The Gathering Storm, Redux - Gameplay Thread (WW2 - Early 1940)

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The Prime Minister will table legislation to set a standard tariff rate for imported goods at 17% and a favored-statutes tariff rate for goods imported from Imperial dominions at 10%, unless otherwise determined by an existing treaty. This will protect Canadian producers and protect the Canadian market.

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The Prime Minister strongly condemns the new British trade deals, which break the longstanding bonds of the Empire and give preference to others over our fellow men. The Prime Minister calls on the government in London to prioritize Empire-derived trade as the first source of foreign goods before looking abroad.

To address the continued economic downturn, the Prime Minister will table a bill creating the Bank of Canada. The Bank will serve as a federal guarantor of deposits in chartered institutions, regulate the liquidity of markets threw controlled releases or restrictions of currency, and promote the general economic well-being of the Dominion.

The Prime Minister will tour the Atlantic Provinces in the spring time. He will speak to fisherman and loggers and thank them for their hard work. He will also meet with officials in Newfoundland and press the British-appointed officials to hold elections with haste, prioritizing the return of home rule as quickly as possible.

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The Prime Minister will take part in a whistle-stop campaign tour across the Dominion in the fall to campaign for Conservative candidates. The tour will begin in Halifax and end in Vancouver, with stops in Charlottetown, Quebec City, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Thunder Bay, Winnipeg, Saskatoon, Regina, and Calgary. The Prime Minister will promote the need for a steady hand at the wheel during the global economic crisis and the growing geopolitical tensions. The Prime Minister will attack the Liberal spending plans as radical and reckless, arguing that a Liberal government would shock the economy into a deeper spiral. The Prime Minister will also make the British tariff issue and the collapse of home rule in Newfoundland significant issues in the campaign, arguing that the Liberals would not stand up to Britain.

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The Prime Minister will call an early election, to be held in December of 1934. The Conservative campaign literature will discuss the election of Mr. Lang in Australia, highlighting his constitutional scandal and radical positions, and tying Mr. King and the Liberal Party to Mr. Lang’s Labor Party. The Prime Minister will present Mr. Lang and Mr. King as two sides of the same coin, with both being wrong for the Dominion. The Prime Minister will also argue that the stability of the Commonwealth requires the election of a Conservative government in Canada to off-set the radical regime of Mr. Lang.

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The Prime Minister condemns the ongoing violence in Europe but reiterates that Canada is focused on Canadian and Commonwealth affairs.

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The Prime Minister announces that by-elections will be held in Newfoundland and Labrador in April, for seven seats.

On the issue of the Quebec-Labrador border dispute, the Prime Minister contends that the 1927 Privy Council decision on the border is the controlling decision. The Prime Minister does not believe that he has the unilateral authority to override a multi-decade decision of the Privy Council. If a majority of the Parliament, including the newly elected Newfoundlander MPs, were to support a motion to adjust the border, then the Prime Minister would be obliged to see that decision through.

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The Prime Minister announces that he will introduce The Social Security Act at the first sitting of Parliament following the Newfoundland and Labrador by-elections. The Social Security Act will be the most sweeping piece of legislation the Dominion has ever considered. The Social Security Act will contain the following provisions:

- The establishment of a national minimum wage, at a rate recommended by a newly-established Compensation Appeals Board and confirmed by the Parliament.
- The commencement of a national works program, to build dams, bridges, roads, military installations, stadiums, and parks, as a source of employment for the unemployed.
- A national unemployment insurance scheme, funded through a surtax on wages, to provide the unemployed with a quarter of their previous wages for 10 weeks after being terminated provided they are seeking other work.

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The Prime Minister will put forward a bid for the 1940 Olympic Games to be hosted in Montreal.

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The Prime Minister thanks his Australian and Polish counterparts for their support for the Montreal Olympic Games.

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Following his victory in the Newfoundland and Labrador by-elections, the Prime Minister will introduce The Canadian Security Act immediately. The bill will contain the following provisions:

- Funding for the construction of two new deep-water naval bases, one in Newfoundland and one near Vancouver.
- Funding for upgrades and repairs to all existing Royal Canadian Navy ships, as well as the purchase and construction of an aircraft carrier vessel.
- Funding for the purchase and construction of a new fleet of airplanes for the Royal Canadian Air Force.
- The hiring of thousands of Canadians as mechanics, technicians, construction workers, and other support roles, to maintain existing infrastructure and build out new bases, roads, and support infrastructure.
- The imposition of a 10% surtax on annual incomes over $100,000.

The Prime Minister will tell Parliament that the threats to Canadian security are growing on all fronts. From exploding conflicts in Europe to questionable threats in Asia and instability in the Americas, the world is a more dangerous place. The Prime Minister believes that Canada must take steps now to be secure in the future.

