your family your future your canada - wordpress.com · 2016-04-29 · © liberal party of canada,...

Your Family. Your Future.

Your Canada.

© Liberal Party of Canada, Ottawa 2011

Published by:Liberal Party of Canada 81 Metcalfe Street, Suite 600 Ottawa, Ontario K1P 6M8www.liberal.ca

Ce document est aussi disponible en français

Portions of this publications may be reproduced without charge or written permission provided that appropriate acknowledgement is made of the source.

Authorized by The Federal Liberal Agency of Canada, registered agent for the Liberal Party of Canada.

The Economy: Better Choices, New Directions 4

•WhereWeAreToday 6•Balanced,Progressive,ResponsibleFiscalPolicy 10•InnovationfortheJobsofTodayandTomorrow 13

Families, Finances and the Future 20

•TheCanadianLearningStrategy 22•FamilyCare:StandingWithCanadiansWhoCareforLovedOnes 29•AStrongerPublicPensionSystemforWorkingCanadians 31•HealthandHealthCare:AttheTableforCanada 33

Clean Resources, Healthy Environment and the Economy of Tomorrow 40

Bringing Canadians Together 52

•Stronger,SaferCommunities 54•ACreative,Bilingual,DiverseandMoreEqualCanada 60•RuralCanadaMatters 64•FederalisminaNetworkedEraandPublicServiceExcellence 68•CanadiansMaketheRules:RespectingandRenewingourDemocracy 70

Canada in the World: A Global Networks Strategy 74

Conclusion: Canada at 150 91

Appendix One:ThePlatformBalanceSheet 92Appendix Two:SourceDocuments 93Photo Credits 94

1

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5

Your Family. Your Future.Your Canada.

Message from Michael Ignatieff 3

When each of us gets a chance to succeed, we all succeed together.

March, 2011

2

Message from Michael Ignatieff

O ur country has so much going for it: great people, free institutions, amaz-ing natural resources. But what has

really made Canada successful has been equal opportunity. We believe every family ought to be able to prosper; every child should get a good start in life; every new immigrant de-serves a fair chance to get ahead.

Equal opportunity is what makes Canada great.

Liberal governments have built up the foun-dations of equality – establishing universal medicare, a good public pension system and a Charter of Rights and Freedoms guarantee-ing equality of rights and responsibilities for all Canadians. Now, we’re looking to the future.

Our platform in this election has one overrid-ing objective: to make equal opportunity a re-ality for every Canadian, whether you live in a big city, a small town, a remote community, a farm or a fishing village.

We will invest in quality, affordable child care for every young family that needs it. We will help every family with the costs of college or university, so your kids can be ready for the jobs of tomorrow. We will help families take time off from work to look after sick loved ones at home. We’ll strengthen universally accessi-ble health care for all, and build on the Canada Pension Plan so everyone can retire in security

and dignity. We’ll also have a new tax credit to help with the up-front costs of renovations to make your home more energy-efficient.

Finally, since opportunities for Canadians are now global, we will promote Canadian success overseas and stand up for the proud ideal that a citizen of Canada is truly a citizen of the world.

We can afford to do this while reducing the Conservative deficit responsibly, without rais-ing your taxes, by making better choices. We will cancel unnecessary and unaffordable tax cuts for the largest corporations, reverse wasteful spending habits and focus on what really matters – giving every Canadian the tools to succeed in the years ahead.

Advancing equal opportunity is the work of a healthy democracy. But in the last five years, our democratic institutions have been weak-ened by an autocratic and secretive regime that evades the rules and shuts down debate. We will begin the hard work of restoring the credibility of Parliament and reconnecting government to the people it serves.

That’s our election pledge to you: a gov-ernment that respects our democracy and strengthens equal opportunity for every man, woman and child in this incredible country. When each of us gets a chance to succeed, we all succeed together.

It’s time to put equal opportunity back at the centre of our idea of Canada.

3

Chapter one

The EconomyBetter choices, new directions

Liberals are offering a very different approach to the economy:

We are standing with Canadian families as they struggle with financial pressures;

We have a prudent plan to tackle the Conservative deficit and returnto sound management of public spending;

We’ll cancel tax cuts for large corporations that already enjoylow rates compared to other countries; and

We’ll prepare for the jobs of tomorrow by providing leadership oninnovation, learning, and Canada’s place in the global economy.

Your Money, Your Choices

Liberal Priorities

Family Care: support for those caring for sick loved ones at home:

$1 billion

Learning Passport: direct financial support to families for higher

education: $1 billion

Secure Retirement Option, to help Canadians save

Green Renovation Tax Credit: $400 million

Tax cuts for the largest corporations: $5-6 billion per year

Stealth fighter jets: $30 billion

U.S.-style mega-prisons: $10-13 billion

Wasteful G8/G20 summit: $1 billion

Conservative Priorities

Liberals believe Canada’s middle-class families are the bedrock of our economy.

Their concerns must drive economic policy.

6

Your Family. Your Future. Your Canada.

Where We Are TodayUnderthelastLiberalgovernment,Canadahadahealthybudgetsurplus.Wewerepayingdowndebtandreducingtaxes.

Liberalsalsomademajorinvestmentsinresearchanddevelopment,andcommittedtolong-termfederalfundingforhealthcare–allofwhichhelpedmakeCanadacompetitive.

Thankstoaprudentbusinessculture,atoughregulatorysystem,andgoodpolicydeci-sionsmadeinthe1990s,includingarefusaltopermitbankmega-mergers,theCanadianfinancialsectorhasremainedsolidwhileothercountrieshavebeenspendingbillionsonbankbailouts.

Thosebalancedpolicies,andthehardworkofmil-lionsofCanadians,gaveoureconomytheresiliencytocopewiththeglobaldownturn.

Sowheredowestandtoday?Considerwherethepresentcourseistakingus:

In2006,whentheHarpergovern-menttookoffice,unemploymentwas6.4percent.In2011,it’shover-ingbetween7.5and8percent.

Inthepastfiveyears,thepersonaldebtCanadianfamiliescarryrelativetotheirdisposableincomehasrisen20per-cent,andisnowthehighestamongthe20mostdevelopedcountries.

In2005-06,thefederalbudgetsurpluswas$13.2billion.In2009-10,thedeficitwas$56billion,thelargestinCanada’shistory.CH

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2006 - 6.4%

2011 - 7.8%

Jobs

Personal Debt

Federal Budget Balance

2006 - 123.5% of income

2010 - 150.2% of income

2005-06 - $13.2 B surplus

2009-10 - $56 B deficit

Federal Government Spending

2005-06 - $175.2 B

2009-10 - $244.8 B

Advertising: Liberals VS Conservatives Childcare/Tuition Costs, etc

Additional Debt Reduction

Investments in Families and Canada’s Economy

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US Canada

Age and Workforce Projection

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ConservativesLiberals

Federal government spendingon advertising has tripled


Productivity Under the Conservatives Deficit Reduction Target


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$7.3 Billion in Savings

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Elements of Innovation Policy

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Corporate Tax Rate HistoricalDecline Under Liberals

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Canada France Australia US Finland Japan OECDTotal

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Liberal plan: additional debt reductionand investments in families andCanada’s economy

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The Economy: Better Choices, New Directions

7www.liberal.ca

From2006to2008,theHarpergovernmentincreasedspendingatthreetimestherateofinflation,eliminatedthecontingencyreservesincludedinpreviousbudgets,andwentfromsurplustodeficitbeforetherecessionhit.WhataretheConservatives’bigspendingpriorities?

$30billionforstealthfighterplanes;

$1billionfora72-hour,wastefulphoto-opattheG8andG20summits;

$10to$13billionCanada-wideforUS-stylemega-prisons;

$5to6billionperyearfortaxbreaksforthelargestcorporations,whichalreadyenjoyrates25percentlowerthanintheUnitedStates;and

Morethan$1billionannuallyforconsultantsandadvertising,muchofwhichiscostlyself-promotionattaxpayers’expense.

