UNKNOWN

People often complain about current Canadian governmental structures. They believe we are stuck with this system, fearing that change is impossible. But we can enhance the quality of life for all members of our Canadian society.

In Rebooting Canada: A Fresh Start, author and accountant Richard W. Makinen lays out the straightforward and practical ways Canada can streamline our governments to create real efficiencies, governing in accordance with society's established and prioritized monetary values. Highlights of his proposed changes include:

- Creating a Framework empowering society to establish the priorities onto which governments are to focus attention regarding legislation and spending.
- Streamlining the government so that each program is run at a single level of government, with no federal, provincial, or municipal mixing of responsibilities.
- Legislating balanced budgets at all levels.
- Reining in Treaty and other Reconciliation settlements made with our indigenous population to retain control of Canada's debt and land use.
- Privatizing business type Crown corporations and abolishing the Senate and the Governor General's position.
- Simplifying and reducing income taxes and deductions, applying taxes equally, and shifting some income taxes to sales taxes.

Makinen also relates the history of where our government programs originated and lays out clear alternatives to the current structure.

Readers who are interested in the future of Canadian politics will come away from Rebooting Canada with more hope for the future, armed with concrete strategies they can bring to their local representative. When we all push for change together, change becomes possible.

Richard W. Makinen is an author and retired Chartered Professional Accountant. Born and raised in Québec with a French-Canadian mother and English-Canadian father, he knows what it's like to live in a so-called distinct society. Makinen's work has included maintaining business accounting records, preparing financial statements, and filing individual and corporate tax returns, as well as audit work. He spent nearly a decade at a federal Crown corporation issuing worldwide research grants to universities and NGOs and has done extensive business travel both nationally and internationally.

The author lives in Ottawa, Canada, with his wife of 50 years and their pet dog and cat.