2007 Policy Suggestions for Libertarian Party of Canada (January 24, March 8, March 29, 2007)

Note as of June 13, 2015: My views on some of these topics might have changed since 2007, and my knowledge level. A list of policies based on the final version was submitted piece by piece to the Board around 2007-2008, and some of it was passed as a temporary platform. Some portions of it was based on the existing Statement of Objectives at the time, but was not meant to replace it.

Preliminary Notes – 2007 Policy Suggestions for Libertarian Party of Canada

(Original Post and link)

The following are my own opinions.
These are just notes, I’ve created a “final” version below this section.

CIVIL LIBERTIES – Torture
We condemn the practice of torture of prisoners of war or alleged enemy combatants or alleged terrorists or anyone accused of a crime – including those who have not been proven guilty. The case of Maher Arar was the most publicized case of “rendition” to a foreign prison for torture in which the Canadian government was involved. European governments and judges have condemned the practice of transporting prisoners to foreign prisons for torture. Any military alliance or security arrangement with a nation involved in these practices shall be reviewed upon the question being raised in Parliament.

CIVIL LIBERTIES – Habeas Corpus
We uphold the right of habeas corpus for all prisoners – foreign and domestic. Habeas Corpus is the most basic practical freedom in Canadian law, that protects all of us from the arbitrary power of governments. All security arrangements with foreign governments that violate habeas corpus shall be reviewed.

Foreign Policy: Iran and Alliances
We oppose the Canadian government giving any support to an attack on Iran or other foreign nations where there is no clear aggression on behalf of that government, especially if that attack will likely involve the deaths of innocent civilians and their property. Any alliance with a government whose agents spread false reports in order to justify such an attack shall be brought under review and can be challenged by any Canadian citizen before Parliament. Any allegations of wrongdoing against an ally or by the government targeted by that ally shall be open to public debate and examination before Parliament at any time.

Foreign Policy – Withdraw from Afghanistan
Since we believe in a non-interventionist policy of peace and free trade, and since we believe in the individual rights of all persons, and since we believe in the use of the military for defensive purposes only to defend against attacks against Canada, we support the withdrawal of Canadian forces from Afghanistan and other nations where they are stationed.

Freedom of Speech – Political – Campaign Funding
We oppose and will renounce attempts (Bill C-2) to limit political contributions to political parties, political campaigns and towards political or special-interest organizations.

Freedom of Speech – Political – Gag Law
We reject the suppression of political speech by third parties during elections.

Freedom of Speech – “Hate” Speech and the internet
We oppose laws that criminalize forms of speech classified as “hate”, including the current federal law and international agreements that seek to criminalize speech on the Internet or otherwise. This includes all expression that does not contain direct intended threats against life and property. It is a legitimate concern that hate speech laws will be used against those who possess political and religious opinions.

Freedom of Speech. Net Neutrality
We advocate no regulation of the Internet. The CRTC must leave the Internet alone and free for the expression of political advocacy and other opinions. We do not believe in government regulation of the Internet but we will urge Canadians as consumers to pressure their Internet Service Providers to maintain net neutrality.

Immigration
Making it easier for immigrants by removing institutional monopolies.

Principle: Taxes used for purposes individuals disagree with
We hold the following principle, that Canadians should not be required to fund or support government actions with which they disagree. In the transition to an untaxed society, we will advocate that people will be able to designate to what ends their tax money goes – what services they use – and to where it does not when they do not agree or use those services – “opt out”. In effect this will allow for the conversion of government taxes to fees for service during the transition to a libertarian society. Services that some people want but government finds itself unable to fund will have to be provided by non-governmental or market organizations.

Intro and Purpose of LPC

The LPC seeks to consciously address the issues that face us in the context of societal institutions that exist already in Canada.
Voting for for the LPC represents a desire for increased liberty. It is an act of self-defense against government taxation and property confiscation and interference in our lives. Ultimately we want a just society where individuals are free to choose everything except the ability to impose their will on others.
The LPC are libertarians who are consciously and deliberately using a political strategy to persuade Canadians to increase liberty and to oppose ever more obvious curtailments of existing freedoms.
The LPC’s activism represents an opposition, a withdrawal of support for intrusive government.
Taxpayers should not be forced to pay for things they don’t agree with.
We want to help create a society where the justice system functions. We need to look at reforming the courts, police, allow accountability to citizens. Opting out. People will be free to use private arbitration services and security. The needs of crime victims should be primary. Unjust imprisonment will be treated as a crime also. Restitution to the victim will take primary focus. Proportionality also. Violent offenders will not be released early. In order to bring pressure on the courts and prisons to reform, we will allow the opting out of the official court system, and allow the use of private dispute resolution services.
We need to focus on an effective defensive military that doesn’t interfere in foreign nations but is limited to the defence of Canada against foreign aggression, and the training of citizen militias. People will be free to create their own militias for the defense of their own property in the event of foreign invasion.
The job of parliament should be to renegogiate and simplify the criminal code or law so that all regulation is removed and only harm against person or damage/theft or fraud is punishable.
The LPC seeks to restrain the power of government and to reform its institutions so that they serve the people rather than oppress them.
If elected, Libertarian candidates will follow their conscience concerning the oath of office. It is up to them whether they take it or not, and if not, they should be aware of the potential consequences.
We uphold the concept of self-ownership, that nobody’s life is owned by another, that everyone is entitled to their property, justly acquired.