Thesearebadchoices.Whilemostothercoun-triesusedtheirstimulusspendingtomaketheireconomiesstrongerandmorecompetitive,theHarper stimulus spending was notable mostlyfor its partisan slant toward Conservative-heldridings,lavishspendingonadvertising,andob-sessionwithpromotionalsignsoneverystreetcorner.Theymissedacrucialopportunitytoin-vestinthefuture.

Liberals believe middle-class families are thebedrock of our economy. Coming out of therecession, Canadian families carry more debtthanmostothersintheWesternworld,includ-ing the United States. Every dollar of dispos-ableincomeintheaveragehouseholdisoffsetby nearly $1.50 in debt. Against that troublingbackdrop families are struggling to meet theincreasingcostsofputtingchildrenthroughcol-legeanduniversity.Manyparentsmustchooseto stay in the workforce while raising kids, butcan’tfindhighquality,affordablechildcareandearly learning.Manyof thesamefamiliesmustalsocareforagingparentsorotherlovedonesinneed.Savingenoughforacomfortableretire-mentisimpossiblefortoomanyofus.Ontopofthat, familiesare lesscertainthaneverthatthehealthcaresystemwillbethereforthemwhentheyneedit.

2006 - 6.4%

2011 - 7.8%

Jobs

Personal Debt


2006 - 123.5% of income

2010 - 150.2% of income

2005-06 - $13.2 B surplus

2009-10 - $56 B deficit


2005-06 - $175.2 B

2009-10 - $244.8 B




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8

Sandwiched by all these financial and emotional strains, Canadian families feel they’re fall-ing further behind, even though they’re working harder than ever. But at the top end ofthe income scale, the richest are getting still richer, and the gap between them and theaveragefamilyisgettingwider.

LiberalsbelievethatamorefairandequalCanada,withathrivingmiddleclass,willbeamorecompetitiveandproductiveCanada.

Families are beginning to feel the im-pact of Canada’s aging population. Asbabyboomers retire,we’llhaveaneversmaller proportion of the population intheworkforce.Asaresult,expertspredictthatinthenextthirtyyears,ourstandardoflivingwillgrowatonlyhalftherateofthelastfourdecades.

Arewewillingtoacceptthecurrentdirectionwhenit

meansourchildrenwillbepoorerthanwearetoday?

Today,14percentofthepopulationis65orolder;by2040thefigurewillberoughly25percent.ThatmeansfewerworkingageCanadianstosupporttheelderly,atthesametimeascostlyde-mandsonsocialservices,especiallyhealthcare,continuetoincrease.

That’s why it’s more important than ever that our economybecomesmoreproductivemorequickly.Unfortunately,Can-ada’sproductivitygrowthlagswellbehindtheUnitedStates,andmostofourcompetitors.

Thejobsoftomorrowwillrequiremoreskillsandknowledge.So investing more in learning is one of the most importantthings governments, businesses and individuals can do. Wealso know that productivity and our standard of living aredrivenbyinnovation.Businessesandentrepreneurshavetheresponsibilityhere,butgovernmentscanshapeincentives.

Further,astheglobaleconomybecomesevermorecompetitive,andneweconomicpowerslikeChinaandIndiainfluencehowwealthiscreatedandwherejobsarelocated,it’scrucialthatthefederalgovernmentworkseffectivelywithpartnersinothergovernments,theprivatesectorandcivilsocietytostrengthenCanada’spresenceintheworld.

2006 - 6.4%

2011 - 7.8%

Jobs

Personal Debt


2006 - 123.5% of income

2010 - 150.2% of income

2005-06 - $13.2 B surplus

2009-10 - $56 B deficit


2005-06 - $175.2 B

2009-10 - $244.8 B




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45


9www.liberal.ca

Weneedadifferentkindoffederalleadership–res-ponsible,balancedandprogressive.TheLiberalplanproposessignificant investments in learning,caringfor children and loved ones who are sick at home,and jobs. These are the priorities of middle-classfamilies,andtheessentialsforastrongeconomy.

Ifweavoidthesechallenges,theydon’tdisappear–theyonlygetworse,andtheygetdumpedonourchildrenandgrandchildrentosolve.Thiscountry isbetter than that.Wehave the resources, theabilityandtheambitiontoconfrontourchallengestogeth-erandwin.Allwe’vebeenlackingistheleadership.

2006 - 6.4%

2011 - 7.8%

Jobs

Personal Debt


2006 - 123.5% of income

2010 - 150.2% of income

2005-06 - $13.2 B surplus

2009-10 - $56 B deficit


2005-06 - $175.2 B

2009-10 - $244.8 B




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Lorem Ispum

20092008200720062005


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US Canada



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2008 2018 2028 2038

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200,000

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2008 2018 2028 2038

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2008 2018 2028 2038



200,000

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2008 2018 2028 2038



200,000

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1,200,000

1,400,000

$20

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$60

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$120

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$160

$180

2008 2018 2028 2038


Youth Unemployment

200,000

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1,200,000

1,400,000

$20

$40

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$80

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2008 2018 2028 2038



200,000

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1,200,000

1,400,000

$20

$40

$60

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$100

$120

$140

$160

$180

2008 2018 2028 2038



Unemployment

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

2009/102008/092007/082006/072005/062004/05


0

5

10

15

20

25


costs

Transpor-tation






0

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1

1.5

2

2.5

3

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4

2013-142009-10

Perc

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$ M

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0%

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4%

6%

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14%

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2005-06 2006-072007-08

2008-09

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0.5

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3


-60

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13.213.2

2005-06

-55.6

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0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

7000

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009


0

1000

2000

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4000

5000

6000

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1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

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Perc

ent





-0.2

-0.0

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1.8




5

7

9

11

13

15

17


Dec-

07

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8

Aug-

08

Dec-

09

Dec-

10

Apr-1

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Aug-

10

Aug-

09

Dec-

08

Apr-0

9


% in

crea

se in

cost


0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

Japan

-6%

US

-2%

France

-6%

Italy

-24%

Germany

-29%

Canada

-35%

UK

-7%

2000 2012

-60

-50

-40

-30

-20

-10

0

10

20

2009-10

0

5

10

15

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45

Stronger Economy, Better Future: The Liberal Approach

HELP INDIVIDUALSREACH THEIR FULL

POTENTIAL

EASE FINANCIAL PRESSUREON CANADIAN FAMILIES

FOSTERJOB CREATION,

INNOVATION ANDA COMPETITIVE

ECONOMY

EMBRACE ARAPIDLY

CHANGINGWORLD

RESPONSIBLE,PROGRESSIVE FISCAL POLICY

Competitiveand afford-able taxes(Chapter One)

Secure RetirementOption

(Chapter Two)

SpendingDiscipline(Chapter One)

Family Care(Chapter Two)

DeficitReduction(Chapter One)

Transition to the Cleaner, Low-Carbon Economy of the Future� Green Renovation Tax Creditt (Chapter Three)

Canadian Learning Strategy (Chapter Two)

Canada Champion Sectors� Clean Resources� Health and Biosciences� Digital Canada

(Chapter One)

Early Childhood Learningand Care (Chapter Two)

Canada in the World:A Global Networks Strategy (Chapter Five)

Rural Canada Matters(Chapter Four)

Youth Hiring Incentive(Chapter One)

Equal Opportunity for all Canadians


10

Balanced, Progressive, Responsible Fiscal Policy

Deficit Reduction

Ourplanbeginswithacommitmenttoastrongfiscalanchor.

ALiberalgovernmentwillcommittoreducing the deficit to one percent of GDPwithintwoyears,downfrom3.6percentin2009-10.Wewillsetsubsequent,rollingtargetstocontinuede-creasingthedeficiteveryyearafterthatuntilthecountryisreturnedtosurplus.UnlessCanadaisfacedwithanunexpectedsecondrecession,allfiscalplanningwillbeconsistentwiththisanchor.

We will restore a two-year budgeting framework toincrease transparency and make steady, measurableprogress in deficit reduction. That progress will bedrivenbyrolling, near-term targetsthatarefirmandachievable.

