The First Five Priorities

Stephen Harper's Government came to power promising change and clear priorities.

Gone were the days of limitless priorities. Our Government set five clear priorities and we delivered on them.

We committed to:

  • Cleaning up government and weeding out corruption due to the sponsorship scandal by enacting and enforcing the Federal Accountability Act. We delivered. The Federal Accountability Act became law in December 2006.
  • Lowering taxes for working Canadians, starting with the reduction of the GST. We delivered. The GST was reduced to 6 per cent in 2006 and 5 per cent in 2007. And we have reduced taxes 120 times in our five years in government. An ordinary family of four is saving nearly $3,000 per year as a result of the tax cuts the Harper Government has made since 2006.
  • Protecting Canadian Families and communities by strengthening the justice system. We delivered. Our Government passed 12 bills into law to tackle crime, including the Tackling Violent Crime Act and the Truth in Sentencing Act.
  • Support parents' child care choices through direct assistance and by creating more daycare spaces. We delivered. Parents now receive $100 per month for every child under the age of six.
  • Delivering the health care Canadians need, when they need it, by addressing the fiscal imbalance and establishing a patient wait times guarantee with the provinces. We delivered. In Budget 2007, we restored fiscal balance with the provinces and our Government has ensure patients in every province and territory are covered by a Patient Wait Time Guarantee in a priority area.

Since 2006, we have delivered real results for all Canadians and we will continue to do so.

Economic Action Plan

Over the past two years, Canada has weathered the worst global economic downturn since the Second World War - a downturn that was started by the financial crisis on Wall Street and soon spread throughout the world.

Our Government met the challenge of the global economic crisis head-on with the Economic Action Plan.

The Economic Action Plan was a temporary, targeted and timely plan designed to create jobs and economic growth during the worst of the global downturn.

The Plan had five components:

  • Improving Access to Financing and Strengthening Canada's Financial System
  • Action to Help Canadians and Stimulate Spending
  • Action to Stimulate Housing Construction
  • Immediate Action to Build Infrastructure
  • Action to Support Businesses and Communities

Keeping Taxes Low For All Canadians

The Harper Government firmly believes that individual Canadians and businesses will spend their hard-earned money better than the government.

That is why we believe in keeping taxes as low as possible for all Canadians.

Promoting Trade and Opening New Markets for Canadian Businesses

Stephen Harper's Government is committed to opening new markets for Canadian goods and services and avoiding protectionism.

We know that the free flow of goods and services creates jobs and economic growth for all Canadians.

Our Government has signed Free Trade Agreements with eight countries:

  • European Free Trade Association (came into Force on July 1, 2009)
  • Peru (came into Force on August 1, 2009)
  • Colombia (signed November 2008; received Royal Assent on June 2010)
  • Jordan (signed on June 2009; introduced legislation in March 2010)
  • Panama (signed May 2010)

Toughening our Laws

Stephen Harper's Government is committed to making our streets and communities safer by getting tough on crime.

For over 40 years, our criminal justice system was going in the wrong direction - focussed more on the rights of criminals instead of the rights of victims.

We committed to change things.

In our first Throne Speech, we said, "This Government will tackle crime. It will propose changes to the Criminal Code to provide tougher sentences for violent and repeat offenders, particularly those involved in weapons-related crimes."

We have delivered on our commitment.

Over the past five years we have passed 18 laws (12 Justice, 6 Public Safety) that have toughened the rules and made our streets and communities safer.

As a result of our legislation, there are tougher laws to crack down on:

  • Gun and gang crime
  • Violent and repeat offenders
  • Identity Theft
  • Sex offenders
  • Street racing, impaired driving and car thieves

We have eliminated the outrageous practices of routinely giving convicted criminals two-for-one credit for time served prior to trial and Old Age Security payments to prisoners.

We have also stood up for the rights of victims by proposing that criminals pay their own way when applying for a pardon.

While we have made significant progress, there is still much more to be done. There are currently 22 important bills before Parliament to crack down on crime.

Building Strong Canadian Families

Under the strong leadership of Prime Minister Harper, Canadians can count on our Government to support choice in child care, put more money in the pockets of hard-working Canadians and invest in training for workers to help them get back into the workforce.