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The Prime Minister will campaign in Quebec ahead of the Legislative Assembly elections. Looking to build off his successes nationally and in Newfoundland and Labrador, the Prime Minister will hold a series of rallies across the province, including in Montreal, Quebec City, Trois-Rivieres, Saint-Jerome, and Granby. The Prime Minister will argue that, with the global landscape shifting from peace to conflict, Canada needs to be strong and united - something that can only be achieved with a Conservative government in Quebec. The Prime Minister will make a point that no Canadian would be conscripted into the armed services if another global war breaks out that pulls Canada into the conflict, hoping to smooth other lingering French Canadian concerns from the Conscription Crisis. He will also highlight his multi-national effort to bring the 1940 Olympics to Montreal as a sign of the Government’s investment in the province.

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The Prime Minister will table an advisory motion in the House of Commons seeking authorization to pursue League of Nations membership for the Dominion. The Prime Minister will declare this a vote on conscience for all members with no whip.

[DKrol]

The Prime Minister will table an advisory motion in the House of Commons seeking authorization to pursue League of Nations membership for the Dominion. The Prime Minister will declare this a vote on conscience for all members with no whip.

OOC: withdrawn, because I am stupid and completely missed Canada in the list of LoN members the entire game.

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The Prime Minister will table the School Lunch Act. The bill will include the following provisions:

- All primary schools that receive public funds shall be required to provide students with a warm, nutritious lunch no fewer than three days per week when school is in session.
- A school may charge a fee per pupil for the lunch but the fee per pupil per day shall not exceed  10 cents.
- Whenever possible, schools should procure produce or dairy for their lunch program from producers within 25 kilometers.
- If a school is able to procure at least 75% of their produce or dairy from local producers at the end of each fiscal year, the school will be eligible for a reimbursement from the federal government for 50% of the total cost of the lunch program.
- Any school that fails to comply with the provisions of this Act shall be fined 25% of the school’s average funding over the previous three years.

The Prime Minister will hail the School Lunch Act as transformational for children, families, and farmers. The Prime Minister will say that the Act will ensure that children are fed at least one good meal each day at a time when families may be having troubles feeding their children at home due to the distressing economic situation while, at the same time, creating a new market for farmers and dairymen who might otherwise be struggling to find markets for their products. The Prime Minister will also point out that it is easier for teachers to include more instruction in the day if students do not need to be dismissed to their homes for a lunch period.

The Prime Minister will invite school children, teachers, and parents to engage in a massive letter writing campaign to MPs in support of the School Lunch Act. He will also encourage farmers to travel to Ottawa with some of their excess produce that is rotting due to failing internal markets in order to show the benefits of the Act from a rural economic perspective.

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The Prime Minister will undertake a tour of various small, rural communities across Quebec, Ontario, and Manitoba in the lead-up to the vote on the School Lunch Act. The Prime Minister will meet with local families who are struggling to keep food on the table and speak with children about how the difficulties economically are impacting them and their growth. The Prime Minister will speak about the importance of helping our neighbors in times of need and declare that his national policy doctrine is “Helping Each Other Help Ourselves”. The Prime Minister will also visit urban schools in Edmonton, Regina, and Winnipeg as he returns to Ottawa and meet with unemployed people who benefit from the Social Security Act. The Prime Minister will celebrate the “Compassionate Conservative Party” as a party for the people in a time of crisis.

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Following the successful passage of the School Lunch Act, the Prime Minister will undertake a European tour, with stops planned in London, Paris, Rome, and Berlin. While in London, the Prime Minister intends to have a reception with King Edward VIII and, while in Berlin, to attend the Olympic Games.

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The Prime Minister, in Europe on his tour, issues a statement condemning the murder of the Austrian Chancellor. The Prime Minister calls for the establishment of the rule of law and order in all countries and condemns the use of assassinations and murders as tools for political gain. The Prime Minister will send a message of condolence to the Austrian people and a message of encouragement for the acting government.

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Final Declaration of the Stresa Conference

The Governments of the Kingdom of Italy, French Republic, and United Kingdom, so resolve

That the independence of Austria will continue to inspire their common policy

That the governments will agree to coordinate to defend the sovereignty of Austria from foreign intrusion

That the independence of Austria is key to the stability and peace of central Europe

That Austria is a historic and independent nation with a unique and sovereign people

Benito Mussolini, Duce of Italy and Head of Government

X, Ramsay MacDonald, Prime Minister

Per discussion with Il Duce, Prime Minister Bennett will also sign the Final Declaration of the Stresa Conference.

x RB Bennett, Prime Minister of the Dominion of Canada

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The Prime Minister will announce that Canadians will head to the polls as soon as is legally possible. The Prime Minister will argue that the selfish actions of a rogue band of parliamentarians have denied the people of Canada their voice and their government, forcing the election. The Prime Minister will commit to continuing his Conservatism with Compassion movement in a new government, promising to enact legislation to continue to improve Canada’s economic situation. The Prime Minister will specifically commit to introducing legislation to build new highways and houses, increase rural electrification, and expand educational access for all Canadians. The Prime Minister will also propose an electoral reform package that will include recall elections for MPs and MLAs. The Prime Minister will also emphasize his standing on the world stage at a critical time, highlighting his close professional relationships with both Berlin and Rome, and his increasingly senior standing in the Empire.