Inaddition,Liberalswillrestoreprudentbudgetplan-ning, startingwith thisplatform.By its secondyear,our plan frees up $7 billion through better choices.Wewillputsomeofthatmoneyasideina$3billionPrudence Reserve,tomanageanyunforeseeneventswithoutmissingourtargets.Ifthereserveisn’tneeded,itwillgotowardthedeficit.

These unshakable commitments – rolling deficit reduction targets, a realistic budgeting time-frame,andatangiblecommitmenttoprudence–workedthelasttimeaLiberalgovernmenthadtocleanupafiscalmessleftbyConservatives.

Competitive and Affordable Tax Rates

AnewLiberalgovernmentwillimplementtwomeasurestomakeourtaxsystemfairerandpre-serverevenues.Thefundsfromthesemeasureswillsupportaprudentplanforeliminatingthedeficitandseveralinvestmentsintheprioritiesofmiddle-classfamiliesthatwillalsohavelong-termbenefitsforoureconomy.

TheLiberalapproachtofiscal responsibilityhas3pillars:

DeficitReduction CompetitiveandAffordableTaxRates SpendingDiscipline


11www.liberal.ca

First,wewillcancel the Harper govern-ment’s corporate income tax cuts ofJanuary1,2011and January1,2012, re-storingthe2010levelforCanada’slargestfirms.Thatwillstillmaintaina25percentadvantage over the United States, andoneofthelowestratesintheG-7.Giventhat Canada’s corporate tax rate is verycompetitive,usingborrowedmoney tocutitfurtherisnotaprudentpolicy.Ouractionwillrampuptoyieldover$5bil-lionbythesecondyearofourplan,risingtonearly$6billionwithinfouryears.

Second, we will limit the lucrative tax break on stock options. In some com-panies, employees are offered the op-tion of acquiring stocks at a set price,below market value if the stock hasrisen. The difference is treated as em-ployment compensation, but the em-ployee can claim a tax deduction for50 percent of it. Currently, 8,000 Cana-dians who earn more than $500,000a year deduct an average of $400,000from their taxable income based onstock options. Many other taxpay-ers are claiming much more modest amounts. But those 8,000 high earners arereceivingthree-quartersofthetotalclaimedunderthestockoptiondeduction.

AtatimeofhighdeficitsandgrowinginequalitybetweentherichestCanadiansandmiddle-classfamilies,thisisadisproportionatebenefitfortheverywealthy.ALiberalgovernmentwillcaptheamountthatcanbeclaimedthroughthestockoptiondeductionat$50,000annually.

Stockoptionsarealegitimatemethodofcompensation,andparticularlyusefulforstart-upcom-panies.Employeeswithupto$100,000inannualstockoptiongainswillbeunaffectedbythischange.Verywealthytaxpayerswillalsocontinuereceivingthededuction,andpaytheregularincometaxrateabovethiscap.Thechangewillachieveafairbalance,andreturnapproximately$600milliontothepublicpurseovertwoyears.

OurplandoesnotrequireanincreaseintheGST,personalincometaxorsmallbusinesstaxrates.

Capping stock option deductions: Canada’stop100CEOsaveraged$6.6millioninpayin2009,or155timesmorethantheaverageworker.Nearlyone-thirdofthatwasinstockoptionbenefits.

Andthey’resittingonanother$1.3billioninstockoptionstheyhaven’tcashedinyet.

Source: Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives

2006 - 6.4%

2011 - 7.8%

Jobs

Personal Debt


2006 - 123.5% of income

2010 - 150.2% of income

2005-06 - $13.2 B surplus

2009-10 - $56 B deficit


2005-06 - $175.2 B

2009-10 - $244.8 B




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Lorem Ispum

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20092008200720062005


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US Canada



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2008 2018 2028 2038

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2008 2018 2028 2038


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2008 2018 2028 2038






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2008 2018 2028 2038

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2008 2018 2028 2038



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2008 2018 2028 2038



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$20

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2008 2018 2028 2038


Youth Unemployment

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2008 2018 2028 2038



200,000

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1,200,000

1,400,000

$20

$40

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$100

$120

$140

$160

$180

2008 2018 2028 2038



Unemployment

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

2009/102008/092007/082006/072005/062004/05


0

5

10

15

20

25


costs

Transpor-tation






0

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1

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2.5

3

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4

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Perc

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0%

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2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009


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2004

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Perc

ent





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-0.0

0.2

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1.8




5

7

9

11

13

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17


Dec-

07

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8

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Aug-

10

Aug-

09

Dec-

08

Apr-0

9


% in

crea

se in

cost


0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

Japan

-6%

US

-2%

France

-6%

Italy

-24%

Germany

-29%

Canada

-35%

UK

-7%

2000 2012

-60

-50

-40

-30

-20

-10

0

10

20

2009-10

0

5

10

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12

Spending Discipline

TheLiberalPlatformwillcostlessoverallthanthecoursetheHarpergovernmentison.Thatdiffer-encewillallowforanamplePrudenceReserve,asdescribedabove.

Thisplatformidentifiesallthefundsneededtopayforallitsnewinitiatives,withoutaddingtothedeficit.Forexample,wewill:

FundnewdirectionslaidoutintheCanadaintheWorldplanbyre-allocatingmorethan$1billion,aftertheendofthecombatmissioninAfghanistanin2011.

Spreadtheanticipatedrevenuefromtheupcomingwirelessspectrumauctionoverthe10-yearlifeoftheawardedcontractstosupportinvestmentsinamorecreativeandconnectedCanada.

CanceltheHarpergovernment’sPublicPrivatePartnershipInfrastructureFund,whichinitstwoyearsofoperationhasonlydeliveredeightpercentofthefundsallocatedtoit.Instead,wewillinvestinaffordablehousing.AdedicatedfundisnotnecessaryforP-3s,andinfactthisoneaccomplishedvirtuallynothing.

CancelimmediatelytheAcceleratedCapitalCostAllowanceforoilsandsinvestment.Wewillinvestthesavingsinmeasuresthatwillhelpmakeoilsandsdevelopmentcleaner.

Cancelthemismanaged,$30billiondealforF-35stealthfighterjets.Whenitisnecessarytobuynewfighters,we’llspendbillionslessthantheHarpergovernmentwouldhave.Butthehigherprioritieswillbeinvestmentsinmiddle-classfamilies,andbuildingastrongereconomyforthefuture.

A Liberal government will review all federal program spending,andimplementsmart,sustainablesavings.Wewillseekthebestanalysisandideasfromtheprofessionalpublicservice,andprovidedirectionbasedonapositiveandrealisticvisionofmoderngovernment.

Wewillcut wasteful spendingthathasballoonedundertheHarpergovernment.Thiswouldinclude,butnotbelimitedtotaxpayer-fundedpromotionaladvertising,the

over-sizedCabinet,PMOstaffandskyrocketingspendingonconsultants.

Weanticipatesavingat least$500millionbythesecondyearofourplan,consistentwiththeC.D.HoweInstitute’sassessmentofpotentialcostsavingsthatshouldbeachievedinthefederalgovernment.

Overall,thesemeasureswilldefineafiscalpolicythatisbalanced,progressiveandresponsible.Wewillrestoreprudencetomanagementofthenation’sfinances,andmakesteady,measuredprogress towardabalancedbudgetwhile investing in theprioritiesofCanadian families inamannerthatstrengthenstheeconomyforthelong-term.


13www.liberal.ca

Innovation for the Jobs of Today and TomorrowTheglobaleconomyofthe21stcenturyisbeingshapedbyrisingeconomicpowerssuchasChinaandIndia,transformativenewdigitalandinternettechnologies,andwholeneweconomicsectors.

Developingcountries thatused to relyon low-cost labourare shifting towardmorevaluableknowledge-basedeconomicactivity,andbecomingstrongercompetitorsontheworldstage.Inthisconstantraceforgrowthandjobs,nocountrycanaffordtostandstill.

