In interviewed Huguette Labelle, former head of the Canadian International Development Agency in Davos last week about her thoughts on the world's number one issue: "Corruption kills," she says. "The World Bank estimates that the cost is $1.3 trillion a year. This is in the form of bribes, tax evasion, money laundering."

After Harper's China visit, Canada must be ruthless when it comes to its own interests and should visit other major Asia-Pacific nations. This is not about friendship, but about business. This country must realize that it can and should leverage its resources to get value-added and manufacturing export business.

Voters in every jurisdiction should vote every year on one simple, multiple-choice question: How much of a budget increase, if any, should the city/province/federal government be permitted next year? The choice should range from negative to positive. For example, the ballot choice would go as low as minus five per cent but only as high as the rate of inflation.