Well, I'd have to say, I'm on board with pretty much everything you say here... most Canadians would be, I think, generally speaking. My only issue is that last point of yours... "more credible fiscal policy". You need to define just what you mean by "credible" here... I understand you mean believable or realistic, sure. But what's believable or realistic mean to you? Because if it's Ford Nationesque tax cuts tax cuts tax cuts, then frankly, there'd be a lot of cognitive dissonance relative to just about every other item on your wish list. If anything, taxes would probably have to go up to some extent to meet some of those expectations, particularly housing in our larger cities, where it's not cheap to build anymore. As long as you're okay with that, hey, you get my vote.
I have no difficulty with supporting higher taxes, though I suspect the need for that is more at the provincial level than the federal with Ontario having an anomalously low HST rate (13%) as compared to the 15% for all provinces to our east.
Federally, I think the focus should be on thinning the myriad number of loopholes and deductions in the tax code; but there is also room for thoughtful fiscal restraint. That doesn't mean across the board cuts/pay freezes etc.
It does mean we have a lot of questionable spending. I'll afford an example, there is a new program (announced last year I think) to help first-time buyers access a home.
Not sure this is the highest priority......but ok.............except, when you get into the guts of it, because of various requirements and clauses, it essentially precludes helping anyone buy a home worth more than about $575,000.
That shuts out most people in the GTA/Vancouver, certainly any looking for a home due to a planned family (ie a need for 2 or more bedrooms).
So really this is a subsidy to first-time buyers in Winnipeg, where I don't think its justified on the merits. But its still gonna suck up a few hundred million each year, when we're already running a deficit, during a period of economic expansion.
I think there's room to raise tax, be more thoughtful with expenditures, prioritize an enhanced social safety net and greater environmental protection/restoration.
However there is no such room if we defer needed tax hikes, spend on programs few asked for and no one needs. So realistic is simply honest, well-thought out, show some ambition but don't over promise, and admit some sacrifices in the form of tax hikes and also discontinuing low-priority/ineffective programs is in order so that we can finance our priorities