Unfortunately,Canadianproductivityhasbeensluggishinrecentyears.AccordingtoMarkCarney,GovernoroftheBankofCanada,“Canadaunder-investsinmachineryandequipment,training,andinnovation–infact,alloftheunderlyingdriversofproductivity.”Weareranked16thintheOECDintermsofbusinessresearchanddevelopment.VenturecapitalinCanadaisata14-yearlow.

Aforward-lookinggovernmentmustfosteraninnovation-friendlyenvironment.Whilereigninginunnecessaryregulation,thefederalgovernmentcandomoretotargetpublicinvestments,andprovidetherightincentivesforentrepreneursandinvestorstotakerisksonnewideas,technolo-gies,businessmodelsandotherproductivityimprovements.Themostcruciallong-termtaskforthefederalgovernmentistomakelearningthroughallstagesoflifetrulyaCanadianpriority.

The Harper government has presidedpassively over a string of foreign take-overs of major Canadian companies.ConservativeministersdidnothingwhileNortel,aniconofCanadianinnovation,wassoldoff inpieces to foreign inves-tors. Similarly, Inco, Alcan, and Stelcowere bought out, with headquartersand management control removedfromCanadianhands.Onlyintensepres-surefromSaskatchewanandacrossthecountry prevented the same result forPotash Corporation, a dominant playerinakey,globalcommodity.

ForeigninvestmentisgoodforCanada,andCanadiansinvestevenmoreinothercountriesthanforeignersdohere.Weshouldaimforstillmoresuccessinglobalbusiness.Thatwillrequirethefederalgovernmenttostopbeingapassivespectator.ALiberalgovernmentwillstrengthentheInvestment Canada Acttomakeforeigninvestmentreviewsmoretransparent,clarifyhow“netbenefit”isassessed,recognizetheimportanceofCanadianheadquartersandmanagementcon-trol,andarticulatewhenanassetcanbeconsideredofparticular“strategic”valuetoCanada.Beingpro-activeisnotthesameasbeingprotectionist.Rather,it’spartofamoreeffectiveapproachtoinnovationandCanada’splaceinthe21stcenturyglobaleconomy.

2006 - 6.4%

2011 - 7.8%

Jobs

Personal Debt


2006 - 123.5% of income

2010 - 150.2% of income

2005-06 - $13.2 B surplus

2009-10 - $56 B deficit


2005-06 - $175.2 B

2009-10 - $244.8 B




98

100

102

104

106

108

110

112

114

Lorem Ispum

Lorem Ispum

20092008200720062005


100%

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130%

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US Canada



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2008 2018 2028 2038

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2008 2018 2028 2038



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2008 2018 2028 2038



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$20

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2008 2018 2028 2038


Youth Unemployment

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$20

$40

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$80

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$120

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2008 2018 2028 2038



200,000

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1,200,000

1,400,000

$20

$40

$60

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$100

$120

$140

$160

$180

2008 2018 2028 2038



Unemployment

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

2009/102008/092007/082006/072005/062004/05


0

5

10

15

20

25


costs

Transpor-tation






0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

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Perc

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-2%

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-6%

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-24%

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-29%

Canada

-35%

UK

-7%

2000 2012

-60

-50

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-30

-20

-10

0

10

20

2009-10

0

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14

Canadian Champion Sectors

A Liberal government will concentrate on three key sectors expected to be sources of growth in the global economy in the coming years, and in which Canada already has a strong foundation and real po-tential: clean resources, health and biosciences, and digital technology. The goal will be for Canada to become a world leader in each of these “Canadian Champion Sectors”. These sectors will be priorities across government departments, as well as the focus of collaboration with other governments, and with business and academic leaders. And we will target new tax incentives for innovative, emerging firms, in these Canadian sectors.

1) Clean Resources

World markets are demanding more sustainable and environmen-tally responsible resource products and consumption. Environmen-tal footprints of entire supply chains matter more than ever. Can-ada is well positioned to benefit commercially from its exports of responsibly harvested natural resource products, and the expertise and technologies needed for cleaner extraction, management and consumption of resources abroad.

This broadly-defined clean resources sector, including energy, will be a major driver of the global economy for decades to come, and Canada can lead the world in this area. A Liberal government will offer incentives for innovation and work with industry, experts and other governments to advance Canadian commercial success and job creation.

2) Health and Biosciences

Canada has demonstrated longstanding leadership in health in-novation from the invention of insulin in 1922, to the introduction of universal medicare in 1966, to today’s breakthroughs in stem cell research, genomics and neuroscience. This positions us well to capi-talize on the expected surge in demand for health-related products and services from aging populations throughout the world.

A Liberal government will work with provinces, territories and the research community to bolster innovation in the health and bioscience field, improve the health of Canadians, and help bring Canadian products to global markets.

Canadian Champion Sectors

1) Clean resources2) Health and biosciences3) Digital technologies


15www.liberal.ca

3) Digital Technologies

The information and communications technology sector has alwaysplayedanimportantroleinoureconomyandinCanadiansociety.Today,itgeneratesover$155billion inrevenuesannually,employsmorethanhalfamillionCanadiansandcontributesalmost40percentoftotalpri-vatesectorresearchanddevelopmentinCanada,ameasurethatmustcontinuegrowingifwearetokeeppacewithcompetitors.We’realreadyhome to world-leading companies such as Research in Motion, OpenText,UbisoftandElectronicArts.

ALiberalgovernmentwillmakedigitaltechnologiesoneof itsCanadi-anChampionSectors,boostingincentivesforinvestmentininnovatorsseekingtoconquerworldmarkets.

Supporting Entrepreneurship and Innovation in the Canadian Champion Sectors

ALiberalgovernmentwillpromoteinnovationandentrepreneurshipintheCanadianChampionSectors–cleanresources,healthandbiosciences,anddigitaltechnology.Thisrequiresprivatecapital.Butwiththemodestventurecapitalmarket inCanada,newincentivesareneededtogeneratemorestart-upcapitalforentrepreneurs.Therefore,wewillimplement:

AnewInnovation and Productivity Tax Credit(IPTC)thatwillgrantCanadianinvestorsa15percenttaxcreditforinvestmentsinsmall,early-stagestart-upsthatdon’tyethavethetrackrecordtoseekfinancingfrommoretraditionalsourcessuchasbanksandthestockmarket.

Anextensionofthepopular“Flow-Through Shares”taxmodeltostart-upsinthethreeCanadianChampionSectors.Thistaxincentivewouldallowventurecompanieswithlittleornorevenuetopassontaxdeductionstoinvestors,creatingasignificantincentivetoinvestinCanadianentrepreneursfrompromisingsectorswhereCanadacanbecomeaworldleader.

Small Business: A Liberal PrioritySmall businesses account for more than half of all jobs in Canada, and Liberal policies will help them create more.

Youth Hiring Incentive – full EI premium holiday on all new youth hires

Innovation and Productivity Tax Credit and extension of flow-through shares for invest-ment in start-ups in emerging sectors

100 percent coverage of high-speed internet across rural Canada

A responsible, prudent plan to reduce the deficit without increasing personal or small business taxes or the GST

Canadian Learning Strategy, with major new investments in the knowledge-based workforce of tomorrow

Secure Retirement Option, a voluntary, low-cost option within the CPP that small busi-nesses can choose for affordable pensions


16

SmallandmediumbusinessesarethebackboneoftheCanadianeconomy.Weneedmoreofthemtogrowintolarge,innovativeCanadianleadersthattakeonglobalmarkets.Thesemea-surestoadvancetheCanadianChampionSectorswilltargetstart-ups,andimprovetheincen-tivesforthemostinnovativeamongthem.

A New Innovation Gateway

ALiberalgovernmentwillalsorevampexistinginnovationprogramstoensurethattheydoabetterjobofmeetingtheneedsoftheprivatesector.Currentlyover100suchprogramsarescatteredacrossthegovernment,workingwithlittlestrategicvisionorpurpose,andleavingCanadianentrepreneursandmajorenterprisesconfusedaboutwhatgovernmentsupportisavailableforinnovation.