LPC’s place in the libertarian movement

LPC members share ideals in opposition to current policies and a belief in liberty.
We will always use political means which are justified in self-defense.
LPC has a political and educational role because elections are when people discuss political issues.
LPC is an alliance of libertarians of different stripes who disagree about the make-up of a free society.
We don’t expect to actually agree on how to define the ideal state of a free society, but we agree to educate the public on the necessity of freedom and we agree to oppose current policies that erode freedoms and that have already eroded freedoms.
We are all members of this society and are subject to “compromises” every day in our lives when we make use of government services and pay our taxes. The LPC is subject to regulations about the amounts that can be donated and is subject to reporting requirements by the government, and is the recipient of allowances. This doesn’t mean that we endorse these policies at all.
Our position is that Libertarians must not retreat from public life because of concerns about ideological purity and perfection.
We believe that the reason for so little progress by the libertarian movement and LP in the past is because of a lack of radical activism, and more because of the strength of the opposing ideologies.
We’re a group of free individuals who think for ourselves and have strong views.
Our goal is not to slow down the rate of decline or patch up our society. Our role is to actively resist its infringements.
We seek justice and freedom for those in our own personal lives and relationships and in our dealings in the market, e.g. boycott pressures.
Our goal is a complete transformation of the current system of government

Note: the above are my own opinions.

Suggestions for Libertarian Party of Canada Policies v. 2, March 8, 2007

(Original Post)

The following statements reflect my own opinions.
I have more to say here (dead link). [See above section for preliminary notes with some other ideas.]
Your comments (dead link)

1. Government
Instead of government dominating the lives of Canadians through taxes and regulations, the Libertarian Party of Canada believes that we should be free to run our own lives. We believe in a just, voluntary society that does not use government power to confiscate property or interfere with peaceful activities. Government should exist only to provide a framework that defends individual rights. It should act only as our servant and never as our master. Canada needs a massive reduction in the size and power of government.

2. Taxation
Ultimately our goal is a society which moves away from taxation completely to a system of fees for services, which would allow Canadians to pay only for the services they use. To begin, we would abolish the Goods and Services Tax, which is an intrusive burden on consumers and business owners who are forced to collect it. We would also push to make substantial reductions in the income tax and other taxes and would end payroll deductions for income tax. Provinces would raise their taxes independently.

3. Property Rights
We support an amendment to the Charter of Rights that would enshrine property rights against expropriation and interference by governments. We would set up challenges to property tax in the courts. We would challenge taxation on the same basis.

4a. The Environment
We blame pollution problems on a century of government central planning and legislation which has favoured the convenience of polluters above the traditional common law rights of property owners. No one has the right to violate the property rights of others by pollution, and the legal system should effectively protect persons and property from unwanted air and water pollution. At the same time, each should be free to take their own risks, set the rules for their property and make agreements with others concerning their environment. Dealing with the issue of property rights and the environment is a critical issue for our future in the face of new sources of potential contamination from advanced technologies and the increasing powerlessness of individuals. Legislated planning by government prevents Canadians from managing their own lives. A property-rights oriented system would fairly allocate the costs of waste and pollution.

4b. Public and Private Ownership of Resources
The other aspect of the pollution problem is government ownership of land, water and resources. Private owners have an interest in preserving the value of their investment, but the evidence shows that governments by their nature are poor stewards of resources and have a lack of interest in preventing serious pollution. Government management of the fisheries has proven to be a disaster. This is a clear example where the concept of property rights needs to be applied to resources. We support the principle of justly acquired property rights using the homesteading principles described by John Locke. We would support a just and fair transfer of federal government land to all Canadian taxpayers and residents based on use (in the case of First Nations for example and other nearby residents), and based on lot. This would be in exchange for a nominal fee that would allow the national debt to be paid. Once Canadians own the title to an area of land for example, they are then free to sell or rent access to resource companies, the public or other users of land.

4c. Climate Change and Freedom
We reject the attempted power-grab by bureaucrats in the name of global-warming fear-mongering. We would not ratify Kyoto or any such agreement. We question the assertion that increased levels of human-produced carbon gases – non-polluting in every respect – are responsible for an increase in global temperatures – gases that we produce when we heat our homes and fuel our vehicles and when we breathe. We question the actual effectiveness of proposed solutions in achieving the presumed goal of reducing global warming. Above all, we question the right of any authority to decide to impose these “solutions” on Canadians – taxes and regulations that will make us poorer, telling us how much we should suffer to meet their mandated level of carbon output. And we reject the bullying and one-sidedness of this substance-free propaganda effort, this outrageous scam, this neo-feudalist scheme to increase the powers of a global bureaucracy at our expense, this ideology that hates human civilization and progress, that targets especially our children with its lies and with its lust for power. Let us all weigh the evidence for ourselves and make our own choices.

5. Free Trade and Respect for Rights
We would open up trade with the whole world – Europe, Africa, Asia, Americas – so that all Canadians can do business with whoever they like – to our mutual benefit. We reject meddling in the affairs of other nations through government lending and the resulting impositions that go with the conditions of debt forgiveness. We do not condone or defend any abuse of natural rights by corporations that collude with foreign governments, who violate the natural rights of first-users of land – rightful property owners as opposed to government-approved owners. But we do not agree with imposing centrally planned labour and environmental regulations or “market reforms” on any nation as desirable as these may be. We do not accept such “trade agreements” as substitutes for free trade, which will naturally work for good through building mutual understanding and prosperity.

