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Kanman Stands Up For Honesty and Integrity
Honesty and Integrity
The Conservative Party will provide the leadership to stand up for honesty and integrity in government. We will put in place stringent safeguards that will prevent corruption and make government more transparent, democratic and accountable.
The Conservative Party will stand up for
Protecting whistleblowers. We will bring in whistleblower protection legislation to ensure that those who expose corruption and wrongdoing are protected from reprisal. Strengthening the Auditor General. We will ensure that the Auditor General has full access to all the government's books, including all agencies, Crown corporations, and foundations; we will also allow the Auditor General to report on government waste or abuse at any time. Keeping control over your money. We will strengthen internal audits within government departments and give greater powers to the Comptroller General to check wasteful spending before it starts. Protecting the right to know. We will expand the Access to Information Act to cover all agencies, Crown corporations and foundations, and ensure that the public interest can override any government secrecy exemptions. Independent watchdogs with teeth. We will ensure that the government will not be able to ignore these and other independent watchdogs.
The Conservative Party will also give Parliament, not the Prime Minister, the power to appoint all Officers of Parliament, including the Ethics Commissioner, the Auditor General, the Information Commissioner, the Privacy Commissioner and the Chief Electoral Officer.
Safer Streets and a Stronger Country
Conservatives believe that all Canadians should be able to feel safe and secure in their communities from coast to coast.
The Conservative Party will stand up for
Ensuring that all sex offenders and dangerous offenders are registered and that they are required to provide DNA samples. Protecting kids by eliminating all defenses for the possession of child pornography and increasing the age of consent to sexual activity from 14 to 16. Reforming criminal sentencing through mandatory minimum sentences for repeat and dangerous offenders, requiring that sentences be served consecutively and eliminating automatic statutory release. Adopting a national strategy to combat organized crime. Enhancing our border security. Making Canadian sovereignty and domestic security a major focus for the renewal of our armed forces, increasing the size of the regular forces and reserves and retaining a military presence in all regions of Canada.
Tax Relief and Better Jobs
After twelve years of a Liberal government, the amount of money left in your pocket has actually decreased, because the Liberals keep raising your taxes.
The Conservative Party will stand up for
Tax Relief for all Canadians. We will increase the Basic Personal Exemption and Spousal Exemption to reduce the tax payable by all Canadians, especially those in the lower and middle income brackets. Helping Businesses Create Jobs. We will reduce taxes on Canadian business that hurt Canadas competitiveness. We will restore the business tax cuts announced in the 2005 Budget but removed by the Liberals as part of their deal with the NDP. Lowering Taxes on Jobs. We will reduce payroll taxes, and we will start by lowering Employment Insurance premiums to the level necessary to pay for EI benefits.
Vital Cities and Communities
By cutting funding to the provinces, the Liberal government forced the provinces to reduce support to municipalities for essential needs like roads and sewers. This is one of the root causes of the massive infrastructure deficit our cities and communities are facing.
Stephen Harper and Conservative MPs have long supported the idea of using gas tax revenues to fund infrastructure, while Paul Martin consistently opposed the idea when he was Finance Minister.
The Conservative Party will stand up for
Transferring at least 5 cents per litre in gas tax revenues ($2 billion per year) to provinces and municipalities for infrastructure. Maintenance of existing strategic and border infrastructure funds. Working with municipalities, provinces, and non-governmental organizations to deal with housing and homelessness. Using tax credits to spur private investment in the creation of low-income housing.
New Canadians
Every year, thousands of skilled doctors, teachers, engineers and other specialists are prevented from achieving their full potential by practicing the trades and professions they were trained for.
The Conservative Party will stand up for
Allowing immigrants to contribute their best to Canada. We will not let special interests permit some to jump the queue while preventing others from contributing their valuable skills. Allowing new Canadians trained in fields like health care to have their professional credentials recognized and used in Canada.
Shorter Waiting Times
The recent decision of the Supreme Court of Canada has revealed that Canada's health care system remains in a fragile state after years of Paul Martin's cuts. Canada once had a health care system that was the envy of the world. Today, Canadians are waiting too long for essential medical services, with no assurance that the system will improve.
The Conservative Party will stand up for
Improving our universal public health care system. Establishing maximum acceptable wait times through an arm's length process based on clinical evidence, not political decisions. Insisting that all jurisdictions be held accountable for meeting wait-time-reduction targets. Examining the best ways to ensure that patients receive treatment within the clinically acceptable maximum waiting times.
Choice in Childcare
The Liberal government has promised to spend $5 billion dollars to build a national system of institutional childcare. The Liberal plan supports only one choice 9am to 5pm institutional childcare that leaves thousands of parents behind, including shift workers, low income parents, parents who live in rural areas and stay-at-home parents.
The Conservative Party will stand up for
Choice in childcare. We will support the choices of all parents, regardless of where they live, what their income is, and whether they choose to work or stay at home with their children. Supporting all parents equally. Our plan is universal and equitable to all families. We will give money directly to all parents so they can make their own childcare choices.
Seniors
The Conservative Party believes seniors should enjoy an affordable retirement and a high quality of life. Our seniors should also have accessible health and home care and always feel safe in their communities. We understand this is the very least we can do for our senior citizens.
The Conservative Party will stand up for
Ending the discriminatory practice of mandatory retirement. Its time to give Canadians the choice of retirement or continuing to work without the loss of federal retirement benefits. Implementing tough measures to prevent elder abuse, and implementing severe punishment for this crime. Increasing tax breaks for caregivers to allow them to help elderly relatives and dependents remain in their family homes.
A Clean Environment
Twelve years of Liberal rule have been a disaster for Canadas environment. The Liberal government's neglect and disregard of our environment have jeopardized Canadas natural spaces and have threatened the legacy of clean water, clean air and clean land for future generations of Canadians. The Liberals talk a lot about the environment, but they do very little. More phony Liberal talk is not going to stop raw sewage from flowing into Halifax Harbour, its not going to clean up the thousands toxic waste sites encroaching on our communities, and its not going to save the thousands of lives cut short by the oppressive smog which hangs over our cities.
The Conservative Party will stand up for
Introducing Tax credits for public transit users, instead of spending your hard earned tax dollars on Kyoto hot air credits. Introducing a Clean Air act which will reduce smog days by taking decisive action to legislate caps on smog causing pollutants. Introducing a Clean Water Act to ensure water quality and quantity. Providing stable, long-term funding to clean up federal contaminated sites, and to creat incentives to encourage private sector clean-up of contaminated lands. Ensuring that the sometimes competing values of preserving the environment and creating jobs are maintained in proper balance.
Rural Canada
Canada's resource-based industries, such as farming, fisheries and forestry, have been the victims of international trade disputes, natural disasters and epidemics. In each case the Liberal government has been far too slow to respond. The Conservative Party understands the value of Canada's rural communities and the importance of ensuring that they remain vibrant and financially secure.
The Conservative Party will stand up for
Effective agricultural support programs that work to deliver money to farmers. Preserving and enhancing the infrastructure of our rural communities. Consultation with the resource sector and with rural communities in the development of new policies.
A United Canada
In the 1990s, the Liberals cut $25 billion dollars in transfer payments to the provinces, telling them there was no money. The Conservative Party believes that in a fair and effective federation, there cannot be a rich federal government on one side and struggling provinces and cities on the other.
The Conservative Party will stand up for
Resolving the fiscal imbalance through increasing transfers to the provinces, either through direct cash or tax points, to pay for vital social programs, including health care and post-secondary education. Restoring the appropriate balance between federal and provincial responsibilities, and working with the provinces through the Council of the Federation to improve the social and economic fabric of Canada.
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