- What gave you the strong political conviction to contest for the Prime Ministerial seat of Canada?
I must first say that it is based on popular demand, because I am the kind of person that appreciate to be involved in the socio, political, humanitarian and cultural affairs of my country, and by nature I just strive to serve as a bona fide (good faith) citizen. Thus, throughout my strong involvement within various communities, the community leaders always commented by addressing me as Excellency, or Honorable or even sometimes they would call me Prime Minister.
However, I never paid serious attention; although I felt truly honored. Then it did not stop there, everywhere else I would go, people would still call me Excellency or Prime Minister. Then at some point in time, I began to question myself, as to, is there something about me that I should be aware of? Then I began to realize that every socio-cultural and political activity that I have undertaken reflected the various diplomatic and political aspects of my life.
I have always wanted to serve humanity and have in fact contributed to different sectors within my communities, and at an early age, I had very deep and strong insightful political inclinations. Then I started to look at Canada through the lenses of a Prime Minister; and reflecting on how I would govern the nation and lead my people to economic prosperity. Then the deeper I continue to reflect, the more insight I gained, and realized that there are many ways I would govern Canada differently, the more I investigated, the more I realize that I had a very high sense of political understanding, leadership and governance; and most significantly numerous socio-political and cultural changes that need to be done and are not being addressed. Based on these popular demands, and based on my abilities, I then decided to quest for the Prime Ministerial seat.
- Are you engaged for any social change in Canada?
I would like to focus on education, human rights, the arts, research, health, science, entrepreneurship, innovation, technology and development, and reducing the deficit. I also understand that the unemployment numbers are "frustrating to people” but with a sound fiscal policy and sustainable tax reform, we can strengthen the economy, help small and medium size business to remain more sustainable, since they are the economic backbone in creating jobs; while sustaining large businesses as well.
But most importantly, Canadian history and culture have in fact always been marked by a great and vibrant diversity. Sound multiculturalism policy must be implemented and adopted. The Canadian federal government has been described as the instigator of multiculturalism as an ideology because of its public emphasis on the social importance of immigration.
In 2002 I founded the Federal Association for the Advancement of Visible Minorities (FAAVM), because Immigration has played an integral part in the development of multiculturalism within Canada. The FAAVM works tirelessly to encourage economic growth and that newcomers can participate in political and social matters, including equal pay and equal opportunity all. This is what a sound growing economy should promote; socioeconomic and sociopolitical integration.
The FAAVM activities are involved in nearly every aspect of human rights, civil rights and human development, with activities ranging from economic development and advancement, legislative research projects, global partnership and trade, to financial and technical assistance from governments and private enterprises. The FAAVM plays an important supporting role as developing Canadian visible minority communities shape, and implement their strategies to stimulate socioeconomic development and growth.
- Do you have any reservation about the present government in Canada?
Canada is presently undergoing a critical socio-political transition and cultural paradigm shift socioeconomically, socio-politically and socio-culturally. The of Canada function within a framework of parliamentary and a federal system of government. However, regardless of specific electoral failures, we need to reshape Canadian domestic and foreign policy, especially in improving relations with the United States, taking a more diplomatic line on the Middle East conflicts, tackling immigration reform, and respect our international responsibilities, for example sustaining the Kyoto Protocol. In terms of domestic policy, we also need to reshape government spending, fiscal, judicial, trade, education and human rights policies, especially stimulus spending on infrastructure.
- United Kingdom succeeded in taking their economy out of recession, how do you intend to achieve this in your country?
As you know, each sovereign and non-sovereign nation face their economic challenges, and the universal common denominator remain the national deficit, in other terms the national debt. Let me tell you that we have seen a considerable increase of the Canadian national debt. Over the past decade it had slowly declined to $458-billion in 2008. Now this has all changed. Canada’s federal debt grew by $5.8-billion in 2008-09, is slated to grow by $55.9-billion in 2009-10 and will continue to grow for years to come.
When any nation on earth faces a climbing national deficit, it represents critical national economic challenges. My vision and plan to revive our economy is mostly of course to work with all concerned and affected sectors and levels of society; with a long term plan to maximize economic growth and human investments; with the strategic goals and objectives to balance the national economy. Because as you know if a national economy is not properly balanced, then such economy will face important decline at all levels.
Boosting local, regional, national and international trade, long term job creation programs, small and medium sized business benefits, large corporations and large businesses incentives; and various tax benefits are ways to bring a nation out of recession. We have a well defined political agenda that we know will work because it is based and conceived to address these noted economic imbalances that Canada is facing, and bridge the wider the gap, the wider the imbalance and likely the increasing national deficit.
- What is your position regarding the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)?
As you already know, the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) is an agreement signed by Canada , Mexico , and the United States , creating a trilateral trade bloc in North America . The agreement came into force on January 1, 1994. It superseded the Canada–United States Free Trade Agreement between the U.S. and Canada. NAFTA has two supplements: the North American Agreement on Environmental Cooperation (NAAEC) and the North American Agreement on Labor Cooperation (NAALC).
The demands for changes in NAFTA, made by the civil societies of each of these three countries, go well beyond the May 2007 concessions that the newly elected Democratic majority in the U.S. Congress won from the Bush administration. These concessions include reforms in labor, environmental and intellectual property provisions for future trade agreements, which were incorporated into the pending agreements with Peru, Panama, and Colombia. As of this writing only the first has been approved, while serious criticisms on human rights and financial issues continue to hold up the other two.
After 15 years, there is now widespread agreement that the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) has fallen short of its stated goals. Rather than triggering a convergence across the three nations, NAFTA has accentuated the economic and regulatory asymmetries that had existed among the three countries. Since 2001, the region has actually seen a in levels of integration in key areas such as manufacturing.
Thus, it is no surprise that the agreement continues to generate controversy. While proponents credit the agreement with stimulating the flow of goods, services, and investment among the North American countries, critics in all three countries argue that this has not brought improvements in the standards of living of most people.
- What is the scope of your foreign policy within the sphere of domestic and international standards?
Our foreign policy shall consist of self-interest strategies to safeguard our national interests and to achieve our goals within the international relations milieu. The approaches will be strategically and diplomatically employed and deployed to interact with other countries within the sphere of international laws and human rights standards. In recent times, due to the deepening level of globalization and transnational activities, we will also have to interact with non-state actors. The aforementioned interaction will aid to maximize benefits of multilateral international trade and commerce cooperation. Since the national interests are paramount, our foreign policies are also designed to maintain peaceful cooperation with other nations, observance of human rights and diplomatic ties with our allies.
- What do you want to tell the world as Prime Minister of Canada?
The world is becoming an ever more complex place. Opportunities multiply, but so do uncertainties. We must work to foster a forum with G8 and G20 summits, the United Nations (UN) and other intergovernmental institutions to present ways of understanding and conceptualizing the global political challenges the world faces today with a solutions base approach. We must also reflect on responding to challenges and opportunities caused by globalization. The under-regulation of the global environment immediately affects educational systems and labor markets. This is more evident today, in times of crisis, than ever before. Labor markets are in flux; supply and demand of human capital do not synchronize easily.
Global political issues such as peace and war, intelligence gathering, terrorism, poverty, corruption, human trafficking, public health, violence against women and children, illiteracy economic development, and the environment just to name a few, as well as the internal politics are major issues that our world is facing in present time.
The recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world.
Thank You
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