ALiberalgovernmentwill launchanew Innovation Gateway providing a “single window” ap-proach thatconsolidatesgovernmentsupport for innovationandentrepreneurship inemergingfieldsaswellaslong-standingareasofstrengthlikeaerospace,manufacturingandnaturalresources.Theobjectivewillbeasimplerandmoreefficientemphasisonentrepreneurial,innovativecom-panies. Consolidating all existing federal resources earmarked for innovation, the InnovationGatewaywillfocuson:

Helpingentrepreneursaccessthebusinessandmanagerialtrainingtheyneed;

AdvancingbusinessincubatorsandinnovationclustersinpartnershipwithindustryandCanadiancolleges,polytechnicsanduniversities;and

SupportinggrowingCanadiancompaniesjustpasttheventurecapitalstageinbridgingthedifficult“valleyofdeath”stepbetweenresearchandcommercialization.

Investing in Science, Technology and Basic Research

Thefederalgovernmentmustcontinuefundingbasicresearchthattheprivatesector–focusedmoreonprofitabilityandreturns–willnot undertake adequately. History shows that such public invest-mentleadstotremendouseconomicbenefitsoverthelonger-term,askeydiscoveriesarelateradaptedforcommercialuse.TheCAN-ADARM,theBlackberry,IMAXandcanolaareamongthemanyex-

amplesofinnovativebreakthroughsthatwouldnothaveoccurredwithoutpublicinvestmentinbasicscience,researchanddevelopment.

Asthecountry’sfinancialsituationimproves,wewillincreaseinvestmentsinscience,technologyandbasicresearch.Inthenearterm,severalcommitmentsinthisplatformwilladvancescienceinvestmentincooperationwithmajornationalresearchbodies,includingforbrainresearch,oilsandsenvironmentalimpacts,andtheCanadianFreshwaterStrategy.


17www.liberal.ca

Transportation and Infrastructure to Drive the Economy of the Future

Modern,efficient infrastructure isanotherdriverofaproductiveeconomyandhighqualityoflife.Soundinvestmentscanreducepollutionandeasecongestioninourcities,whilemakingoureconomymorecompetitive.

ALiberalgovernmentwillprovideleadership,workingwithotherlevelsofgovernmentandtheprivatesectortoputinplaceaCanadian Transportation and Infrastructure Strategythattargetslong-termeconomicbenefits.

ThelastLiberalgovernmenttookastrategicapproach,withthePa-cific Gateway Strategy, which combined international trade com-petitivenesswithtransportationinfrastructureinvestment.However,undertheHarpergovernment,interestinsoundpolicygavewaytopartisanship.ThefederalroleininfrastructurebecamelittlemorethanposingforpictureswithbigchequesinConservative-heldridings.

Lookingtothefuture,allgovernmentswillneedtocoordinatestrategiesandinvestmentswitheachotherandtheprivatesector.Thesuccessfulgastaxtransfertomunicipalitiesisongoing,butotherinfrastructurefundsthatwerelaunchedbeforetherecessionexpireinthenextsev-eralyears.AnewTransportationandInfrastructureStrategywillunderpinanextgenerationofprogramming.Inatimeofrecordhighfiscaldeficitsandinfrastructuredeficits,realism,coopera-tion,clearthinkingandtoughchoiceswillbenecessary.ALiberalgovernmentwillbringclarityandcoherencetothefederalroleininfrastructure.It’saboutinvestingforlong-termresultsonmajorCanadianobjectivessuchasinternationaltradecompetitiveness,regionaldevelopment,economicgrowthandmodernization,urbanqualityoflifeandgreenhousegasandotherpol-lutionreduction.

Liberalinfrastructureprioritiesinclude:

Highways and major roadsthatsupportinternationaltrade,regionalcommerceandeconomicdevelopment;

Local and regional transit, rapid transit and commuter railthathelpsreducegreenhousegasemissionsbyprovidingefficientalternativestoprivatevehicles;

Municipal infrastructure,particularlyforwaterandsewerstomeetlocalneedsandreducepollution,andmajorpublicmulti-functionspaces;

High-speed railinregionswhererapid,convenientconnectionsbetweenmajorurbancentrespromiseenvironmentalbenefits,enhancedmobility,decreasedcongestionandaboosttointernationalcommerce,ifcoordinatedwithinvestmentsunderwayintheUnitedStates.


18

Canada’s cities are drivers of good living standards and economic competitiveness in today’sglobaleconomy.Still,seriousinfrastructuregapsarecostingusjobsandproductivity.TheHarpergovernmenthaspaidlittleattentiontocities,andadvancednovisionoftheirroleintheecon-omyofthefuture.ALiberalgovernment’sCanadianTransportationandInfrastructureStrategywilladdresstheneedsandopportunitiesofcities,andbuildontheirdynamismandinnovation.

Acting on Youth Employment

At14percent,theyouthunemploymentrateisnearlytwicethenationalaverage,andtheworstinageneration.

Asanimmediatestep,wewillputinplaceaYouth Hir-ing Incentiveforsmallandmedium-sizedbusinesses–a100percentEmploymentInsuranceholidayforev-ery Canadian youth age 18 to 25 that they hire. Thisincentivewillapplytoallnewyouthhiresbysmallandmediumenterprisesforthreeyears,andbeevaluatedinthethirdyeartoverifyresultsandadministrativeef-ficiency.TheYouthHiringIncentivewillbeparticularlyvaluablegiventhatexistingpayrolltaxesposeasignifi-cantburdenforsmallerfirms.Itisexpectedtobenefitupto170,000youngCanadianseachyear,atanannualinvestmentof$130–$160million.

ThenewYouthHiringIncentivewillbenefit170,000youngCanadiansannually.

The Digital Canada of Tomorrow

Withcontinuing,rapidleapsincomputingcapacity,datastorageandwirelessinnovation,digitaltechnologyandtheInternethavethepotentialtoinvigorateourdemocracy,oureconomy,andourculture,puttingthefullpowerofinformationandactionintocitizens’hands.

Butinthelastfiveyears,Canadahasfallenbehindmoreambitiouscompetitors.TheUnitedKing-dom,France,AustraliaandtheUnitedStates,forexample,havedevelopedfar-reachingplansforthedigitalsocietyofthefuture,andareintroducingcomprehensivepoliciesandprograms.

ALiberalgovernmentwilldevelopandimplementDigital Canada, focusingonthefollowingobjectives:

Access to Broadband for All Canadians.Liberalsconsideraccesstoahigh-speedbroadbandIn-ternetconnectionessentialinfrastructure,justastheelectricitygridandthetelephonenetworkwereoveracenturyago.ALiberalgovernmentwillpubliclytendercontractsforprivatecompa-niestoinstallbroadbandcapacityforthehundredsofthousandsofCanadiansinrural,remoteor

2006 - 6.4%

2011 - 7.8%

Jobs

Personal Debt


2006 - 123.5% of income

2010 - 150.2% of income

2005-06 - $13.2 B surplus

2009-10 - $56 B deficit


2005-06 - $175.2 B

2009-10 - $244.8 B




98

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19www.liberal.ca

northernareaswhodonotcurrentlyhaveaccess.Tomakethosecontractseconomicalforprivateinvestment,wewillprovide$500millioninsupport,allowingCanadatoachievebasichigh-speedInternetaccessforallCanadianhouseholdswithinthreeyears.Thesourceofthatinvestmentwillbethenextspectrumauctionforwirelesslicensingrights.

Closing the Digital Divide. Research shows that Internet skills lead to real economic benefits,including lowerprices forconsumersandmorecompetitivesmallbusiness.ALiberalgovern-mentwillworkwithallpartnerstopromotedigitallifeskillsandtraining,inparticularforolderCanadiansandlowerincomefamilies.

Fair balance Between Creators and Consumers.Digitaltechnologyoffersmanynewopportunities,butenjoyingcontentwithoutcompensatingitscreatorsshouldn’tbeamongthem.Atthesametime,consumersshouldhavefreedomforpersonaluseofdigitalcontenttheyrightfullypossess.Liber-alshaveworkedtopasseffectivecopyrightlegislation,includingaprivatecopyingcompensationfundinsteadofanynewtaxonconsumers.

