The Royal Canadian Navy, Canadian Army and the Royal Canadian Air Force.  Probably too small and under-equipped to do what Canadians expect of them.  More funding is needed to correct this situation, as well as more manpower, and more equipment.  Definitely continuing the hugely beneficial and cost-effective defensive alliances we have with our NATO and North American partners is imperative.  But Canada needs to meet its 2% defence spending obligation that it has agreed to.  We need to have modern and responsive regular and reserve forces to operate all across this vast land and its coastal waters.

Who is a citizen, who is a permanent resident, who is on some form of visa or another.  Selection of immigrants, handling of refugees.  Issuance of passports and permanent resident cards.  Immigration has always be one of the important driving forces behind Canada.  We need to continue that, possibly bringing in more immigrants who have been better selected to benefit our existing society and economy.  This might mean insisting on language fluency in English or French before any further immigration application work is done for a prospective applicant.  Fluency will mean they can become involved in work, their community and with their new neighbours right away after arrival.  An Immigrant Settlement Programme is needed to better share the economic benefits of immigration around the entire country.

We all pay them, federal taxes. Whether it is at the gas pump or through our personal or corporate income tax, or the GST...or more! This money is needed to fund government programmes and operations. Canada Revenue Agency is the lead here.  Should the federal government focus on income tax and provincial government on sales tax?  Should flat taxes be applied to income?  All good questions.

Operating Canada's embassies overseas and representing the government, business, and individual Canadians outside of our country.  Canada gathers information about many countries and peoples through our embassy staffs.  That helps us make proper decisions in a timely way.  Using these government workers to select immigrants, trade partners, and to look out for Canadian interests overseas is vital.

We all plan on Freedom 55 - but many achieve it at age 65 or 70.  Then it is a life as a pensioner. How will yours be?  We are all living longer and healthier lives.  Having enough money to live on in a comfortable lifestyle is important to us all.  Where will we live? Who will take care of us? 

Canada controls international points of entry: Airports and sea ports, rail lines, pipelines, etc.  They are tied to the movement of people and goods, to immigration controls and to our trade/customs needs/responsibilities.

Trade - under fair circumstances - is good for us.  Should Canada be part of large multi-party trade agreements where we each give up something to get something more? Or, should we pursue bilateral trade agreements with only those nations we need something from who need something from us?  One relationship we have always had and could turn into a successful trade relationship is the British Commonwealth of Nations.

The Canadian Content rules crafted and enforced by the CTRC have helped create a vibrant radio, television, music and film industry here in Canada.  They are threatened - as is the traditional media - by the no rules, internet companies based overseas and making money here without paying taxes here or following CanCon rules. Is that fair?  Clearly it is not.  They should play on the same playing field as Canadian companies in the broadcast arena do.

The top topic of conversation is the weather. And why not? It affects travel, farming, trade, the fisheries, and many other areas of Canadian life. Accurate and reliable weather forecasting is a must.  The federal government is the lead on Environmental issues. Is the global climate warming? Weather data shows it is and has been for many years.  Is it man-made or due to natural cycles of our sun?  Canada generates only 2% of the world's Carbon pollution.  Even if it were reduced to 0%, the world would barely notice. Likely our best course is for Canadian provinces and territories to continue with their pollution regulations, their waste management regulations, and continue upgrading their building codes tor require solar-power shingles on all new buildings, sufficient to generate that new buildings energy.

Canada has the world's longest national coast line, so what happens in the water matters to Canadians.  We need to conduct research, chart the seas, and maintain marine and offshore resources, all the while while enforcing our jurisdiction at sea.  With the opening up of marine traffic in the Arctic as our climate warms, Canada must be able to deliver the expected level of vessel management services, navigational services, and sovereignty enforcement that we do in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

From nuclear energy to all sorts of futuristic things, the NRC serves the country well.  More research in things such as space exploration, fusion power, and large-scale electrical storage batteries, as well as benign Artificial Intelligence products that will not displace humans from their jobs likely are worth pursuing.

Whether you buy gasoline, bulk foods, or wonder if business mergers are creating unfair business practices, the federal government handles it all.

Canada has likely the most stable banking and financial system in the world.  That is due to the rules and regulations around the Bank of Canada and our banking industry.  Its interest rates will determine how fast or slow our economy operates, and what we each will pay for borrowed money.  

Two years or more prison time coming to you? Then get set for a stay at one of Her Majesty's federal penitentiaries.  In more recent years dubbed Correctional Facilities, these prisons need to be places inmates never want to return to again.  They need to be here, do all of their sentence, and then be reintroduced back into society in a way that will set them on the right track.

A hold-over from our first constitution, the federal government representing the crown has responsibility to ensure the well-being of our First Peoples.  We ought to continue implementing self-government where ever First Nations are willing and financially able to proceed.

The federal government still oversees the operation of the three territories in Canada's North: Yukon, the Northwest Territories, and Nunavut.  When they are ready for provincial status they should be granted it.  Meanwhile, why not add a fourth territory? Turks & Caicos Islands have asked to join Canada twice.  While we are down in the Caribbean we ought to consider offering to take over British colonies such as the Cayman Islands, Montserrat, the British Virgin Islands, etc.

Making sure the future of Canada linguistically is balanced, calm, happy in English and en Francais!  Likely as part of our Immigrant selection process we ought to first and foremost select those who want to come here and who are already fluent in English or French.

Protecting our crown jewels of natural scenery for the enjoyment of everyone.  Creating more amazing natural reserves is part of what drives our identity as well as our tourist economy.

Up, up and away!  Canadian astronauts and technology are as good as anyone else's.  There are definite benefits to a presence in space.  Canada likely needs to continue expanding our space efforts both in concert with our space partners as well as in solo efforts to go where no one has gone before.

The Great White North is huge - the second largest country on Earth. There is plenty to see and do here and the federal government is responsible for attracting foreign tourists, a big benefit to the economy in lots of places in Canada.  The federal government needs to advertise in many countries to attract tourists to visit our great northern land.  Perhaps new tourism initiatives might see package tours across Canada to introduce tourists to Atlantic Canada, Quebec, Ontario, the West, BC and the North, rather than just promoting a week or two at Niagara Falls and the CN Tower, or in Ottawa and its fine museums?

Canada on the world stage: The Commonwealth Games, the Olympics, the Francophonie games, and more. We all like to see Canadians do well.  Canada doing well boosts national pride, so the more success the greater we all feel about our lives.

While we have no more First World War veterans remaining, there are plenty from the Second World War, as well as Korea, Afghanistan, as well as those who served in the Canadian military who are entitled to ongoing benefits and prompt customer service. It's the least we can do for them and their families.

Annually medals and awards are handed out to those who merit them by the Governor-General on behalf of Her Majesty The Queen.  It would be nice to see a wider membership in these award programmes than just those in the Canadian Establishment, our big name celebrities, and athletes.  These should be used to encourage Canadians at all levels of society to continue doing great things.

Canada is a major player in development aid in Third World countries. Should we give more? Should we give less? Should we focus it on a few promising nations to ensure at least some measure of success?

Federal laws exist and need to be enforced.   Various agencies including the RCMP, CSIS (our spies) and the Canadian Border Security Agency all help to keep us safe.  How much security do we need?  There is a lot of bad stuff happening which average Canadians do not see in their daily lives.  

Pay GST? Income Tax? Business Tax?  Customs duties? Then you are helping provide revenues to the federal government to fund all of it's operations and programmes.

But do taxes remove money from the economy which citizens or businesses could send to further stimulate the economy?  Of course they do.  It is a balancing act to collect taxes to fund government programmes but yet not hinder economic activity.