Supporting Hard-Working Families

  • Our Government believes parents know best and we are supporting families through the Universal Child Care Benefit by providing all parents with $100 per month/$1,200 per year for each child under six to help with the cost of the child care they choose. Each year, the Universal Child Care Benefit is provided to parents on behalf of over two million children in Canada.
  • our Government provides a Child Tax Credit for each child under 18, which means over three million families per year keep more of their money to spend on what is important.
  • We have enhanced the National Child Benefit and the Canada Child Tax Benefit to enable low-income families to earn more and still be able to receive the benefits.
  • We increased the amount families in the two lowest personal income tax brackets can earn before paying income taxes.
  • We are enabling Canadians to save more for a child's education by increasing the lifetime limit on RESP contributions, increasing the annual Canada Education Savings Grant amount, and expanding RESP access to part-time and apprenticeship students.
  • Our Government is providing 2.6 million self-employed Canadians with access to EI special benefits on a voluntary basis so they no longer have to choose between family and work responsibilities.
  • Our Government has improved the Work-Sharing program which has helped protect the jobs of over 260,000 Canadians since February 2009.

Supporting Canada's Seniors

Stephen Harper's Government is committed to enhancing the well-being of Canada's seniors during the retirement they have earned.

That is why since 2006 the Harper Government has:

  • Introduced tax relief measures specifically for seniors such as pension income splitting, twice increasing the Age Credit amount, and increasing GIS benefits for recipients who choose to work.
  • Introduced legislation to make our streets and communities safer so that seniors feel safe in their own homes and communities.
  • Taken a strong stand against elder abuse, raising awareness to recognize the signs of elder abuse and deal with those who abuse seniors physically, financially and mentally.
  • Created a dedicated Minister of State for Seniors bringing seniors issues directly to the Cabinet Table.
  • Established October 1 as National Seniors Day.

The Harper Government will continue to stand up for seniors, strenghten pensions and provide much needed tax relief.

Our Governement has delivered real results and introduced new measures for Canada's seniors.

Tax Measures

  • The Tax Fairness Plan of October 2006 increased the Age Credit amount by $1,000 beginning in 2006 and announced pension income splitting beginning in 2007. Pension income splitting reduces income tax for a pensioner couple by allowing the higher-income spouse to allocate an amount of income to a lower-income spouse for tax purposes.
  • The Age Credit amount was increased again in 2209 by another $1,000 to provide tax relief to low- and middle-income seniors. With indexation, this means addistion tax savings of up to $151 for low-income seniors in 2010.
  • In Budget 2008, our Government increased the GIS earnings exemption from $500 to #3,500, meaning that a GIS recipient with employment income is now able to keep more of his or her hard-earned money without any reduction in GIS benefits.
  • On November 18, 2010, Bill C-40, An Act to Establish Nation Seniors Day, received Royal Assent, recognizing October 1 as a day for all Canadians to recognize and celebrate the countless and valuable contributions that seniors made in building our country and continue to make in their communities.

Arts Culture and Official Languages

  • The Government is investing more into arts, culture, and official languages than any Government in Canadian history.
  • We have tabled - and passed- 5 budgets through Parliament, and in each of those budgets we have increased funding for culture.
  • When the global recession hit, our Government had a choice. We could do what other G20 countries did.
  • Our Government chose a different path.
  • Unlike other countries and governments, we chose not to cut, not to maintain, but to increase funding for arts and culture during the recession. We stood up for arts and culture when it was needed most.
  • Supporting Canadian culture means supporting Canada's economy. Arts and culture represents $46 billion in the Canadian economy and over 630,000 jobs.
  • We have invested more into local festivals, community events, theatres, galleries and museums than ever before.
  • Our Government has increased funding for the arts by almost 20%.

Standing Up for Human Rights and Freedoms

As a strong supporter, advocate and promoter of human rights around the world, our Government created the John Diefenbaker Defender of Human Rights and Freedom Award.

This award honours individuals or groups that show exceptional courage and leadership in defending human rights and freedom, especially in the face of repression.

Standing Up for Canada's Armed Forces

The Stephen Harper Government is committed to supporting our brave men and women in the Canadian Armed Forces in getting the job done.