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The Prime Minister will deliver a statement in Ottawa raising concerns with the proposed referendum in Austria. The Prime Minister will raise concerns over the freedom and fair operation of the election, especially around issues of voter intimidation and ensuring a truly representative population is eligible to vote, and will offer to send a group of local Canadian officials to Austria to supervise the election and report to the world on its fairness and impartiality. The Prime Minister will also emphasize the importance of stability on the world stage given the global economic situation.

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The Conservative campaign will boil down to the slogan “Better Schools, Safer Cities, More Jobs”. This phrase will be emphasized in candidate talking points and posters. Candidates will be encouraged to tie themselves directly to the Prime Minister and his policy record: the absorption of Newfoundland and Labrador, the Social Security Act, and the School Lunch Act. Candidate are also encouraged to disparage the National Conservative Rebels and the Social Credit Party for causing the election by denying the people the government they mandated just a few years ago.

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The Prime Minister issued a statement condemning the German occupation of Austria. The Prime Minister demands the German occupying force immediately withdraws from Austria without delay. The Prime Minister applauds the leadership of the Italian and French Governments on this matter.

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The Prime Minister shall summon an emergency sitting of the Parliament to provide an update on the war in Europe. The Prime Minister forcefully condemns the German invasion of Belgium and France and the assault on the Netherlands as well as the Polish invasion of Lithuania. The Prime Minister will introduce a non-binding resolution to the House of Commons declaring Canadian support for liberal democracy, self-determination, and international norms. The Prime Minister shall whip all MPs to support the resolution.

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Canadian-Soviet Nonaggression Pact

1. The Dominion of Canada and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics agree to enter a five-year period of nonaggression. This shall include avoiding direct ground, air, and naval combat. This shall not including providing arms, humanitarian assistance, or logistic supports to potential combatants.
2. The Dominion of Canada and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics agree that the Arctic shall be respected as sovereign, protected territory of each signatory.
3. The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics shall be able to purchase excess grain, as determined by the Minister of Agriculture, from the Dominion of Canada at a rate equal to two-thirds of the standard market rate without taxation.
4. The Dominion of Canada and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics shall avoid engaging in espionage or subversive actions against each other.
5. Either signatory may terminate this Pact unilaterally by submitting a letter to the other signatory.

Signed

X Mikhail Tukhachevsky, Chairman of the State Defence Committee to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics

x
RB Bennett
Prime Minister

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Consistent with his promises during the 1937 General Election, the Prime Minister will introduce the Canadian Electoral Reform Act at the first regular sitting of the new Parliament.

Canadian Electoral Reform Act
1. Upon receipt of a petition signed by 1,000 registered voters of any riding, or 15% of the total number of voters in the previous General Election in that riding, which ever is greater, the Governor General shall issue a writ of election for an election to recall the duly-elected Member of Parliament for that riding.
1.a. The Governor General shall verify each signature is from a voter presently registered to vote in the riding.
1.b. Any person found guilty by a court of law of forging or coercing a signature on a petition under this Act shall be subject to a fine of not less than $10,000 and/or a prison sentence of not less than two years.
2. A recall election must be held within 45 days of the Governor General issuing the writ of election for the riding.
3. The form of the question on the ballot paper shall be “Should the Member of Parliament elected at the last General Election continue to serve as a Member of Parliament for this riding?”. The options for voters shall be “Yes” or “No”.
3.a. If the majority of ballots cast are marked “No”, the Member of Parliament elected at the last General Election shall immediately cease to be a Member of Parliament.
3.b. If the majority of ballots cast are marked “No”, the Governor General shall issue a writ of election for a by-election immediately. Such a by-election shall be held within 45 days of the writ being issued.
3.c. The Member of Parliament removed by a petition under this Act shall be ineligible to stand as a candidate in the subsequent by-election but may stand as a candidate in the next General Election.
4. No petitions under this Act shall be considered valid if they are received within six months of the last General Election. No petition under this Act shall be considered valid if the date between the first signature and the final signature exceeds 364 calendar days.
5. Each province and territory shall hold a referendum no later than December 31, 1940 on enacting the provisions of this Act for their legislative body and their Members of the Legislative Assembly, Members of the Provincial Parliament, or similar local elected legislature. Such referenda shall require a two-thirds majority of votes to be cast in the affirmative to be considered valid. Where relevant, references to Governor General should be replaced with Lieutenant Governor or similar local representative of the Crown.