6a. Canadian Sovereignty
Canada should be politically independent. We support Canada’s sovereignty and reject the current Security and Prosperity Partnership (SPP) negotiations for integrating North American security and infrastructure, especially since these negotiations have proceeded without the scrutiny of the public and Parliament. Any point of negotiation that interferes with the lives and property of Canadians should be subject to challenge by citizens in Parliament or in court. Talk about democratic reform is empty as long as governments lock us into international treaties that interfere with our decision-making processes.

6b. International Government
We also favour withdrawal from organizations such as the World Bank and International Monetary Fund. We reject interference from the United Nations and other instruments of global government which undermine the efforts of Canadians who seek to reform their own society.

6c. Extradition Treaties and Canadian Law
Extradition treaties should only apply to acts considered crimes under Canadian law, and Canadian citizens should be prosecuted only under Canadian law. We would designate victimless “crimes” as not covered by extradition treaties.

7a. Non-Intervention
Libertarian defence and foreign policy is unique. We support a policy of non-intervention in the affairs of other nations, a policy that would shield Canadians from terrorist responses to interventionist policies. We support the withdrawal of Canadian forces from Afghanistan and other nations where they are stationed. Canada should build peaceful relations with all nations and refrain from supporting policies of interference that provoke conflict.

7b. The only justification for the use of Canada’s military is to defend the rights of Canadians from clear foreign aggression and invasion, and therefore to defend our borders and coastlines. Military power should never be used without regard for individual rights – for the destruction of lives and homes and infrastructure. And Armed Forces members should not have to face the risk of death and terrible injuries for the sake of foreign wars. War should always be avoided for these reasons. And war also tends to lead to an increase in government powers domestically and attacks on civil liberties.

7c. Response to Terrorism
We oppose any escalation of the current conflict in the Middle East. In the case of terrorism against Canadians by foreign nationals, negotiation with foreign governments and police services should be the first choice in bringing individuals to justice rather than military force.

7d. War Propaganda
We reject the use of war and bombing campaigns for either humanitarian justifications or for neo-mercantilist obsessions with resources. To reduce the possibility of foreign wars, all members of parliament should be responsible for ensuring that justifications for war are true. Any M.P. or government employee knowingly making fraudulent statements to justify war should be charged with an offence.

7e. Nuclear Proliferation
The development of nuclear weapons in another nation for their defence is not a justification for war. We believe it is important for the major powers to reduce their nuclear weaponry by mutual negotiation as nuclear weapons are a major threat to human life. We also do not agree to the placing of advanced weapons in space orbit – especially by a power monopoly – because of the danger of those weapons being used against peoples who are fighting for their independence and self-determination.

7f. Military Alliances
Canada should consider becoming militarily independent and remove ourselves from the NATO bureaucracy. NATO should have been dissolved after the Cold War ended, but it has been used to bomb Yugoslavia and Afghanistan and has now expanded its reach into Eastern Europe and Central Asia. Membership in NATO and the doctrine of “collective security” clearly endangers Canada’s peace as the possibility of escalation increases.

7g. Foreign Despots and Conflicts
As far as foreign dictatorships, the Canadian government should never attempt to interfere with the internal affairs of nations – either to threaten or to condone any particular government. We should respect their peoples’ independence and right to self-determination. The Canadian government should not interfere with internal rebellions when people are trying to fight for their freedom against oppressors or invaders, nor make any effort to disarm or cut off supplies.

8a. Terrorism and Civil Liberties
Treatment of Alleged Terrorists and Foreign Combatants. Neither prisoners apprehended by Canada’s criminal justice system nor prisoners captured in battle shall be subject to cruel or inhuman abuse, but shall be treated properly according to Canada’s liberal traditions. In the case of POW’s, they shall be treated according to the Geneva Conventions and released when hostilities have ceased or the danger has subsided.

8b. No person – citizen or non-citizen – should ever be turned over to a foreign nation that uses torture.
If he has been charged with an offense, he shall receive a fair trial. Otherwise he shall be released or released with conditions if under suspicion.

8c. All MP’s are responsible for reviewing military alliances with nations who use torture and policies of “rendition” where they are turning over suspects to other nations for torture.

8d. Due Process Rights
We question the need for an Anti-Terrorism law and security certificates. Terrorist suspects and all accused individuals shall always be brought before a judge and the reasons presented publicly to justify their detention. We reject the use of secret trials and imprisonment. Their case shall be quickly brought to trial. Nobody shall be detained indefinitely without being convicted in court. There is either evidence of threats to harm others or there is no basis for their detention.

8e. Emergency Measures and Medical Treatment
We oppose mandatory vaccinations and forced medical treatment against the wishes of the individual. In times of epidemics, voluntary quarantine and cooperation should be the rule, although restraining a person in extreme cases might be justifiable if they are threatening others’ safety directly. In the case of emergencies in general such as natural or man-made disasters, government agencies should attempt to offer help to everyone, but evacuation should always be voluntary and individual rights respected at all times.

9a. Justice
We support fundamental reforms to Canada’s justice system. The focus should not be on “society” but on defending individual rights, on justice for the victim, on making right what harm has been done to persons victimized by criminal acts.

9b. Victimless “Crimes”
A crime is not truly a crime if it does not involve harm against another person – murder, assault, theft, fraud or death threats. We would remove all victimless “crimes” from the Criminal Code.

9c. Just as alcohol prohibition was a destructive failure, drug prohibition raises the price of drugs and the resulting profits for criminal gangs. The illegality of drugs creates desperation and makes criminals out of non-criminals, burdening the Canadian justice system and making us less safe and subject to greater likelihood of intrusive policing. Personal vices should be matters of choice and personal responsibility.

