Your say: What's the most important issue for Parliament to tackle this session?
Globe readers weigh in on what the government should focus on when Parliament returns on Oct. 16
Electoral reform: We need a system that lets voters' voices be heard. First past the post does not work for a four-party system, allowing a party to gain a majority government with less than 40 per cent of the popular vote, while the majority of people's votes go to waste. This system forces people to vote strategically against who they want out, not for who they want in. Eric Braul, Halifax
Climate change: Practice what you preach. The Harper government dismisses the thawing of Iranian-Western relations as ‘a charm offensive’ and states that actions speak louder than words. The exact same critique could be made of the current Canadian government charm offensive on the climate change front. They are trying to sell pipelines based on empty rhetoric about their commitment to environmental protection and yet their actions, or inaction, speak volumes about their actual priorities. As long as unbridled resource development continues to trump responsible stewardship of the environment, no one is going to be taken in, no matter how charming they are! Jim Christopher, North Vancouver, B.C.
Aboriginal rights: Countless aboriginal women in Canada are being abused, murdered and go missing every year. Indigenous peoples deserve the same human rights and it is extremely important that attention and voice be given to the matter from Parliament and the federal government of Stephen Harper. Ellen Mahmood, Toronto
Provincial relations: Our provincial governments have been pressing the federal government to allow them more input into several issues and discussions that would encroach on the jurisdictions of the provinces. Right now, the provinces are asking the federal government to reform the Canada Pension Plan system (CPP) to give middle-class Canadians more money to live on. In my opinion, the federal government should focus on listening to their provincial counterparts and the opposition parties should support the provinces instead of bringing up issues that do not terribly affect Canadians directly (such as Senate abolition and marijuana legalization). Oliver Jacob, Braeside, Ont.The Canadian Press
Sustainable development: The government appears to put all their effort, energy, and money into greater oil and gas development. The targeted volume of output is high. How sustainable is such output with respect to the amount of water required? How will this impact the safe drinking water supply? Dustin Fuller, Calgary
Northern Gateway pipeline: Enbridge and the Canadian government seem to be thinking of the Northern Gateway pipeline as a means to an end. In doing so, they appear to ignore both the intrinsic value as well as the economic value of the natural environments that are under threat by the project. We need to start doing several things: one, recognize natural capital for its vast public worth in our country and throughout the world as a whole; two, put a value on natural systems and the services they provide for free; three, begin to put an emphasis on public benefits over private profits. Daniel Aderman, Victoria
Foreign aid: We need to make sure that CIDA's mandate will not be lost in the merger with DFAIT. Development assistance should not be influenced by our trade interests. There needs to be a clear articulation of how Canada will continue upholding our legacy for humanitarian assistance. I'd like to see Canada restored to 0.34 per cent of GNI (2010 levels) – still well below the OECD recommendation of 0.07 per cent. Finally, I'd like to see innovation in financing mechanisms recognizing the importance of and flexibility required for piloting ideas and rewarding success with scaling up. Fariya Mohiuddin, Toronto
Environment: Climate change, carbon emissions and the deteriorating state of our oceans is a matter of urgent global nature. Governments everywhere need to come together and address this crisis immediately. Our oceans cannot tolerate further industrial degradation. Ocean acidification and hypoxia is an urgent matter that transcends all other issues because once we lose the battle to sustain oxygen derived from healthy oceans, life on Earth itself is in peril. Mary Gorman, Merigomish, N.S.
First Nations: Women, diverse nations, Treaty 9, Idle No More, pipelines, Attawapiskat, aboriginal youth...need I say more? John Wasteneys, Peterborough, Ont.
Middle Class: Economic stability and rising wages for the middle class are needed to solve many issues the country faces. A growing middle class will facilitate more upper mobility for the working poor, increase fertility to counteract demographic shifts, and enable increased wealth, more growth to fund needed changes in the country. Many groups and individuals aim to maintain the status quo for no rational reason - a big barrier to change. A good first step would be for free trade to be allowed between provinces. An EU trade pact but not within Canada? It's crazy. Darryl Youzefowich, Edmonton