1. Relive the Olympics

If we had wanted to create national unity from Haida Gwaii to St. John’s seven years ago, we could not have done better than bid on the Winter Olympics. Canadian hearts were glowing and most of the cynicism had been washed away long before the final hockey game. How can Canada sustain this patriotism? By sustaining funding for sports, and supporting the people who get up at 5 am to help young athletes train.

2. No More Minority Governments

Nothing can be more divisive for a country than to be ruled by a governing party that is opposed by 65 per cent of its citizens—it creates the feeling that the government is politically illegitimate. No other country follows this undemocratic practice. In Europe, when no party wins an outright majority, the right to become Prime Minister goes to whoever can command a political majority by forming a coalition government.

3. Go High-Speed with Trans Canada Rail

Most Canadians have no idea what it’s like to zip across the country at 250 km/h, as they do in Europe, China, Japan, and soon in the U.S., where they’ve committed $8 billion to highspeed rail. High-speed trains could take you from Toronto to Montreal in 2.5 hours or Calgary to Montreal in 18 hours. There are active plans for trains from Vancouver to Seattle, Calgary to Edmonton, and Montreal to Boston and New York. We just need leadership. See www.highspeedrail.ca.

4. Reform the Senate

A second chamber can add wise and informed reflection to proposed legislation, but an elected Senate could cause the complete breakdown of government if its majority ran counter to the Commons. The current system, which encourages political appointees, has almost no merit at all. If membership in the Senate was offered to all Canadians on a randomly selected basis, for a limited three-year term, it might imbue a deeper sense of fair representation.