Under the previous Liberal Government's "Decade of Darkness", our men and women in uniform were disrespected, stripped of funding, stripped of personnel and stripped of resources. They were sent to deser missions in green uniforms and were expected to do their challenging jobs without the right equipment.

Today, thanks to landmark investments and renewed respect for the essential work of our brave men and women in uniform, our Canadian Armed Forces are a stronger, better equipped and more mission-ready team than ever before.

Thanks to the Harper Government's leadership, our Canadian Armed Forces have successfully:

  • Boosted their level of readiness to protect Canada through a more modern, capable equipment procurement.
  • Responded to humanitarioan crises in Canada and around the world, such as in Newfoundland and Labrador in the wake of Hurricane Igro and in Haiti following the devastating earthquake in January 2010.
  • Increased the capacity to deliver better health and medical care to our Canadian Armed Forces members and their families.

Promoting Canada's Arctic Sovereignty

Gone are the days of Canada's North being ignored by Ottawa. Over the past five years, the Harper Government has demonstrated international leadership and stewardship in the Arctic while promoting Canada's vision of Arctic sovereignty for the North.

This vision includes a stable region with clearly defined boundaries, dynamic growth and trade, vibrant Northern communities, and healthy and productive ecosystems.

Our government believes that Canada's interests in the North have never been greater.

That is why we have significantly enhance our presence in the North. We are making new and targeted investments, be they patrol ships, a new polar-class icebreaker, reinforcements to our Canadian Rangers, better monitoring of our airspace and seas, and the release of Canada's Statement on Arctic Foreign Policy.

Our Statement on Arctic Foreign Policy defines Canada's Arctic priorities by four key pillars moving forward:

  • 1. Exercising our sovereignty
  • 2. Promoting economic and social development
  • 3. Protecting our environmental heritage
  • 4. Improving good governance and greater local control

To reach this point, our Government has already committed significant resources towards these four cornerstones of our Arctic sovereignty.

Standing Up for Our Veterans

Stephen Harper’s Government is determined to see that our military personnel, past and present, and their families receive all the care, the services and the financial support they need and deserve.

Veterans Affairs Canada has transitioned from a department focussed on Veterans of the Second World War to also focus on modern day Veterans who served in Afghanistan.

The New Veterans Charter is truly a living document. Canadian Armed Forces members, Veterans, their families and families of the deceased have provided recommendations to address their concerns and priorities, which is why we are introducing the Enhanced New Veterans Charter Act, Bill C-55.

The Enhanced New Veterans Charter Act will improve access to monthly benefits for seriously-injured Veterans, introduce a monthly $1,000 supplement for life to help our most seriously-injured or ill Veterans, as well as provide flexible options for receiving a Disability Award by choosing either a lump-sum payment, annual instalments over a number of years or a combination of both.

The Harper Government has:

  • Announced a Legacy of Care for seriously-injured military personnel and their families and pledged $52.5 million over five years in additional support.
  • Announce improved support for Veterans with ALS. These Veterans can now receive disability benefits, treatments and home care support.
  • Extended the deadline for application to June 20, 2011, for the one-time, tax-free ex-gratia payment of $20,000 related to the testing of unregistered United States military herbicides, including Agent Orange, at CFB Gagetown in New Brunswick during the summers of 1966 and 1967.
  • Announced the Atomic Veterans Recognition program to provide one-time ex-gratia payments of $24,000 to Veterans who participated in nuclear weapons tests following the Second World War, and in the Chalk River nuclear decontamination at key points in the 1950s.
  • Announced the Community War Memorial Program that will support the construction of new war memorials and $1 million per year over five years. Provided GST relief for Royal Canadian Legion purchases of Remembrance Day poppies and wreaths.

Our Government is committed to the men and women of the Canadian Armed Forces and we will continue to work with Veterans and their families to ensure they received the support they need and deserve.

The Enhanced New Veterans Charter Act would:

  • Improve access to monthly benefits for seriously-injured Veterans (up to $1,631 per month, for life).
  • Introduce a monthly $1,000 supplement for life to help our most seriously-injured or ill Veterans.
  • Provide flexible options for receiving a Disability Award by choosing either a lump sum payment, equal annual instalments over a number of years or a combination of both.
  • The regulations which govern the New Veterans Charter will be amended to include a minimum annual, pre-tax income of $40,000 for Veterans who receive the monthly Earnings Loss Benefit.
  • These recent measures total over $2 billion dedicated to caring for our Veterans because they deserve our full support.

