantage in terms of community and the potential to build a more sustainable future. As the world revisits issues such as food security and land stewardship, we are an excellent test bed for redefining and renewing the rural economy. Finally we are a land of sun and wind, two tantalizing arrows in the quiver of renewable energy. Hence we have a combination of conventional and emerging resources, and a choice between unreflective, traditional exploitation of natural resources and investing in a more balanced, sustainable, and visionary set of approaches. None of these choices is easy in a world of explosive change, political instability, and rapidly evolving science. But we are admirably positioned to reclaim our place at the center of important discussions and debates, and to lead by example.

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Basic Principles 1. How do we define the role of government in a world that has grown cynical about the role of government? In its best form, government represents the collective aspirations of citizens, and its programs embody the public interest. We have seen the consequences of too little government and too much government in the last 100 years. What’s the right balance and how do we know when it is achieved? 2. What is the social democratic expression of a caring and compassionate society, in both economic and social terms? 3. What is the social democratic definition of social justice? What is the balance between equalizing opportunity and equalizing circumstance? How can we reduce social and economic disparities while increasing well-being for all? 4. When should government be the prime agent of intervention, when should it be the institution of last resort, and when should it stand down? In what circumstances, and on what basis should it be a legislator, regulator, investor, owner, contractor, deliverer of services, bystander? 5. How does social democracy conceive of the economy, well-being, and measures of human progress? What is the alternative to the GDP? Can we develop a genuine progress indicator (GPI) for Saskatchewan? 6. How can government be more service-oriented, accountable, transparent, and creative? How should it measure and report on performance? How should the public service be structured and how can the province again become a magnet for the best talent from within and beyond our borders? 7. What should be the province’s aspirations on the broader national and international stage? What should be our strategy for seeking partnerships and contributing to forums in an increasingly interconnected world? Examples of Issues to be Addressed A. Governance and Citizenship 1.

How do we make the idea of government more appealing and inclusive? How do we overcome the cynicism and indifference that characterize the current political landscape?

2.

How can government be less partisan, more inclusive, open-minded, and reflective? How can long-range thinking be reconciled with short-term political imperatives and the realities of electioneering?

3.

How do we open governance and government to more talent, and make public service more appealing? How does government tap the expertise and wisdom of citizens and community leaders more effectively?

4.

How do citizens become more engaged in government and civil society? How do we support community development in ways that build effective social participation?

5.

How do we improve relations among and within First Nations, Métis and non-Aboriginal communities to strengthen our civil society? What model of

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partnership will be equitable and effective? How can we improve governance and Treaty relationships with these goals in mind? B. Building an Economically Coherent Platform 1.

Where should revenues come from and in what proportions (personal and corporate taxation, sales tax, royalties, dividends from investments, stateowned enterprises)?

2.

What criteria should be used to allocate the budget among investments, services, infrastructure (human and physical), health, etc.?

3.

Where does the province have the latitude to chart its own course and where are its options constrained by external realities?

4.

What is the future of the cooperative economy and community economic development? How do we create common ground among labour and capital?

C. Food Production, Food Security, Rural Development 1.

What principles should guide food production, land use policy, environmentally sustainable practices, etc.? What investments need to be made to build models, incorporate scientific knowledge, and promote innovation? How should the province situate itself in international discussions of food policy?

2.

Is it desirable and feasible to develop a rural-oriented immigration program that would attract more people to rural areas, support innovation in agricultural production, and enhance environmental sustainability?

3.

Should the municipal structure be revisited, and if so, how?

D. The Livable City 1.

What is the vision for Saskatchewan cities – density, transportation, institutional, environmental, educational, economic?

2.

What fiscal and taxation approach is most likely to generate creative innovation in urban development?

3.

What critical investments are needed to sustain community-building public spaces and green development?

4.

How do we design cities to promote health, activity, safety, and economic growth?