Flourishing Canadian Content, Culture and Identity in Digital Media.Canadiansshouldcontinuetohaveaccess toevermoreCanadian storiesandCanadiancontent in theDigitalCanadaofthe future.Newmediashouldprovidevibrantand rewardingnewavenues forexpressionbyCanadianartists.Thepublicbroadcasters,RadioCanadaandtheCBChavecrucialrolestoplayinachievingtheseobjectives.

Competition in a Healthy Business Environment that Rewards Innovation. Consumers deservechoicesandcarriersthatinvestheavilyintheadvancedservicesandinfrastructureoftomorrowdeservethechancetoearnafairreturn.

An Open Internet.TheInternetistoday’sprincipalconduitforthefreeflowofideas.Toensureitfosterstheuninhibitedexchangethatin-novationrequires,Canada’sInternetenvironmentmustremainopen.Internettrafficmanagementmustremainneutral,andmaintaintheopensharingoflegitimatetechnologies,ideasandapplications.Afair,effectivewholesaleregimeisalsoessentialtoallowsmallerInternetserviceproviderstoleasebroadbandinfrastructureatfairprices.

Open Government. Canada’s federal government must embrace information technology andopen data in order to improve services to Canadians and make government more transparentandaccountableforpublicspending.PuttingStatisticsCanadaandothergovernmentdataonlinewhereverpossible,aftermeetingallprivacyandotherlegalrequirements,willstrengthenCanadiandemocracy,helpcreateanddisseminateknowledgeandspurinnovation.

Protection from Digital Threats. JustasopennessandtransparencyarethesourcesofboundlessinnovationandcreativityontheInternet,thesesamefeaturesaretoooftenexploitedforcrimi-nalpurposescausingsignificantpersonalandeconomicdisruption,harmtochildren,andeventhreatstonationalsecurity.ALiberalgovernmentwillmakesecurityapriorityinDigitalCanada,workingtoadvanceitwiththeprivatesectorandothergovernmentsathomeandabroad.

Chapter two

Families, Finances and the FutureMiddle-class families are the bed-rock of Canada’s economy and our way of life. They come in all descriptions – large and small, “nuclear”, single-parent, blended, and of all cultural backgrounds.

Today, more families than ever are struggling with financial pressures. They’re often caring for their aging parents and their own children at the same time, putting older children through college or university while also struggling to save for retirement. The household debt of the average family is higher than ever before.

These pressures are compound-ed by worries over whether the healthcare system will be there for them when they need it.

Canadians want a compassionate society and a strong economy. Since the jobs of tomorrow will require more skills and education, doesn’t it make sense to help middle-class families manage the spiralling costs of univer-sity and college? When more and more families have to care for aging parents or other loved ones at home, while still making financial ends meet, doesn’t it make sense to stand with them?

As our population ages, pressures on families will only increase. Families want to shoulder their responsibilities, but they shouldn’t have to do it alone.

In tough economic times, stand-ing with families is the right thing to do, and the right prior-ity for the long-term too.

EqualOpportunity

Égalitédes

chancesEqual Opportunity

Canadian Learning StrategyA

stro

nger

pub

lic p

ensi

on s

yste

m

Defending free, quality and timely healthcare

Families, Finances and the Future

Family CareDirectsupporttoCanadians

whocareforelderlyorseriouslyilllovedonesathome.

Secure retirement

option

Learning passport

Apost-secondarybursaryof$1,000ayearoverfour

yearsforeveryhigh-schoolstudent-and$1,500ayearforlow-incomefamilies.

AvoluntarysavingsoptionbuiltintotheCanada

PensionPlantomakeiteasierforCanadiansto

savemoreforretirement.

Getting public finances under control goes hand in hand with smart investments in middle-class families. Both will help build a stronger

economy, and put equal opportunity back at the centre of Canadian life.

22


The Canadian Learning StrategyNocountrycanescapethecompetitivepressuresoftheglobaleconomy,withitsgrowingdemandforskills,knowledgeandinnovation.

That’swhylearningmustbecomeaCanada-wideprioritytomaintainandenhanceourstandardoflivingandeconomiccompetitivenessintheyearsahead.

ALiberalgovernmentwillworkwith labourunions,employersandothergovernmentstoexpandapprenticeshipsandotherskillstrainingopportunitiesforCanadianworkers.Inadultliteracy,whereprovincialgovernmentsandlocalagenciesarebestplacedtoact,aLiberalgovernmentwilloffersupportaspartoftheCanadianLearningStrategy.

Unless Canada takes action, wewill increasingly become a coun-trythathas“jobswithoutpeopleand people without jobs” – asignificant number of workerswho are un- or underemployed,alongsidehundredsofthousandsofjobsthatcan’tbefilledbecausetoo fewCanadianshavetheskillsand education required. Expertsestimatethatby2017wewillneedto increase theproportionofCa-nadians who have some form ofpost-secondary education from60percentto73percenttokeepup with this demand for skilledworkers.Andyet,gapsandobsta-cles to learning persist and growatalllevels.

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Chart showing tuition increase Canadians in private sector jobswithout pension plans or savings

75%Canadians in the private sectorwith registered pension plan

Canadians in the private sectorwith no registered pension plan

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University tuition has risen 20 percent over the past 5 years Canada’s skills gap is growing

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Aboriginal Non-Aboriginal Identity

Proportion of Canadiansin the private sector withno pension plan

Most private sector workershave no pension plan

25%

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Obesity increasing amongCanadian youth

2007 2008 2009

Costs of Alzheimer’s anddementia skyrocketing

2008 2018 2028 2038

$ (b

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Out-of pocket expenditures onprescription drugs by Canadian families

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Rising out-of pocket expenditures on prescriptiondrugs by Canadian families (2005-09)

Percent of Canada’s workforce with PSEProjected percent of the workforce that will require PSE

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TheCanadian Learning Strategywillincludethefollowingmajorinitiatives:

EarlyChildhoodLearningandCareFund

TheLearningPassport

AboriginalLearning

ExpandedLanguageTrainingforNewCanadians

VeteransLearningBenefit

TheInternationalDimensionofCanadianLearning


23www.liberal.ca

Aspost-secondaryeducationbecomesevermorevitalforsuccess,it’salsobecomingmorecostly.Atmorethan$5,000peryearonaverage,univer-sitytuitionisnowslippingoutofreachformanymiddle-classfamilies.

Wealsofaceanunacceptableregionalandincome-basededucationgap,with60percentoflow-incomestudentsdroppingoutofschoolinsomecommunities.Thegapbetweenlevelsofeducationattainedbyruralandurbanyouthissignificant,andtheonebetweenAboriginalandnon-AboriginalCanadiansiscompletelyunacceptable.

Too many Canadian parents seeking childcare and early learning cannot find qualityandaffordablespaceswhenandwheretheyneedthem.Andemployersneedtoprovidemore training opportunities to support Ca-nadianworkersinupgradingtheirskillsmorefrequently.

Studies show that more than 40 percent ofadults lack the literacy skills they need tosucceed in the modern economy. New Ca-nadians often face the particular challengeofmasteringoneorbothof theofficial lan-guagesoftheirnewhome.

ThechallengeoflearningisoneforallCanadians,andiscrucialtothegoalofmakingequalop-portunityarealityforeveryfamily.

ThepolicyinitiativesanchoringtheCanadianLearningStrategyentailnearly$3billioninnewfederalfundsoverthefirsttwoyears

ofaLiberalgovernment,aboldinvestmentinCanada’sfuture.

Early Childhood Learning and Care

EverychildinCanadadeservesthebestpossiblestartinlifeandacomprehensiveapproachtolearninginCanadamustbeginwithEarlyChildhoodLearning.

