Well Being Measurement
Next Steps

The time is ripe for a Canadian Genuine Progress Index (GPI).

On June 3, 2003 the key directive from the Canada Well-Being Measurement Act was approved by a vote of 185 to 46* in the House of Commons. Motion M-385 states:

"That in the opinion of this House, the government should develop and report annually on a set of social, environmental and economic indicators of the health and well-being of people, communities and ecosystems in Canada"

*The votes cast against the motion were based more on ideological disputes with the governing party than with the Motion. (See Hansard for June 2, 2003 )

Were the government to establish this institution before the next election, whoever forms that government would come into an office 'rewired' with a high-resolution view of the country it is to serve. GDP's antiquated view would be upgraded. No longer would money spent cleaning up oil spills be considered as enriching to society as money spent educating young people. The new generation of well-being measurement would enable decision makers to see how actions taken and the events of time influence the many factors affecting Canadians.

Where does this put the Canada Well-Being Measurement Act?

Our elected representatives have advised the government to create this institution. It is a victory for the Act, and as much as can be hoped for from a private member's motion. It is now up to a department of the Government to bring forward legislation.

The three people to encourage toward this end are: the Hon. Paul Martin, Prime Minister, the Hon. David Anderson, Minister of the Environment, and the Hon. Anne McLellan Minister of Public Safety & Security and,. Their contact information is below. Any of these individuals could bring the act forward.

Note: Paul Martin & others have shifted their roles security

The Hon. David Anderson, through his Environment Ministry, is the most likely person to introduce the legislation. He has spoken positively about well-being measurement on numerous occasions and recently brought it up as one of three topics to be discussed during an Environment Minister's exchange in China.

The Hon Anne McLellan has also expressed interest in well-being measurement as it applies to the Health field.

It may or may not be necessary for either Department to redraft the Act. If they do, there are two essential elements that must be part of the institution in order to optimize its potential for securing the future.

Your task, if you want to help move this possibility forward, is to write, phone, fax or e-mail Minister Anderson and/or Minister McLellan, asking them to please introduce the Canada Well-Being Measurement Act as a government bill.

In your letter, you can point out that they have been aware of such an institution for a number of years and that the time to establish it, it is now. The assertion of Motion M-385 will not be as clear after the election because at least some of the MPs who voted for the motion will have changed.

The Hon. Paul Martin was the focus of the well-being measurement campaign when he was Finance Minister. He thanked Joe Jordan for the inspiration when he funded the Environment and Sustainable Development Indicators Initiative (ESDII)

That initiative developed indicators to track forest cover, air and water quality, greenhouse gas emissions, the extent of wetlands, and educational attainment, and how those things affect economic performance. The public wasn't involved, however, and the information is only intended for use by the Minister of Finance. Nevertheless, it demonstrated that the Hon. Paul Martin understands that there is more to well-being than simply cash flow.

By allowing Minister Anderson or Minister McLellan to bring the Act forward, the Hon. Paul Martin, as party leader, would make history. Canada has already attracted international attention with the proposal. By bringing the institution into use, Canada would lead the world. A Genuine Progress Index could restore balance to public policy and rekindle a sense of hope for those who despair at the decline of environmental health and social cohesion. Genuine progress could become the defining feature of a Martin government.

If you write to Minister Anderson or Minister McLellan, forward a copy of your message to the Hon. Paul Martin encouraging him to let either one, or both together, present the Canada Well-Being Measurement Act, and pass it into law before the election.
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Essential Elements for Effective Well-Being Measurement:

1) The public must be involved in identifying the circumstances to be monitored.

An institution for monitoring the nation's well-being must have a place for anyone to speak up to identify circumstances they sense might endanger the future.

Politicians, government managers and professionals understand many problems, but they are not the only ones with such insight. There are many people who act in no official capacity, yet, have a keen awareness of situations affecting well-being. It is not unknown for people trained in management to overlook matters of concern to those who are not. Indeed, the problems not presently being managed are the most likely to catch us unaware.

2) The well-being indicators decided upon must be managed and reported
independent of political interpretation.

It is human nature to be selective about what we tell others if we feel the information might negatively affect their opinions of us. The more that is at stake, the more selective we become. If a person's livelihood is endangered, it is not unknown for them to actually revise details. Indeed, 'Conflict of Interest' regulations are a response to this well-known characteristic. Since Members of Parliament, and Ministers of the Government in particular, are often judged on the basis of how well the country is doing, it would be inappropriate for any of them to be in a position to have a final say over what information is collected and which of those details are shared with the public.

The Canada Well-Being Measurement Act names the Commissioner for the Environment and Sustainable Development in the Auditor General's Office as the person to manage the institution. Well-being measurement is for the benefit of everyone. It provides 'eyes and ears' that are critical for sensing threats to well-being. To put such an institution into the hands of anyone who might be judged on the content of the information would be a mistake.

Canada could become the first nation to adopt a Genuine Progress Index. Our elected representatives have voted for it. One more push could bring it about. Please write the Hon. David Anderson and the Hon. Paul Martin. Introduce the idea to your friends and in your community. The "Measuring Well-Being" link at www.SustainWellBeing.net provides extensive detail about the institution and the campaign. Don't hesitate to ask Joe Jordan's office or the Seventh Generation Initiative for free printed materials to distribute.

The time is ripe. The need is great. For every letter they receive, politicians figure there are a hundred others who feel the same way. We have the strength to make this happen.

Parliament Office:
Right Hon. Paul Martin PC, MP
House of Commons
Ottawa, ON K1A 0A6
Martin.P@parl.gc.ca
Phone (613) 992-4284 Fax (613) 992-4291

Ministry Office:
Hon. David Anderson, PC, MP
Terrasses De La Chaudiere
28th Floor
10 Wellington St.
Hull, PQ K1A 0H3
david.anderson@ec.gc.ca
Phone (819) 997-1441 Fax (819) 953-3457

Hon. Ms. Anne McLellan PC, MP
Minister of Public Safety & Security
House of Commons
Ottawa, ON, K1A 0A6
(613) 992-4524 mclellan.a@parl.gc.ca

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Contact information for MPs is available from: 1 (800) O CANADA (1 (800) 622-6232 ) or at: www.parl.gc.ca/common/index.asp?Language=E (Language=F) for French.

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Last Update: June 29, 2003 Filename: http://www.SustainWellBeing.net/7GI/Fall03.shtml