Campaign focuses on bringing technology to Canadians
Osgoode law professor and technology lawyer George Takach is in the race to lead the Liberal Party of Canada.
Having taught about computers, technology, and Internet law at Osgoode for the last 20 years, Takach says he will bring a wealth of experience with him into the Liberal leadership race.
“Teaching has helped me to fine-tune my listening skills, which I think is very important in a leader role,” says Takach, calling his leadership style “collaborative.”
“Students in my courses are very much my peers as we’re on a joint discovery, so I think that’s directly applicable to how I would run a party, or a cabinet, or a government.”
Although Takach has never held political office, he says that after May 3, 2011 when the Conservative government was re-elected, he decided to take direct action towards correcting Canada’s “sad state of affairs.”
“I’ve been a liberal all my life,” he says. He worked on his first campaign in 1974, while still in high school. “I’ve always had the political bug, but I took time off from politics to go to law school, have a career, a family.”
Takach plans to bring a heavy emphasis on technology to Canadians. He says he is concerned the Harper government is only focused on natural resources.
“We’ve got to build up a high-tech manufacturing sector and a knowledge-based business sector,” says Takach.
He plans to enact a Digital Bill of Rights, which would prohibit electronic surveillance without a court order. The Bill of Rights would include provisions against the misuse of personal information found online, but at the same time, would guarantee that law enforcement officials have sufficient tools to handle online security threats and crime, reports Canada Newswire.
Takach also promises to postpone the repayment of loans for five years for students who becomes entrepreneurs. “We want you to get started to get active in the economy,” says Takach.
He also endorses the legalization and decriminalization of marijuana.
“There’s the public health reason, but also this would be bringing in the taxes that are now being picked up by the gangs and organized crime, so we lose a lot of money out of the system,” says Takach. “In countries where they have legalized pot, they’ve seen usage go down, which is something I’m very interested in.”
Voting polls for the leadership don’t open until April 6, 2013, but Takach already has big plans for gaining votes.
“I’m going to be reaching out to people who might have voted Conservative, Green, or NDP, and I’m going to say, ‘Look, you can participate at this federal liberal leadership campaign,’”says Takach. “I’m going to be reaching across a very broad spectrum of people, and it would be a great day for the Liberal party if I’m able to bring a whole set of Canadians to participate in this leadership race.”
By Hamid Adem, Assistant News Editor
With files from Canada Newswire
