There are plenty of good movies to go and see this summer. That's
fortunate for jaded Canadian taxpayers who might otherwise have to
settle for the pathetic attempts of Ottawa's political illusion-makers
to entertain them.

The main blockbuster out of the nation's capital this summer comes from
the Natural Governing Party Production Group entitled Men in Red II. It
proves the universal rule that anytime Will Smith has a movie in
theatres, some Canadian federal political party will be rife with turmoil.

Smaller budget offerings include the Torytoon production of Go, Joe, Go,
a Chaplinesque silent film from Socialist Films Unincorporated, titled
Hey the NDP is Still Here -- Really! Meanwhile, Reform-2UA-2CA studios
are holding off-site mission statement briefings in Mexico with their
new CEO after a disastrous two-year string of failed reality-TV shows on
the small screen.

Even though each film deals with human drama and the topical issue of
"leadership", box office returns are low. The evening newscasts have
aired too many promos for these flicks and newspapers offer far too many
front-page reviews for Canadians to stomach. Only 2% of Canadians will
even show an interest in watching these films.

The other 98% of Canadians (read: those folks who aren't members of
political parties and/or don't make their living from or around
politics) are more interested in broader questions of leadership.

Such as: Leadership when it comes to Canada's fiscal direction.
Leadership on the trade file - both foreign and domestic. Leadership in
fundamental health care reform. Leadership in the urban agenda. And
leadership in restoring the integrity of public institutions.

With a new Clerk in charge of the civil service, Ottawa's senior
mandarins have cancelled summer vacations and have instructed their
legions of staff to craft a far-reaching activist agenda (read: big
spending) for a rumoured Throne Speech - focusing on innovation and
inclusion - to be delivered this fall.

Sadly, this innovation agenda will likely result in more opaque arm's
length foundations and corporate welfare schemes through direct funding
or industry-specific tax credits. A smarter approach to fostering
innovation would be to abolish corporate capital tax and stop punishing
firms who invest in plants and equipment. This speech will no doubt
sidestep the whole question of interprovincial trade barriers

On the health care file, pre-funding is the key. Each successive
generation of Canadians must be encouraged to save for more of their
future health care needs if our system is to be truly "sustainable."

Ending the gas tax rip-off at the pumps and plowing these revenues into
roadway spending is necessary to move the urban agenda forward. Yet this
proposal will probably be "excluded" from the Throne Speech.

Inclusion could be facilitated by reconnecting Canadians to the
political process through voting reform and implementing much needed
parliamentary reform.

These issues are the stuff of real leadership.

It's time for taxpayers to insist that all political parties hire new
screenwriters. The current offering of leadership flicks are B-movies at
best. Canadians deserve better choices on the government big screen.