Monday, 14 December 2015
Welcome to The LEAP Manifesto
That not just Canada but much of the world is, maybe, finally reversing out of a political and philosophical cul de sac callled variously neo-liberalism, neo-conservatism and/or austerity was evidenced just before the recent federal election by the emergence in Canada of the Leap Manifesto [https://leapmanifesto.org/en/the-leap-manifesto/#manifesto-content] calling for a kinder, more light treading, Puck-like Canadian economy and society. That this coincided with the political removal of one of the most wilfully backward governments in the developed world - the Harper Conservatives - is what they might call in China "double happiness". Toronto, and Canada, are not there yet, but perhaps we are at least on the right road to viable future. Sustainability torchbearers, including many TorontotheBetter enterprises kept us on that road, even as the now defeated government cheerfully marched towards environmental Armageddon. In the words of the sadly prophetic movie title - the last 10 years of federal government has been "The Age of Stupid".
What we at TorontotheBetter feel most fraternal about in the Leap Manifesto is its conjunction of the traditionally segmented sectors of business and the environment. It was precisely an urgent need to recognize the mutuality of economic and social values that was the motive for the creation of our social business directory back in 2004. Since that time we have been pleased to see more and more citizens and enterprises in Canada, and around the world, understand that there is serious, not to say, inescapable compatibility between economic viability and a sustainable planet. TorontotheBetter welcomes The Leap as a fraternal organization that will help to make this a better world for all.