9d. If the Criminal Code was reformed in this way, police resources would be focused on capturing those who are guilty of violating individual rights. For example, police resources should be used to combat sex-slavery rings that are victimizing women and children.

9e. We support the use of the law to protect children against violently or sexually abusive adults. We also support reforms that make adoption easier and allow children to leave abusive families when they choose.

9f. Punishment should be strictly proportional to the severity of the offences so we object to blanket “tough on crime” approaches that violate basic ideas of natural justice. We also object to light sentencing, early parole and coddling criminals. Those who are convicted of non-violent crimes do not benefit anyone by being in prison. Instead, they should be required to pay adequate restitution to their victims.

9g. Those convicted of violent crimes should be placed in prison, and required as much as possible to make restitution to their victims or their families and to pay for their residence. There should be indefinite sentences for those convicted of grievous offences. Every prisoner – bearing in mind Canada’s history of wrongful convictions – should be protected by the right of appeal, and officials responsible for wrongful convictions should be held accountable. To the same degree, families of victims should be able to bring their concerns to court in an efficient manner.

9h. Judges and police need to be fully accountable and responsive to the people they serve who need the justice system. If it is necessary to make courts competitive in order to orient them towards accountability, then ways should be considered of doing this. One possibility is to open new federal courts to compete with provincial courts (which prosecute most Criminal Code offences), or allow victims and defendants to select the provincial court system they feel is more just. [Ref. article by Tibor Machan]

9i. Judges’ decisions should be open to challenges by the public through other courts, by juries or by Parliament. In the same way, procedures need to be set so that Members of Parliament can be forced by the public and courts to review their legislation and decisions.

9j. We value openness and truth in justice. Courts do not have the right to interfere with freedom of speech or the freedom of the media. No information or evidence should ever be suppressed and kept from the public unless it is confidential and irrelevant to the case. This includes the identities of young offenders. If police obtain evidence by violating rights, then they should be dismissed and held accountable by the legal system.

10a. Independence from Government: Social Engineering
We take the freedoms specified in the Charter very seriously. Outside the issue of criminal abuse, we hold it as critical that institutions such as the family, churches, businesses, private schools and other private associations should be allowed to function independently and without government interference. Tax rules and subsidies should not be used to influence these groups.

10b. Government is our servant and not our master. It should not be allowed to dominate our culture and determine every aspect of Canadian society.

10c. We reject the government interfering with the responsibilities of the family through child care subsidies and policies. We reject all attempts at social engineering how families function.

10d. We reject government interference in lifestyle choices concerning smoking, diet and health in general

10e. We recommend that the government removes itself from the issue of marriage altogether. Individuals and groups in society decide their own spiritual and social beliefs and do not need the government to determine whether they are married or not. If government wishes to apply different tax rules for individuals versus couples, then these can be based on cohabitation.

11a. Guns and Self-Defence Rights
The government’s role should be to assist ordinary people in defending themselves, not to leave them defenceless to criminals and crazed gunmen. We support the rights of ordinary citizens to carry firearms for self-defence and other peaceful purposes. Police who carry guns should not have more rights than the public they serve. Neither should criminals be the only members of the public who carry guns.

11b. Of course we would repeal the long gun registry because it is a blatant attempt to supervise and control part of the public of which the government is only a servant. Those who use guns in violent crimes should be punished severely, but those who use guns to defend their lives and to deter aggressive criminals should never be punished for a proportional response.

12a. Political Process and Political Speech
We uphold freedom of political speech and we reject the terrible violations of this principle that Canadian ruling parties impose on the people. We support allowing individuals to donate whatever they like to political parties.

12b. And we would abolish the atrocity of spending restrictions on “third party” advocate organizations during elections. We oppose controls on political advertising and broadcasting.

12c. We support restrictions on elected officials and government employees, but oppose restrictions on political parties, especially onerous reporting requirements that violate the privacy of donors.

12d. We reject any move to electronic voting considering the abuses that have been reported in the United States.

12e. We support a NOTA (none of the above) option on ballots.

12f. In terms of ethics, we include raising taxes and placing burdensome restrictions on people as abuses of power and ethical violations. We support greater independence for Members of Parliament, but greater accountability through the right of citizens to recall their MP for unethical behaviour. We support the right of citizens to challenge Parliament by citizens’ initiatives and to pass laws by referenda, as long as these proposals are in the defence of individual rights.

13a. Freedom of Speech
We support total freedom of speech and conscience and opinion – with the exception of threats of violence and other violations of personal rights. We oppose legislation and international agreements that interfere with speech and which criminalize opinions however incorrect or misguided they may be. We reject the culture of control that tramples Canada’s heritage of free speech.

13b. We reject efforts by courts to control media coverage of trials and restrictions on identifying young offenders.

13c. We would abolish the CRTC and we reject government regulation of broadcasting and its power to license stations. As with other resources, use of the air waves should be based on first-use and should be traded on the free market.

13d. We will defend against all attacks on Internet freedom, for example legislation that requires ISP’s to install “wire-tapping” technology, legislation that targets political advocacy, legislation that attempts to tax the Internet, or other requirements or mandates to use particular communications and encryption standards or set other policies. Canadians must fight for Internet freedom.

14a. Intellectual Property
We support a moderate approach to patents and copyrights and urge a careful review of existing laws and international agreements, and the ethical issues and the consequences involved. These types of laws should never violate the principles of basic justice and become instruments of oppression. Penalties should never be out of proportion to the offence.