Legacy of Care

  • On September 28, 2010, the Harper Government announced a Legacy of Care for seriously-injured military personnel and their families, pledging $52.5 million over five years in additional support.
  • To help them as they are undergoing rehabilitation, our Government will provide access to accommodation, transportation to medical appointments, financial support for caregivers, educational opportunities for spouses, and increased one-on-one attention for seriously-injured military personnel when they need information and help.

Supporting Veterans with ALS

  • In October 2010, our Government announced improved support for Veterans with ALS. These Veterans can now receive disability benefits, treatments and home care support.
  • Based on the latest medical research, our Government has made changes so that Veterans affected by ALS obtain the help and support they need and deserve faster than ever before.
  • These services are greatly needed by Veterans and their families who are affected by this devastating disease.
  • For example, they will now be eligible for adapted wheelchairs, medical resources, housekeeping services and more.

Agent Orange ex-gratia Payments

  • In September 2007, the Harper Government announced a one-time, tax-free ex-gratia payment of $20,000 related to the testing of unregistered United States military herbicides, including Agent Orange, at CFB Gagetown in New Brunswick during the summers of 1966 and 1967.
  • In December 2010, our Government extended the deadline to June 2011 and widened eligibility criteria.
  • We estimate that these changes will allow approximately 1,140 people to receive the ex-gratia payment, for a total of approximately $24 million dollars.
  • Veterans Affairs Canada will be communicating shortly with individuals whose applications were previously declined in order to see if they meet the new criteria.

Community War Memorial Program

  • Our Government announced the Community War Memorial Program, a five-year funding initiative to support the construction of new war memorials with $1 million per year over five years.
  • With help from the Community War Memorial Program, communities and organizations across Canada will be able to build cenotaphs/monuments or major additions to existing ones, that promote and preserve the memory of all those who have served Canada since 1867.
GST Relief for Royal Canadian Legion Remembrance Day Poppies and Wreaths

  • In October 2010, the Government of Canada announce a 100-per-cent rebate of GST for Royal Canadian Legion purchases of Remembrance Day poppies and wreaths.

Standing Up for Law-Abiding Hunters and Farmers

Stephen Harper’s Government is committed to abolishing the wasteful, ineffective long-gun registry.

Our Government knows that the long-gun registry makes criminals out of law-abiding hunters and farmers while doing nothing to crack down on real criminals. This is wrong.

That’s why we made a commitment to scrap the ineffective, wasteful long-gun registry when we took office in 2006.

The Harper Government has already taken action to:

  • Establish an amnesty to protect those long-gun owners who do not register their long-guns from facing fines or imprisonment.
  • Institute other measures, such as a fee waiver, to ease burdens on lawful firearms owners.
  • Scrap the long-gun registry by support Candice Hoeppner’s Private Members’ Bill C-391, Repeal of the Long-Gun Registry.

While the Opposition Coalition has blocked legislation to eliminate the long-gun registry, our Government will continue our efforts to abolish it. And, we will focus on cracking down on real criminals, not law-abiding hunters and farmers.

Delivering Results on Energy and the Environment

The Harper Government’s first priority is the economy. We understand that as a nation rich in natural resources, tens of thousands of Canadian jobs depend on our thriving energy sector.

That said, we also understand that we are stewards of Canada’s rich natural history and that a healthy environment and a strong economy go hand in hand.

If it were up to the Opposition, Canada would sacrifice jobs in our energy sector without any discernable results for the environment; as Michael Ignatieff, the father of the Carbon Tax, has said, “there is a choice between jobs and the environment.” (Kingston Whig-Standard, June 10, 1991)

Our Government disagrees, which is why we have delivered landmark investments to boost Canada’s clean energy sector, strengthen Canada’s record on conservation and deliver good Canadian jobs for today and in the future.

