Dear Editor,

During the next twenty-five years, the world will become a radically different place. Some nations will aim for excellence; others will aim for mediocrity. Some will be characterized by opportunity; others will be characterized by despair. Some will manage prosperity; others will manage decline. At this point in history, it remains unclear what nation Canada will become.

Stephen Harper has started us down the long path of managed decline. During his time in office: education rankings declined, infrastructure rankings declined, innovation rankings declined, R&D rankings declined and competitiveness rankings declined. A look at the statistics reveals some alarming trends.

First, Canada’s competitiveness remains sluggish. Between 2008 and 2014, the World Economic Forum downgraded Canada’s competitiveness ranking from 10th to 14th. The World Bank Group also downgraded Canada on its “ease of doing business” ranking. Eighteen nations beat us in the “ease of doing business” ranking. Not surprisingly, when asked to identify the best place to do business, neither Bloomberg (2014) nor Forbes (2013) chose Canada. We need to reverse this trend if we are to put Canada on the path to long-term prosperity.

Second, Canada is falling behind on research, development and innovation. Between 2006 and 2011, gross expenditures on R&D declined from 2.00 percent of GDP to 1.70 percent of GDP. South Korea (3.01 percent), Japan (3.26 percent), Germany (2.84 percent), America (2.77 percent) and China (1.84 percent) all outspent Canada. Between 2008 and 2013 the World Economic Forum downgraded Canada’s innovation ranking from 18th to 27th. Singapore, America, Indonesia, Germany, Japan, Australia, and South Korea all have a higher capacity to innovate. We need to reverse this trend if we are to put Canada on the path to long-term prosperity.

Third, Canada’s infrastructure is waning compared to other nations. Between 2008 and 2013, port infrastructure declined from 14th to 20th; railroad infrastructure declined from 15thto 16th; airport infrastructure declined from 17th to 19th; and road infrastructure declined from 10th to 19th. We can’t transport the products, materials and resources of the future efficiently with outdated infrastructure.

Fourth, Canada’s primary education system is slumping compared to other nations. Since 2006, Canada’s global math scores declined from seventh to 13th; science scores declined from third to 10th; and reading scores declined from fourth to seventh. For the first time in Canadian history; Japan, Hong Kong, South Korea and Singapore bested Canadian students in all three categories. Canada’s post-secondary institutions aren’t doing any better. The World Economic Forum downgraded Canada’s post-secondary system from eighth in 2008 to tenth in 2013. Alarmingly, not a single Canadian university placed in the top 25 of the 2013 Shanghai Global ARWU Ranking.

Fifth, Canada is not keeping up on employee training. Between 2008 and 2013 the availability of research and training services declined from 10th to 18th, staff training slid from 19th to 34th, and company spending on research and development declined from 22nd to 29th.

Sixth, Canada’s youth unemployment rate is excessively high compared to other nations. Canada’s youth unemployment rate towered at 14.0 percent at the end of 2013. It was higher than America’s (13.5 percent), Australia’s (12.7 percent), Germany’s (7.9 percent) and Japan’s (6.8 percent). Youth unemployment is being compounded by youth “underemployment”; an estimated 27.7 percent of young Canadians are working in sectors unrelated to their education.

Seventh, Canada’s fiscal situation deteriorated. Between 2008-09 and 2014-15 national debt soared by a projected $176.4 billion, in part because of wasteful spending on prisons, weapons and lawsuits. The Harper government increased debt by $31,088.63 for every child under the age of fifteen. Canada now owes $108,416.96 in principal for every child under the age of fifteen. We need to reverse this trend if we are to put Canada on the path to long-term prosperity.

Eighth, Canada’s international reputation is waning. Harper’s misguided foreign policy has strained relationships with foreign investors and foreign governments. Alarmingly, the proportion of Americans, Australians, Indians, Mexicans and Brits who believe Canada’s role in the world is “mainly positive” declined in 2010. In China, the percentage of respondents who saw Canada in a positive light declined from 75 percent to 54 percent according to the BBC. We need to reverse this trend if we are to put Canada on the path to long-term prosperity.

Ninth, Canada’s trade advantage is disappearing. Over the last 37 months, Canada posted 30 trade deficits and only seven trade surpluses. Canada’s trade deficit with China alone grew from $17.33 billion in 2004 to $31.37 billion in 2012. Imports from China totaled $50.71 billion, while exports to China were only $19.35 billion. Declining export value in sectors like aerospace manufacturing and pharmaceuticals are extrapolating Canada’s trade deficit.

Now, if you subscribe to the endless stream of Conservative talking points, manipulated statistics and partisan spin you will blame these alarming trends on everyone (and everything) but the Prime Minister. The problem with that argument is obvious: Stephen Harper has been in the driver’s seat this whole time.

Don’t forget: Harper allowed 500,000 foreign workers to cut the employment line, while youth unemployment towered at 14.0 percent. He ripped up a pan-Canadian childcare strategy, in favour of an American-style prison strategy. He gave corporations $60 billion, while student debt surpassed $23 billion. And he prioritized prisons, weapons and lawsuits over educational funding, debt reduction, and scholarship programs.

The next generation has a clear choice: Stand-by as Harper leads us farther and farther down the road to decline, or stand-up and prevent Canada from going past the point of no return.

Kyle Morrow

Ponoka, AB