We’vealreadyseenleadershipfromsomeprovinces,particularlyQuebec.Butduetothelackoffederalleadership,Canadareceivesfailinggradesfrominternationalbodies,includingtheOECDandUNICEF,forhavingnocoordinated,nationalearlychildhoodlearningandcarepolicy.Workingparents,amidalltheirotherpressures,oftenstrugglewithwaitinglistsforthelimitednumberofexistingspaces.Thatwaitcanoftenlastyears.

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2008 2018 2028 2038

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24


A Liberal government will establish a new Early Child-hood Learning and Care Fundthatwillbeginwith$500millioninthefirstyear,risingtoanannualcommitmentof$1billionbythefourthyear.

Administered as a new social infrastructure fund, prov-incesandterritorieswillbeabletoapplytotheFundforcost-sharing of early childhood learning and care plansthatcreateandoperatenew,affordable,high-qualityearly

childhoodlearningandcarespacesacrossCanada,withwell-trainedprofessionalstaff.

Thelong-termgoalisahigh-quality,affordableearlychildhoodlearningandcarespaceforeveryCanadianfamilythatwantsone.Butthefederalgovernmentcannotdothisonitsown.Itwillrequiresustainedcollaborationamongallgovernments.AsimplementationoftheFundrampsup joint investment, a Liberal government will also work with other governments on the re-search,policydevelopment,andsharingofbestpracticesforthesystemnecessarytomeetthislong-termgoal.Thisplanwillsupportinnovationanddifferentapproachesattheprovincialandcommunitylevel.

ALiberalgovernmentwillplaceCanadaonapathofstep-by-step,year-by-yearprogressinim-provingaccesstoinclusiveearlychildhoodlearningandcare.TheresultwillbehigherqualitycareforCanadianfamilies,lesswaitingforspaces,andacountrywitharenewedcommitmenttothelearninganddevelopmentofouryoungestcitizens.

The Canadian Learning Passport

Canadianfamiliesarewillingtoinvestinlearning.Howev-er,withtuitioncontinuingtorise–morethan20percentover the last fiveyears–weareat riskofhighereduca-tionslippingbeyondthegraspoftoomanymiddle-classCanadianfamilies.AccordingtoastudyforBMOFinancialGroup in2010,nearly two-thirdsofparentsbelieve theywillbeunabletoaffordpost-secondaryeducationfortheirchildren.That’satroublingtrendwhenmoreandmoreofthejobsoftomorrowwillrequirecollegeoruniversity.

Canada’sapproachmustbebasedonasimpleobjective:

“Ifyougetthegrades,yougettogo.”

A Liberal government will introduce the Canadian Learning Passport, a significant financialboostforhighereducationdelivereddirectlytofamilies. Itwillprovide$1,000ayearoverfouryearsforeveryhighschoolstudentinCanadatouseforcollege,universityorCÉGEP.Forstudentsinlowincomefamilies,theamountwillbe$1,500ayear,oranextra$6,000intotal.


25www.liberal.ca

AllparentswillhavetodoisopenaRegisteredEducationSavingsPlan(RESP).Theywon’thavetomakeanycontributionoftheirowntoreceivetheLearningPassport.

Thiswillbeanewfederalinvestmentof$1billionannually.

TheRESPistherightvehicleforanew,nationalinvestmentinlearning.Italreadyincorporatesincentivesforfamiliestosaveforeducation,puttingasidewhattheycanforthelong-term.TheLearningPassportwillincreasetake-upofRESPs,especiallyamongfamiliesleastabletosave.Itwillalsoprovideextraincentivetostayinschool,helpingtoreducedrop-outrates.

ALiberalgovernmentwillworkwithfinancialinstitutions,provin-cial and territorial governments and other partners to assist allparentstostartanRESPfortheirkids.PromotionandinformationabouttheCanadianLearningPassportwillbeginearly,inordertoencourageyoungCanadianstoconsiderandprepareforcollegeoruniversity.Additionalfinancialsupportwillhelpincreasepost-secondaryparticipationamongthosefamilieswhocurrentlyas-sumetheycan’taffordit.Moreover,theLearningPassportgoeswhere the student goes, empowering students to choose theinstitutionthatworksbestforthem.

TherewillbefurtherreliefforstudentdebtloadsthroughaLib-eralgovernment’sCanadaServiceCorps,whichwillforgive$1500instudentloandebtforyoungCanadianswhoengageinvolun-teerservice.

The Canadian Learning Passport

TheLearningPassportwillbepaidoutinannualinstallmentsof$1000or$1500atthestartoftheschoolyear,whenstudentsneeditmost.Areducedamountwillbepaidoutforpart-timestudy.IftherecipientcompletesstudiesbeforethePassportbenefitsarefullypaidout(forexampleaftera2-yearcollegeprogram),theremainingvalueofthePassportwillremainintheRESP,availabletosupportfurtherpost-secondarylearninginlateryears.IfthebeneficiaryofanRESPdoesnotattendcollegeoruniversity,thentheLearningPassportmoneydoesnotgetpaidout,andisreturnedtogovernmentcoffers.

TheLearningPassportwill simplify theexistingschemeof taxcreditsbyendingandrollinginthemodestTextbookandEducationtaxcredits(exceptforgraduatestudents).TheTuitionTaxCreditwillremaininplace,aswouldtheCanadaStudentLoansProgramandtheassociatedCanadaStudentGrantProgram.

26


Aboriginal Learning

TheKelownaAccordbrokenewgroundinbuildingrelationshipsamongfederal,provincialandAboriginalleadershipbasedonrespectandsharedcommitmenttofairnessandresults.Muchhas changed since 2005, but much can be gained by retaining the lessons and spirit of theKelownaprocess.

Aboriginalpeoplearetakingactionwithhopeandambitionforthefuture.Thefederalgovernmentmuststandwiththemaspartnerstoaccelerateprogressinseveralmajorareas.Educationisthemostfundamental,andshouldbethetoppriority.ALiberalgovernmentwillcommittoworkingwithAboriginalleaderstowardthegoalofensuringAboriginalpeoplehavethesamequalityofopportunitiestolearnasotherCanadians.

Withapopulationthat’sgrowingatsixtimesthenationalaverage,andamedianageofonly27,thesuccessofCanada’sAboriginalpeopleiscriticaltoourcountry’seconomicwellbeing.Forthem,asformostCanadians,learningisthekeytosuccess.

Yet,thedropoutrateamongAboriginalstudentsistwicethenationalaverage.Andthosewhodoreachpost-secondaryeducationfacelongoddsagainstfinishing.

Oneofthedriversofthesetragicstatis-tics is the underfunding of aboriginaleducationinCanada.Moston-reserveschools, funded by the federal gov-ernment, receive significantly less perpupil than schools in the provincialsystems.AndwhilefederalfundingforAboriginal post-secondary educationhasbeencappedat2percentperyear,tuitionisrisingattwicethatrate.

A Liberal Government will invest anadditional $200 million in its first twoyearstolift the cap on post-secondary education funding. Consistent withtheapproachoftheLearningPassport,wewillexplorewithAboriginalleaderswaystodeliverresourcesmoredirectlytostudentsandtheirfamilies.AkeyobjectivewillbetoincreasetheretentionofAboriginalstudentsinCanada’spostsecondaryinstitutions.

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27www.liberal.ca

Addressing the challenges in K-12 education is evenmore fundamental. A Liberal government will workwith Aboriginal leadership to address inadequate funding over the medium term, starting with $300million innew investment in itssecondyear.Wewillsupporteffortstoimproveadministration.

First Nations University in Saskatchewan,animpor-tantinstitution,willbere-financedunderaLiberalgov-ernment.WewillcreateaCanada Métis Scholarshipprogram,witha$5millionannualinvestmentinMétisstudents.

Veterans Learning Benefit

ALiberalgovernmentwillimplementanewVeterans’ Learning Benefitthatprovidesfullsup-portforthecostsofuptofouryearsofcollege,universityortechnicaleducationforCanadianForcesveteransaftercompletionofservice.

FollowingtheSecondWorldWar,bothCanadaandtheUnitedStatesofferedveteransfullsup-portfortheirpost-secondaryeducation.AlthoughtheGIBillcontinuesintheUnitedStatesto-day,nosimilarprogramremainsinCanada.It’stimewedidmore.