The Harper Government is taking action to deliver results on energy and the environment by:

  • Boosting Clean Energy investments to secure Canada’s position as the world’s foremost clean energy superpower.
  • Combating greenhouse gas emission, and aligning our target of 17 per cent below 2005 levels by 2020, a target which is aligned with the Obama Administration.
  • Protecting and conserving Canada’s natural heritage and treasures, including preserving record amounts of precious parkland for future generations to enjoy.

Thanks to Harper Government action, Canada is successfully working to secure our position as the world’s foremost leader in clean energy production while ensuring that Canada’s precious natural treasures and resources are there for our children’s children to enjoy.

Combating Greenhouse Gas Emissions

  • In 2006, Amendments to the On-Road Vehicle and Engine Emission Regulations introduced tighter emission standards and, for the first time, extended the application of emission standards to small scooters and mopeds. It is estimated that smog-forming emissions will be progressively reduced as cleaner products replace an increasing proportion of older in-use motorcycles. These Regulations came into effect on December 1st, 2006
  • Budget 2007 provided $1.5 billion to the Canada ecoTrust for Clean Air and Climate Change for projects to cut air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. For example, ecoTrust provided:
    • $23 million for Newfoundland and Labrador to support provincial and territorial projects to help reduce greenhouse gas emission and air pollutants, announced on January 9, 2007.
    • $53.8 million for Manitoba to support provincial projects that will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions smog and air pollution, announced on March 3, 2007.
    • $5 million for the Northwest Territories to support projects relating to energy conservation and efficiency, alternative and emerging technologies as well as development of hydro-electric resources, announced on March 11, 2007.

Accountability in Government

Canadians expect and deserve that their government always remains accountable and responsible to them. The Harper Government agrees, and after first being elected to office in 2006, took immediate action to enact strong measures that would deliver this promise to Canadians: that their government is first and foremost accountable to voters, not political friends and special interest groups.

In 2006 the Harper Government made government more accountable with the Federal Accountability Act which:

  • Strengthens the role of the Auditor General
  • Strengthens the role of the Ethics Commissioner.
  • Bans secret donations to political candidates.
  • Provides real whistleblower protection.
  • Strengthens public access to information.
  • Improves and strengthens auditing and accountability within government departments.

Our Government continues to stand up for increased accountability and will continue to show leadership on this important issue.

Democratic and Senate Reform

The Harper Government believes that Canadians deserve more democratic, effective and accountable institutions. The Senate is a relic of the 19th Century. It needs to be modernized to reflect the 21st century democratic principles.

That is why the Harper Government has repeatedly introduced legislation to:

  • Limit the terms of Senators to eight years.
  • Give Canadians a direct say in who represents them in the Senate.
  • Strengthen the Senate Ethics Officer.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper used one of his first Senate appointments to name the elected Senator, Bert Brown, to the Senate.

Our Government also introduced legislation to move towards the principle of representation by population for faster growing provinces, while protecting the seat counts of slower growth provinces.

Stephen Harper’s Government will continue to fight to modernize and reform Canada’s democratic institutions to ensure they reflect a 21st century democracy.

Representation by Population

  • In 2006, our Government committed to ensuring all Canadians have fairness in representation by restoring the principle of representation by population in the House of Commons while protecting the seat counts of provinces with slower growing populations.
  • In 2010, the Harper Government introduced legislation to fulfill that commitment. This legislation will protect Quebec’s seat count and Quebec will never drop below its current level of 75 seats in the House of Commons. Quebec may receive additional seats if Quebec’s population increases before the 2011 or 2021 census.
  • Under this Act, based on projected population figures, after the next redistribution (approximately 2014), the province of Ontario will receive 18 additional seats, the province of Alberta will receive 5 additional seats and the province of British Columbia will receive an additional 7 seats.

Senate Reform

  • In April 2010, the Minister of State (Democratic Reform) began working with provincial governments to encourage them to enact processes that would give Canadian voters a direct say in who would be sent to the Senate.
  • Two Senators from Alberta have already been selected based on this voluntary framework: Senator Stan Waters in 1990 and Senator Bert Brown in 2007.
  • In addition to voter participation, the Harper Government is also pursuing term limits for Senators, limiting their appointed terms to eight years.
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Authorized by the Official Agent for Brent Rathgeber