The NDP under Layton has made a big deal about wanting to reduce child poverty, improve the environment, etc. This is all well and good, but such pronouncements mean little. Do not believe me. Consider for a second their negation. The NDP needs a bold, controversial and concrete program. Here are some suggestions.

1) 5 weeks of vacation for all Canadians: It is time Canada address the vacation deficit has relative to Europe

2) Free dental care for all Canadians: As it reduces benefit costs, especially important if companies are forced to take on more workers as a result of giving Canadians more vacation time, business will like it.

3) Legalize marijuana: Despite sounding like a 60s burnout in a taped conversation with Marc Emery, Layton has paid very little lip service to the issue since. Drop all the idiotic talk of Marijuana being wonderful and life affirming and say you support legalizing the drug because no one and I mean not even Stockwell Day believes that marijuana is anymore dangerous than alcohol.

4) Abolish the Senate: This has long been party policy. However, one would never know this based upon how much press coverage their proposal has received over the years. The whole issue speaks in no small measure to the Party’s inept communications strategy and relatedly to a stubborn refusal on behalf of the party brass to dwell on matters that are in public eye, but are nonetheless not in the party’s mind core meat and potatoes issues.

5) Abolish the Monarchy: This not a core issue to be sure. However, it is not one that any self described socially democratic party can shy away from either. Besides it is a sexy issue.

6) Euthanasia: The Terry Schiavo case had the Republicans on their heels and Canadian social conservatives concerned. However, rather than seizing the day and proposing that Canada take on the issue, Layton dared not say a word for fear that raising the issue might cause Stephen Harper headaches at the Conservative Party convention.