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Canada Slips The United Nations will be releasing its 2003 Human Development Report on July 8th, but the news is already out for Canada - we're on the decline. In the 1990s, we had a stranglehold on the list, consistently ranking number 1, then last year, we dropped to number 3, and now, to 8th place. We've been surpassed even by the United States. The Human Development Report measures the quality of life using life expectancy, education, health, income, poverty and environment data. If we're in doubt about the findings, we just have to look at the recent SARS crisis for confirmation on how we're doing. SARS hit us hard (especially Toronto, which can be used as a litmus for the quality of life in the rest of the country, as we have the rich and the poor here). It was only hard because of the shock to the system and our inadequacy in responding rapidly and effectively. No doubt the opposition political parties will use this as ammunition against the parties in power - but this decline wasn't made overnight. We've had it coming for years now, we just only now seeing the results. We're in a democracy as well - the opposition has responsibilities as well. The politics have to be put aside if we want to make a difference - forget politicians who will only use public opinion to further their personal agendas. We as Canadians need to act and do something about this. If we start now, we might actually see results in a decade or so. Check out the report when it's released. It won't be an easy read.