E. Building a Smarter Saskatchewan 1.

What should be the general and specific aspirations of our universities? What strategic investments should be made to ensure the province has topflight thinkers and researchers in crucially important areas? To what extent should the intellectual strategy be tied to specific spheres (e.g., resources, alternative energy, governance)?

2.

What specific investments should be made to increase capacity in areas such as a sustainable economy, energy research and policy, food production and security, and rural economic development?

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3.

How should post-secondary education be funded? What is the best combination of public and private financing?

4.

How do we design and support educational programs that improve the educational success and employability of Aboriginal youth?

5.

How do we radically expand our early childhood development and childcare programs to provide the next generation with optimal intellectual and health foundations?

6.

How do support continuing and life long education among the population? Can we build on our already advanced internet infrastructure to foster an educated and engaged citizenry?

F. Health

G.

1.

What does “Medicare 2” look like? How does it differ from the status quo?

2.

How can the province become a leader in health innovation that focuses on creative approaches to improving public health, delivering better and more efficient health care, education health practitioners rooted in population health and systems thinking, etc., with a particular mandate to pursue aboriginal and rural health?

3.

How should we overhaul incentive and funding systems to encourage health care practitioners and organizations to pursue efficiencies, improve quality, and achieve goals?

4.

How should the province implement health information technology? How can the system be more user-friendly?

Justice 1.

How do we increase social justice in our society, promoting a sense of fairness and inclusiveness, and reducing inequities in social participation by gender, race and economic position?

2.

How can our justice institutions be more open and accountable in serving all citizens, embracing more restorative forms of justice and promoting a sense of security for the general community?

H. Energy – Between Past and Future 1.

How do we develop the principles for determining whether and how to exploit our energy-based natural resources? What criteria should guide decision-making?

2.

How do we ensure that our decisions are made on the best available scientific, economic, and environmental evidence?

3.

How do we assess the comparative risks and benefits of exploiting the major sources of energy the province has in abundance (oil, gas, uranium)?

4.

What taxation and fiscal policies most effectively encourage energy conservation and efficiencies by individuals, commercial enterprises, and communities?

5.

How do we become a world leader in alternative energy research and experimentation?

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I.

The Workforce of Tomorrow 1.

What mechanisms should be established to create policies and practices that make Saskatchewan a model place to work?

2.

What employment policies do we put in place to ensure effective, equitable and fulfilling participation in the labour force, in particular by young men and women, and in particular by the Aboriginal population?

3.

How can we restore and enhance the rights of workers in their capacity to organize and bargain collectively?

4.

How can we balance the needs of work, family and community?

5.

What can be done to create positive alternatives to adversarial labour relations and the entrenchment of an us-them mentality?

6.

What is the social democratic concept of effective entrepreneurship and socially responsible economic development?

7.

Can the expansion of Crown corporations be a vehicle to achieve these goals?

J. Saskatchewan and the World 1.

How do we build a sense of internationalism and openness to ideas, and avoid parochialism and narrowness in our thinking given our remoteness and small population size?

2.

How should we leverage opportunities and partnerships for intellectual, cultural, and economic development (e.g., relationships with granting agencies, cost-sharing, exchanges)?

3.

How do we maximize the province’s share of cost-shared national programs such as the Canadian Foundation for Innovation, the Tri-Council agencies (SSHRC, CIHR, NSERC), Canada Health Infoway, etc.?

4.

Which national and international forums and institutions should we become part of in the search for a social democratic future?

K. Reviving Cooperative Federalism 1.

What is the Saskatchewan view of Canada? What does a social democratic vision of federalism look like?

2.

How do we reassert the leadership role of the province on the national stage? How do we create allies in the cause of building a more unified and cooperative country?

3.

What is the most just tax regime for Canada, and the fairest division of taxation powers between the federal and provincial governments?

4.

Where should we promote federal government leadership, interprovincial cooperation, and federal-provincial co-management of programs?

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