Special interest groups and paid lobbyists had the ear of government. I felt betrayed and marginalized by those we elected. Three major concerns drove me to the Reform Party. First, continued government overspending through deficit-financing was mortgaging my children's future. The never-ending annual deficits, and the growing national debt and interest charges would eventually threaten the existence of valued social programs like health care.
Substantive reforms are necessary to restore Canadian confidence in a workable justice system.
Our courts are overcrowded and prosecutors are forced to plea-bargain away most offences to deal with backlogs. Drunk drivers take little responsibility for their actions, repeat offenders are back on the streets before they're rehabilitated, and criminals are literally getting away with murder. We need to stop tinkering with the justice system and work together to find some innovative solutions to the systemic problems. Thirdly, a major overhaul of the very institutions of government itself is necessary. For example, a Triple-E Senate, real free votes in the House of Commons by all MPs, a system of referenda and citizens' initiatives in conjunction with federal elections, a mechanism for recall to hold politicians accountable.