14b. Canada should develop its own approach for Canadian citizens independently of foreign nations and not seek to impose its own laws on other nations. Courts and juries should decide penalties and their decisions should help develop the law. Courts should be open to foreign complaints. In the case of simultaneous inventions, it’s not clear that monopoly protection should be granted to only one person or business.

14c. Extreme developments should be open to question and challenge such as patenting existing processes, or genetically modified life-forms and existing life forms.

14d. Genetic or other high-tech contamination of private property such as crops or livestock should be treated as a trespass, and the person/company spreading the substance should be liable to penalties rather than the person receiving it. [ref. Percy Schmeiser]

15a. Surveillance Society
We reject the concept of the surveillance society as another symptom of the belief that government owns the lives of Canadians. The surveillance society is made more likely by recent developments in technology. As an example, we reject any legal requirements to install any kind of monitoring devices in cars or products.

15b. We reject mandatory national ID’s or imposed standards for biometrics that require a person to submit personal information such as fingerprints or retina scans in order to obtain a driver’s license, or any other imposed government standard that limits or licenses the ability of people to travel freely within Canada and participate in the economy.

15c. We would abolish the Social Insurance Number and all requirements for its use. In a free society, nobody should be required to surrender data of any kind except what is necessary by mutual consent for trade between individuals.

15d. Bearing in mind what has occurred in recent years with the U.S.A. Patriot Act and similar legislation, we uphold the principle that no search should be conducted without a warrant authorized by a judge and with probable cause that a crime has been committed. No law shall mandate the silencing of Internet service providers, telecommunications companies, libraries or other organizations or citizens to keep investigations private from their customers.

15e. We reject government agencies spying on peaceful citizens in any way, including the monitoring of private communications or attempts to restrict the use of digital encryption.

15f. We completely reject the monitoring of financial transactions which the Canadian government currently subjects its citizens to. No internal checkpoints for travellers will be acceptable, and no requirements by businesses to report customer information to government agencies will be acceptable. [ref: article on hotels].

16a. Borders and Immigration
We believe that airlines should hire their own security for the safety of their customers and that government security and customs agents at airports and borders be very carefully trained to respect the rights of travellers.

16b. The borders and coastlines should be monitored for dangerous persons and cargo, stolen goods and undeclared weapons. Only a simple declaration of identity would be required for entry into Canada under normal circumstances.

16c. Immigrants and refugees would be admitted freely to Canada, but would not be granted government welfare or the use of government services without payment. The government can assist people in getting in touch with private agencies and individuals who will sponsor and assist them.

17a. Free Market
We oppose government intervention in the free market, and restrictions on trade, government monopolies and marketing boards. We advocate repeal of all controls on wages, prices, rents, profits, production, and interest rates.

17b. Immigration and Employment In order that immigrants are not excluded from working in their professions, and so that no Canadian is excluded from the economy, we will advocate to provincial governments for the end of monopoly certification agencies and licensing for jobs and professions. Competing standard-setting associations for medical and other professions should be allowed to form so that consumers are aware of their qualifications. Consumers would still be protected from fraud, but deregulating our society like this would allow for greater innovation and prosperity.

17c. Fiat Currency and Central Banking We oppose any government involvement in the monetary and banking system. We propose elimination of the Bank of Canada and the termination of government power to issue or regulate currency or credit. We support the continued freedom of any individual or group to own gold or any other commodity of exchange, as well as the right to produce coinage and issue currency. [quote from SOO]

17d. Health Care The only effective way to stop the deterioration of health care services is to have all medical and health plans open to competition on the free market. Therefore we support an end to all compulsory or tax-supported health-insurance plans, and the right of individuals to contract freely with health care practitioners of their choice. [quote from SOO].

17e. Regulation of Consumer Products We support voluntary free market regulation by consumer information agencies rather than by government imposition.

17f. We support the freedom of consumers to access new pharmaceutical products or alternative therapies. But companies would never be shielded from legal liability for damages – except by contract – or charges of fraud for misrepresentation. We believe that consumers should empower themselves, rely less on centralized government and push for more information and direct accountability with agricultural companies and product manufacturers using free market organizations and the courts if necessary.

17g. Subsidies and Privileges We reject subsidies of all kinds – whether to industry, education, science or the arts.

17h. We reject special legal privileges for corporations.

The above was not “final.” Here is a third draft, closer to what was eventually passed:

Suggestions for Libertarian Party of Canada Policies v. 3, March 29, 2007

(Original Post)

The following statements reflect my own opinions.
I have more to say here. Preliminary notes — see above. Your comments

2. Taxation
Ultimately our goal is a society which moves away from coercive taxation completely to a system of fees for services. We want Canadians to pay only for the services they use and agree to. We would abolish the Goods and Services Tax, which is an intrusive burden on consumers and business owners who are forced to collect it. We would end payroll deductions for personal income tax. We would seek to eliminate or reduce all forced taxation. Provinces would raise their taxes independently.

4a. The Environment
We blame pollution problems on decades of government central planning and legislation which has favoured the convenience of polluters above the traditional common law rights of property owners. No one has the right to violate the property rights of others by pollution, and the legal system should effectively protect persons and property from unwanted air and water pollution. At the same time, each should be free to take their own risks, set the rules for their property and make agreements with others concerning their environment. Dealing with the issue of property rights and the environment is a critical issue for Canada’s future in the face of new sources of potential contamination from advanced technologies and with the increasing powerlessness of individuals. Legislated planning by government prevents Canadians from managing their own lives. A property-rights oriented system would fairly allocate the costs of waste and pollution.

