"Democracy in Canada is in deep trouble." Politicians, legislatures and parliament are widely mistrusted. Canadians do not see their issues and concerns reflected in the priorities of the people elected to serve them. The rise of populism is one symptom of a crisis. Others are low voter turnouts and an increasingly vicious public sphere. It is time for Canadians to repair and strengthen their democracy. It is time to Do Something! In this riveting and inspirational book, author and parliamentarian Preston Manning calls on Canadians of all beliefs and allegiances to renew their nation's democracy and the ideas, processes,and institutions that support it. Drawing on a lifetime of public service, he offers 365 practical ways that readers can get involved and make a difference, in their communities, on the national stage, or around the world. "There is an old saying," writes Manning, "that a Canadian optimist is someone who believes things could be worse. But I am an optimist who believes the future can be better if enough of us resolve to make it so."

Annotation "In this fifth volume of the Canada Strong and Free series, Mike Harris and Preston Manning call for Canada to reclaim its leadership role in the international arena. They focus on three foreign policy priorities which would enable Canada to significantly advance its national interests and international influence across a broad front." "Freer international trade offers the most effective means of increasing Canadian prosperity and sustaining essential social services." "Harris and Manning propose a Canada-US Customs Union involving a common external tariff, a joint approach to the treatment of third-country goods, a fully integrated energy market, a common approach to trade remedies and border security, and an integrated government procurement regime." "Harris and Manning recommend the adoption of the Tools of Wealth Creation approach to attacking poverty - focusing not on the redistribution of wealth but on a broader distribution of tools for creating wealth such as property rights, access to capital, human capital development, access to technology, and access to trade markets. They also propose greater use of public-private partnerships for infrastructure and vaccine development, reforming CIDA, completely untying food aid from any requirements that it be provided from Canadian sources, and the new paradigm of providing aid and peacekeeping simultaneously in conflict and post-conflict situations."--Jacket.

Including a new and insightful afterword by the author, Stephen J. Harper, Canada's 22nd Prime Minister, draws on a decade of experience as a G-7 leader to help leaders in business and government understand, adapt, and thrive in an age of unprecedented disruption. The world is in flux. Disruptive technologies, ideas, and politicians are challenging business models, norms, and political conventions everywhere. How we, as leaders in business and politics, choose to respond matters greatly. Some voices refuse to concede the need for any change, while others advocate for radical realignment. But neither of these positions can sustainably address the legitimate concerns of disaffected citizens. Right Here, Right Now sets out a pragmatic, forward-looking vision for leaders in business and politics by analyzing how economic, social, and public policy trends--including globalized movements of capital, goods and services, and labour--have affected our economies, communities, and governments. Harper contends that Donald Trump's surprise election and governing agenda clearly signal that political, economic, and social institutions must be more responsive to legitimate concerns about public policy, market regulation, immigration, and technology. Urging readers to look past questions of style and gravitas, Harper thoughtfully examines the substantive underpinnings of how and why Donald Trump was able to succeed Barack Obama as President of the United States, and how these forces are manifesting themselves in other western democracies. Analyzing international trade, market regulation, immigration, technology, and the role of government in the digital economy, Harper lays out the case for pragmatic leadership as a proven solution to the uncertainty and risk that businesses and governments face today.

Excessive government taxation and spending limit the economic freedom of individuals and businesses by reducing their incomes and transferring economic decision-making powers into the hands of politicians and bureaucrats.

Examines the "democratic deficit" present in Confederation today and applies to it these foundational principles: expanding Canadians' freedom of choice; challenging Canadians to accept greater personal responsibility; and deepening Canada's practice of federal democracy."