Unlike former prime minister Kim Campbell, The Globe and Mail believes an election campaign is the right time to debate serious national issues.
Our VoteSmart series presented eight topics critical to Canada's future that the candidates should have debated extensively — but did not — during the campaign for the Jan. 23 election.
All topics were presented in the same format — a story outlining the issue, a Comment Page debate offering two contrasting views on it, and an on-line conversation between our readers and the Globe journalist who wrote the main article on each topic.
Week 1: Medicare
Is medicare dead? What's next?
Week 2: Immigration
Is our immigration policy the best one for Canada?
Week 3: Quebec
Why are federalists losing the new Quebeckers?
Week 4: U.S. relations
Can this friendship be fixed? Should it be?
Week 5: Our best, brightest
Can we be innovative enough to keep our best brains?
Week 6: Reshaping Canada
the economic basis of federalism
Week 7: Aboriginals
Is the Canadian model for relations with aboriginals beyond repair?
Week 8: Youth
Can we get young Canadians interested in voting again?