4c. Climate Change and Freedom
We reject the attempted power-grab by bureaucrats in the name of global-warming fear-mongering. We would not support Kyoto or any similar agreement. We question the assertion that increased levels of human-produced carbon gases – non-polluting in every respect – are responsible for an increase in global temperatures – gases that we produce when we heat our homes and fuel our vehicles and when we breathe. We question the actual effectiveness of proposed solutions in achieving the presumed goal of reducing global warming. Above all, we question the right of any authority to mandate carbon output and to impose “solutions” that will make us poorer and limit our choices. And we reject the bullying and one-sidedness of this substance-free propaganda effort, this outrageous scam, this neo-feudalist scheme to increase the powers of a global bureaucracy at our expense. We reject this ideology that hates economic freedom and the resulting technologies that protect us from the disease and suffering that we would otherwise have to endure in a state of nature. Let us all weigh the evidence for ourselves and make our own decisions.

5. Free Trade and Respect for Rights
We would open up trade with the whole world – Europe, Africa, Asia, Americas – so that all Canadians can do business with whoever they like – to our mutual benefit. We reject meddling in the affairs of other nations through government lending and the resulting impositions that go with the conditions of debt forgiveness. We do not condone or defend any abuse of natural rights by corporations that collude with foreign governments, who violate the natural rights of first-users of land – rightful property owners as opposed to government-approved owners. We do not agree with imposing centrally planned labour and environmental regulations or “market reforms” on any nation as desirable as these may be. We do not accept such “trade agreements” as substitutes for free trade, which builds mutual understanding and prosperity.

7d. Justifications for War and Propaganda
We reject the use of war and bombing campaigns for either humanitarian justifications or to control resources.
7d(i). To reduce the possibility of foreign wars, all members of parliament should be responsible for ensuring that justifications for war are true. Any M.P. or government employee knowingly making fraudulent statements to justify war should be charged with an offence.

7e. Nuclear Proliferation
The development of nuclear weapons in another nation for their defence is not a justification for war. We believe it is important for the major powers to reduce their nuclear weaponry by mutual negotiation because nuclear weapons are a major threat to human life. We also do not agree to the placing of advanced weapons in space orbit – especially by a power monopoly – because of the danger of those weapons being used against peoples who are fighting for their independence and self-determination.

8a. Terrorism and Civil Liberties

Treatment of Alleged Terrorists and Foreign Combatants. Neither prisoners apprehended by Canada’s criminal justice system nor prisoners captured in battle shall be subject to cruel or inhuman abuse, but shall be treated properly according to Canada’s liberal traditions. In the case of POW’s, they shall be treated according to the Geneva Conventions and released when hostilities have ceased or the danger has subsided.

8c. All MP’s are responsible for reviewing military alliances and agreements with nations who use torture and policies of “rendition” where they are turning over suspects to other nations for torture.

8d. Due Process Rights
We question the need for an Anti-Terrorism law and security certificates. Terrorist suspects and all accused individuals shall always be brought before a judge and the reasons presented publicly to justify their detention. We reject the use of secret trials and imprisonment. Their case shall be quickly brought to trial, and nobody shall be detained indefinitely without being convicted in court. There is either evidence of threats to harm others or there is no basis for their detention.

8.d.1 No Canadian resident or organization should have their name placed on a security “watch list” without being notified and without due process in court. Any person whose name is on such a list has the right to challenge the validity of the listing in any situation and to challenge the decision in court. A listing should not be enforceable without a court order to justify it.

8e. Emergency Measures and Medical Treatment
We oppose mandatory vaccinations and forced medical treatment against the wishes of the individual. In times of epidemics, voluntary quarantine and cooperation should be the rule, although restraining an infectious person might be justifiable if they are threatening others’ safety directly. In the case of emergencies in general such as natural or man-made disasters, government agencies should attempt to offer assistance, but evacuation should always be voluntary and individual rights respected at all times.

9a. Justice
We support fundamental reforms to Canada’s justice system. The focus should not be on “society” or the State but on defending individual rights, on justice for the victim, on making right what harm has been done to persons victimized by criminal acts.

9a(i). In this respect, the prosecutorial function in courts should not be reserved to Crown Attorneys but should be made available to any private citizen.

9c. Just as alcohol prohibition was a destructive failure, drug prohibition raises the price of drugs and the resulting profits for criminal gangs. The illegality of drugs creates desperation and makes criminals out of non-criminals, burdening the Canadian justice system and making us less safe and subject to a greater likelihood of intrusive policing. Personal vices should be matters of choice and personal responsibility.

9ci. We would seek diplomatic understanding with foreign governments in order to de-escalate the War on Drugs.

9d. If the Criminal Code was reformed by removing victimless crimes, police resources would be focused on capturing those who are guilty of violating individual rights. For example, police resources should be used to combat sex-slavery.

9e. Police resources should be used to protect children against violently or sexually abusive adults. But they should do this only in the context of due process and with consideration of the child’s wishes concerning their new home.
[Ref on child protection agencies: http://www.namca.com/english/cpa.htm]
[Ref: http://www.canadacourtwatch.com/

9f. Punishment should be strictly proportional to the severity of the offences, so we object to blanket “tough on crime” approaches that violate basic ideas of natural justice.
9fii.We also object to light sentencing, early parole and coddling criminals.
9fiii. Those who are convicted of non-violent crimes do not benefit anyone by being in prison. Instead, they should be required to pay adequate restitution to their victims.

