PEI 2014 Inc. releases Ideabook developed by New Canada Conference delegates

Aspirations for the next fifty years of Confederation

CHARLOTTETOWN, Dec. 12, 2014 /CNW/ - The report of the New Canada Conference — a major four-day conference examining the Canada of today and looking forward to the next fifty years — was released today.

Written by the New Canada Conference delegates – 100 Canadians from every part of the country, ages 19 to 24, the Ideabook represents their views, reflections, and aspirations for Canada's future.

Among their ideas they aspire to:

• Lower the voting age to 16, and embrace electoral reform that allows for more proportional and representative results.
• Grow the sharing economy by using technology to exchange goods and reduce the cost of ownership. They cite car-share programs as just one example of the disruptive but ultimately positive changes remaking Canada's economy.
• Implement a national market mechanism to price carbon emissions.
• Work to address health inequities that exist across different regions.

Importantly, they also envision tomorrow's Canada as an indigenous country — one that all Canadians will share as a proud cultural birthright.

The New Canada Conference was a flagship initiative and part of Canada's national celebrations commemorating the 150th anniversary of the 1864 Charlottetown Conference.

The delegates were selected from among 811 applicants from every province and territory, and represent the breadth of interests and exceptional diversity of a new generation of Canadians.

With the approach of 2017 and the 150th anniversary of Confederation, the delegates hope their vision and Ideabook will prompt further reflection and dialogue, and inform Canada's public agenda over the next fifty years.  

The Ideabook is available in e-format only; click here to download. A text-only version of the Ideabook in each official language will be made available in the coming weeks.

The New Canada Conference was part of PEI 2014's Founders Week, August 28 to September 7, which coincided with the week in 1864 when the Fathers of Confederation participated in the historic Charlottetown Conference. This important gathering of vibrant young Canadians was made possible with the support of many important national organizations including CBC-Radio Canada, Metro News, the Community Foundations of Canada, VIA Rail, the Inspirit Foundation, the Trans-Canada Trail Foundation, The Walter and Duncan Gordon Foundation, and Canada World Youth.

In 2014, Canadians have marked the 150th anniversary (Sesquicentennial) of the historic 1864 Charlottetown Conference, which led the way to the creation of Canada. PEI 2014 Inc. has facilitated the planning, promotion and implementation of the Sesquicentennial celebrations. The PEI 2014 celebrations have been made possible through generous support from the Government of Canada, the Government of Prince Edward Island, and the City of Charlottetown. The year-long and province-wide PEI 2014 program of events honours the past, celebrates the present and focuses on a bold tomorrow.

Further information on the New Canada Conference can be found at www.ncc-cnc.ca.

SOURCE: Prince Edward Island 2014 Inc.

Patricia Devine, Director of Communications, PEI 2014 Tel: [phone], Cell: 902.314.0080, Email:[email protected]