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I
STATEMENT OF PRINCIPLES
1. We believe in a sovereign and united Canada as a balanced federation
of equal provinces and citizens, loyal to our Constitutional monarchy,
governed by the democratic institutions of Parliament, and subject to
the rule of law.
2. We believe in the inherent value and dignity of the individual
citizen, that all citizens are equal before the law and entitled to
fundamental justice, and that those citizens have certain fundamental
and immutable freedoms, namely: freedom of speech and the freedom to
advocate, without fear of intimidation or suppression, public policies
which reflect their most deeply held values; freedom of religious belief
and practice; freedom of peaceful assembly and the freedom of choice of
association; and the freedom to own, enjoy, and exchange private
property in a free market.
3. We believe that the family is the essential building block of a
healthy society, and the primary mechanism by which Canadians pass on
their values and beliefs to the next generation; and that because of
this unique importance, the family must be strengthened and protected
from unnecessary intrusions by government.
4. We believe that Canadians have a personal and social responsibility
to care and provide for the basic needs of those who are genuinely
unable to care and provide for themselves; and that this responsibility
begins with the family and extends from there to voluntary private
organizations.
5. We believe in limited government that undertakes only prudent and
constructive change; that the proper role of government is to create an
environment of political and economic freedom within which the citizens
can pursue their own legitimate self-interest; and that government
should do only those things which citizens, individually or
collectively, cannot do for themselves.
6. We believe that the necessary functions of government should be
delegated to the appropriate order of government closest to the people,
that the division of powers among different orders of government must be
respected, and that all citizens are entitled to benefit equally,
without prejudice, from the services offered by government.
7. We believe that political parties should be guided by stated values
and principles which are shared by their Members; that the people's
elected representatives exist to serve their electors honestly,
ethically, and with concern for all; that their duty to their electors
supersedes their obligations to their political parties or personal
views; that they should treat public moneys as funds held "in
trust" to be spent wisely and with prudence; and that law-makers
and the institutions of government must be subject to the same laws as
apply to the people themselves.
8. We believe that government should reflect the will of the citizens,
and that this will should be expressed through democratic processes
including: free and fair elections in which the citizens choose their
own representatives to govern them through representative and
accountable institutions; the power of the citizens to recall elected
representatives who violate their mandates; the power of the citizens
directly to initiate the legislative process; and the power of the
citizens directly to decide on matters of public policy by referendum.
9. We believe that effective representative government is best provided
by a balanced bicameral legislature consisting of: the House of Commons,
with Members evenly distributed on the basis of the population
distribution in the country, elected by the people of their
constituencies; and the Senate, elected to represent the interests of
the Provinces and Territories as a complement and counter-balance to the
population distribution of the Commons; with equal representation
determined through Constitutional discussions with the Province and the
Territories, with both of these bodies held accountable to their
electors.
10. We believe that government must act for the benefit of future
generations as much as for the present, maintaining policies that will
nurture and develop the people's knowledge and skills, preserve a
stable, healthy and productive society, and ensure the responsible
development and conservation of our environment and natural heritage.
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