9g. Those convicted of violent crimes should be placed in prison, and required as much as possible to make restitution to their victims or their families and to pay for their residence. T
9gii. There should be indefinite sentences for those convicted of grievous offences.
9giii. Every prisoner – bearing in mind Canada’s history of wrongful convictions – should be protected by the right of appeal, and officials responsible for wrongful convictions should be held accountable.
9giv. To the same degree, families of victims should be able to bring their grievances to court in an efficient manner.

9h. Judges and police need to be fully accountable and responsive to the people they serve.
9hi. If it is necessary to make courts competitive in order to orient them towards accountability, then ways should be considered of doing this. Possibilities include opening new federal courts to compete with provincial courts (which prosecute most Criminal Code offences), or allowing victims and defendants to select the provincial court system they feel is more just.
[Ref. article by Tibor Machan]

9i. Judges’ decisions should always be open to challenge by members of the public through other courts, by juries or by Parliament.
9i(ii). In the same way, procedures need to be set so that Members of Parliament can be forced by members of the public and courts to review their legislation and decisions.

9j. We value openness and truth in justice. Courts do not have the right to interfere with freedom of speech or the freedom of the media.
9ji. The publication of relevant information and evidence should never be prevented, including the identities of young offenders.
9jii. If police obtain evidence by violating rights, then they should be dismissed and held accountable by the legal system.

10a. Independence from Government: Social Engineering
We take the freedoms specified in the Charter very seriously. Outside the issue of criminal abuse, we believe it is critical that institutions such as the family, churches, businesses, private schools and other private associations should be allowed to function independently and without government interference. Tax rules and subsidies should not be used to influence these groups.

10b. Gvernment is our servant and not our master. It should not be allowed to dominate our culture and determine every aspect of Canadian society.

10c. We reject the government interfering with the responsibilities of the family through child care subsidies and policies. We reject all attempts at social engineering how families function.

10d. We reject government interference in lifestyle choices concerning smoking, diet and health in general

10e. With respect to same-sex marriage, we recommend that the government removes itself from the issue of marriage altogether. Individuals and groups in society decide their own spiritual and social beliefs and do not need the government to determine whether they are married or not. If government wishes to apply different tax rules for individuals and couples, then these can be based on cohabitation.

11a. Guns and Self-Defence Rights
The government’s role should be to assist ordinary people in defending themselves, not to leave them defenceless to criminals and crazed gunmen.
11.a.1 We support the rights of ordinary citizens to carry firearms for self-defence and recreational purposes.
11.a.2 Police who carry guns should not have more rights than the public they serve. Neither should criminals be the only members of the public who carry guns.

11.b. We would repeal gun registration laws, which are blatant attempts to supervise and control members of the public – to whom the government is only a servant.
http://www.canadianembassy.org/government/guncontrol-en.asp
http://www.cfc-ccaf.gc.ca/media/guide/default_e.asp
http://www.cfc-ccaf.gc.ca/pol-leg/hist/firearms/default_e.asp

11.c. Those who use guns in violent crimes should be punished severely, but those who use guns to defend their lives and to deter aggressive criminals should never be punished for a proportional response.

12a. Political Process and Political Speech
We uphold freedom of political speech and we reject the terrible violations of this principle that Canadian ruling parties impose on the people.
12.a.1 We support allowing individuals to donate whatever they like to political parties.

12.b.2 And we oppose the atrocity of spending restrictions on “third party” advocate organizations during elections.

12.b.3 We oppose limits on political advertising and broadcasting.

12.c.1 We support restrictions on elected officials and government employees, but oppose restrictions on political parties, especially onerous reporting requirements that violate the privacy of donors.

12.d. We reject any move to electronic voting considering the abuses that have been reported in the United States.
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/techpolicy/evoting/2004-11-04-1000-reports_x.htm
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/techpolicy/2004-11-03-evote-trouble_x.htm
http://yro.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=04/04/30/2130206

12e. We support a NOTA option (none of the above) on ballots.

12f. With respect to ethics in government, we include raising taxes and placing burdensome restrictions on people as abuses of power and ethical violations.

12.f.1 We support greater independence for Members of Parliament,

12.f.2 but greater accountability through the right of citizens to recall their MP for unethical behaviour.

12.f.3 We support the right of citizens to defend individual rights and challenge Parliament through citizens’ initiatives and referenda.

13a. Freedom of Speech
We support total freedom of speech and conscience and opinion – with the exception of threats of violence.

13.a.1 We oppose legislation and international agreements that interfere with speech and which criminalize opinions however incorrect or misguided those opinions may be.

13.a.2 We reject the culture of control that tramples Canada’s heritage of free speech.

13.b We reject government regulation of broadcasting with its power to license stations.

13.b.1 As with other resources, use of the air waves should be based on first-use and should be traded on the free market as private property.

13.c We reject cultural protectionism and government efforts to regulate content.

13d. We will defend against all attacks on Internet freedom, for example legislation that requires Internet Service Providers to install “wire-tapping” technology, legislation that targets political advocacy, legislation that attempts to tax the Internet, or other requirements or mandates to use particular communications and encryption standards. Canadians must fight to maintain Internet freedom.
http://yro.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=07/03/26/2226200

14.a.1 Intellectual property laws should never violate the principles of basic justice and become instruments of oppression.

14.a.2 Penalties should never be out of proportion to the offence.

14.b Canada should develop its own approach to Intellectual Property for Canadian citizens independently of foreign nations.

14.b.1 Canada should not seek to impose its own Intellectual Property laws on other nations except by representation in foreign courts, just as Canadian courts should be open to foreign complaints.

14.b.2 Courts and juries should decide penalties and their decisions should help develop Intellectual Property law.

14.b.3 In the case of simultaneous inventions, it’s not clear that monopoly protection should be granted to only one person or business.
http://www.quebecoislibre.org/000902-3.htm

14c. Extreme developments should be open to question and challenge such as patenting existing processes, genetically modified life-forms or existing life forms.
http://www.metro.co.uk/news/article.html?in_article_id=26183&in_page_id=34
http://www.solbaram.org/articles/clm505.html
http://www.i-sis.org.uk/trips99.php

14d. Genetic or other high-tech contamination of private property such as crops or lifestock must be treated as a trespass, and the person or company spreading the substance should be liable to penalties rather than the person receiving the contamination.
[http://www.percyschmeiser.com/ Percy Schmeiser]

15a. Surveillance Society
We reject the concept of the surveillance society as another symptom of the belief that government owns the lives of Canadians.

15.a.1 The surveillance society is made more likely by recent developments in technology. As an example, we reject any legal requirements that mandate the installation of any kind of monitoring devices in cars or other products.

http://observer.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,6903,1011463,00.html
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article650166.ece

15.b.1 We reject any other imposed government standard that limits or licenses the ability of people to travel freely within Canada and participate in the economy.

15c. We would abolish the Social Insurance Number and all requirements for its use.

15.c.1 In a free society, nobody should be required to surrender data of any kind except what is necessary by mutual consent for trade between individuals.

15.c.2 For government services, citizens and immigrants can be supplied with receipts for paid taxes or fees. A temporary pass-code can identify the customer. The identification process in every case should be left open to negotiation.

15.d.1 No law shall mandate the silencing of Internet service providers, telecommunications companies, libraries or other organizations or citizens, that prevent them from informing their customers of investigations into their records.

15e. We reject government agencies spying on peaceful citizens in any way. This includes the monitoring of private communications or restrictions on the use of digital encryption.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ECHELON
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/special/encryption/encryption.htm

15f. We completely reject the monitoring of financial transactions which the Canadian government currently subjects its citizens to.
Read http://www.fintrac.gc.ca/intro_e.asp

15.f.1 No internal checkpoints for travellers will be acceptable, and no requirements by businesses to report customer information to government agencies will be acceptable.

16a. Borders and Immigration
We believe that airlines should hire their own armed security for the safety of their customers.

16.a.1 Government security and customs agents at airports and borders should be very carefully trained to respect the rights of travellers.

16.b.1 The borders and coastlines should be monitored for dangerous persons and cargo, stolen goods and undeclared weapons.
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/north/story/2007/03/28/senate-coast.html?ref=rss
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2007/03/22/senate-ports.html?ref=rss

16.b.2 Only a simple declaration of identity would be required for entry into Canada under normal circumstances.

16.c. Immigrants and refugees would be admitted freely to Canada, but would not be granted government welfare or the use of government services without payment.

16.c.1 Agents would assist immigrants in contacting private groups and individuals who will sponsor and assist them.

17a. Free Market
We oppose government intervention in the free market. We oppose restrictions on trade. We oppose government monopolies and marketing boards.

17.a.2 We advocate repeal of all controls on wages, prices, rents, profits, production, and interest rates.

17.b.2 Competing standard-setting associations for medical and other professions should be allowed to form so that consumers are aware of professional qualifications.

17.c.3 Consumers would still be protected from fraud, but deregulating our society in this way would allow for greater innovation and prosperity.

17c. Fiat Currency and Central Banking We oppose any government involvement in the monetary and banking system.

[quote from Statment of Objectives]

17.c.2 We propose elimination of the Bank of Canada and the termination of government power to issue or regulate currency or credit.
[quote from Statment of Objectives]

17.c.3 We support the continued freedom of any individual or group to own gold or any other commodity of exchange, as well as the right to produce coinage and issue currency.
[quote from Statment of Objectives]

17d. Health Care The only effective way to stop the deterioration of health care services is to have all medical and health plans open to competition on the free market.
[quote from SOO]

17.d.2 Therefore we support an end to all compulsory or tax-supported health-insurance plans, and the right of individuals to contract freely with health care practitioners of their choice.

[quote from SOO]

17e. Regulation of Consumer Products We support voluntary free market regulation by consumer information agencies rather than by imposed government regulations.

17f. We support the freedom of consumers to access new pharmaceutical products or alternative therapies.

17.f.1 But companies should never be shielded from charges of fraud or misrepresentation or from legal liability for damages except by mutual contract.

17.f.2 We believe that consumers need to empower themselves, rely less on centralized government and push for more information and direct accountability from food producers and product manufacturers using free market organizations and an effective court system.

17g. Subsidies and Privileges We reject subsidies of all kinds – whether to industry, education, science or the arts.

17.h. We reject government-granted privileges that allow organizations to pollute or otherwise violate individual rights.
[Note: some libertarians defend limited liability: http://www.lewrockwell.com/north/north408.html]

Canadian Liberty

Resist the Brave New World! We Can Do Better!

2007 Policy Suggestions for Libertarian Party of Canada (January 24, March 8, March 29, 2007)

Preliminary Notes – 2007 Policy Suggestions for Libertarian Party of Canada

Suggestions for Libertarian Party of Canada Policies v. 2, March 8, 2007

Suggestions for Libertarian Party of Canada Policies v. 3, March 29, 2007

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2007 Policy Suggestions for Libertarian Party of Canada (January 24, March 8, March 29, 2007) — No Comments

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