Inadditiontohonouringveterans,post-serviceeducationsupportwouldcontributetootherim-portantobjectives.ItwouldprovideasignificantboostforrecruitmentatatimewhentheForcesfacedifficultyinmeetingenrollmentneedsinmanyspecificoccupationalcategories,particularlyhigh-skillandtechnicalareas.Inaddition,educationsupportwouldsmooththereintegrationofCanadianForcespersonnelintosocietyandtheworkforce.Thatmakessenseforboththeindi-vidualsinvolved,andtheknowledgeandskills-dependentCanadianeconomy.

BasedoncurrentprojectionsofattritionratesandtheForces’needs,andassumingahightake-uprate,thisrepresentsanestimatedinvestmentofupto$120millioninveterans’learningoverthefirsttwoyearsofaLiberalgovernment.

Expanding Language Training for New Canadians

Withanagingpopulationandadecliningbirthrate,Canada’sreli-anceonimmigrationforlabourforceandpopulationgrowthwillcontinuetoincrease.

First Nations University of Canada

ALiberalgovernmentwillalsocreateanOffice of the First Nations Auditor Generaltomonitorprogress,identifybestpractices,andensureaccountabilityforpublicfunds.

28


UnfortunatelythereisalargesuccessgapbetweenimmigrantsandcitizensborninCanada,agapthathasgrowninthelast30years.ResearchhasconsistentlyshownthatinabilitytofunctionineitherEnglishorFrenchisamajorbarriertoimmigrants’successintheworkplaceandinthecommunity.Languageproficiencyalsoincreasesearningsfortheindividual,andlabourproduc-tivityfortheeconomy.

Only about 25 percent of newcomers are accessing federally funded language training. AndyettheHarpergovernmenthasbeenshrinkingitscommitmentinthiscrucialarea,byfailingtodisburseidentifiedfunds,andevenslashingplannedspendingforbasiclanguagetraining.Therulesareanotherproblem,asnewcomersbecome ineligible for languagetrainingsupportassoonastheybecomeCanadiancitizens.

Liberalsbelieveit’sineveryone’sintereststhatnewCanadianssucceedintheworkforce,andcanfullyparticipateinthedailylifeoftheircommunities.UndertheCanadianLearningStrategy,aLib-eralgovernmentwillsignificantlyincreasefederalinvestmenttoimprove and expand language skills training programs,rampinguptoanincreaseof$100millionannuallywithinfouryears.

WewillexpandeligibilitytoincludeforeignbornCanadiancitizenswhoneedhelpimprovingtheirEnglish orFrench, andworkwithpartners tomake language trainingmore flexibleandaccessible,andbetterinformpotentialparticipantstoincreasetake-up.

The International Dimension of Canadian Learning

Canadahasaninterestinattractingthebestandbrightestforeignstudents,especiallyfromemergingeconomicpowers,andinmain-tainingtheirconnectionstoCanadaafterstudies.Similarly,wewillsupportopportunitiesforCanadianstudentstostudyandvolun-teerabroad.

Inanincreasinglyinterconnectedworld,entrepreneurialismandin-novation inall fieldswillbewell-servedbytheflowof ideasthatisenrichedwhenweexposemoreCanadianstudentstointerna-

tionalexperience,andintroducestudentsfromothercountriestothestrengthsofourcountry,ourculture,economyandhighereducationsystem.

Wewillbetterleverageourreputationforopenness,multiculturalismandexcellenceineduca-tion,bymakinglearningamajorcomponentofanewBrandingCanadainitiative.


29www.liberal.ca

Family Care: Standing With Canadians Who Care for Loved OnesAtonepointoranother,almostallfamilieswillfacethechallengeofalovedonefallingill,whetherit’sanagingparent,ayoungchild,oraspouseandpartner.

Canadian families shoulder their responsibilityof caring for their own, but they also deserveagovernmentthatstandswiththem.ALiberalgovernmentwillstrengthenfamiliesbyhelpingthemwiththecostsofcaring forsickoraginglovedones.

Standing with families makes economic senseforCanada.Manyfamilycaregiversareforcedtochoosebetweenworkingandcaring for lovedones.Canadamustaddresstheimpactonpro-

ductivityofanagingpopulation.Helpingcaregiversreconcileworkandcarewillhelp.Thesearedifficulteconomictimes,sogovernments–andCanadians–mustchoose.WechoosetohelpCanadianfamilies.

Today,2.7millionCanadiansprovidecareforseniors.Familycaregiversareresponsiblefor80per-centofCanada’shomecareservices,providingover$9billioninunpaidcareeachyear.

Over40percentoffamilycaregiversusepersonalsavingstomakeendsmeet;

One-quarteroffamilycaregiversmissoneormoremonthsofworktoprovidecare;

65percentoffamilycaregivershavehouseholdincomesunder$45,000;and

Three-quartersoffamilycaregiversarewomen,whoaremorelikelytohavelowerwages,lesssavingsandadditionalresponsibilitiesforchildcare.

The Liberal Family Care Plan

Toenhancecareforoursicklovedonesofanyage,andtorecognizetheimportantcontribu-tionof familycaregivers, aLiberalgovernmentwill invest$1billionannually inanewFamily Care Plan.ThiswillhelpreducetheeconomicpressureonhundredsofthousandsofstrugglingCanadianfamilies.

30


New Six-Month Family Care Employment Insurance Benefit. TheEmployment Insurance systemprovidescompassionatecarebenefitstoCanadiansforcedtotaketimeoffworktoprovidecareandsupporttoagravelyillfamilymember.Underthecurrentprogram,afamilycaregivercanonlyre-ceiveEIbenefitsforsixweeks,andtheeligibilityguidelinesrequirethecaregivertosignawayhopewithadoctor’sconfirmationthattheirfamilymemberis“gravelyillwithasignificantriskofdeathwithin26weeks.”ALiberalgovernmentwillreplacethesix-weekcompassionatecareprovisionwithanewsix-monthFamilyCareEmploymentInsuranceBenefit.

Thenewprogramwillhavemorehumaneeligibilityrequirementsforfamilycaregivers,changingthenatureoftherequireddoctor’scertificate.Wewillbuildmoreflexibilityintotheprogrambyallowingthesixmonthstobeclaimedinsmallerblocksoftimeoverayear-longperiodandallow-ingfamilymemberstosharethesixmonthstoprovidecare.ThenewFamilyCareEIBenefitwillcost$250millionperyearandwillhelpanestimated30,000familycaregivers.ALiberalgovern-mentwillnotincreaseEIpremiumstofundthismeasure.

New Family Care Tax Benefit. Many family care-giversdonotcurrentlypayintoEIanddonotqual-ifyfortheexistingEIcompassionatecarebenefit.These family caregivers include some self-em-ployedworkers, retirees,or thosewho’vehad toquittheirjobinordertotakecareofanillfamily

member.Canada’sexistingcaregivertaxcreditisalsorestrictedtothosecaringforfamilyinthesamehomeanddoesnotbenefitmanyCanadianswhodonotearnsufficientincome.

ALiberalgovernmentwill introduceanewFamilyCareTaxBenefittohelplowerandmiddle-in-come familycaregivers, regardlessofemploymentcircumstances.TohelpCanadiansdefray thecostofprovidingcaretofamilymembersintheirhomes,thenewbenefitwillprovideindividualswithatax-freemonthlypaymentworthupto$1,350peryear.

ThisnewbenefitwillworkjustliketheCanadaChildTaxBenefit,andwillbeavailabletoallfamilycaregiverswithfamily incomesunder$106,000whoproduceamedicalcertificateaffirmingthattheirillfamilymemberrequiresasignificantamountofpersonalcareandassistancewithdailytasks.Familieswithsickchildrenwhomeetthecriteriawillalsoqualify.

ThenewFamilyCareTaxBenefitwillhelpanestimated600,000familycaregiverseachyearatanannualcostof$750million.

ThenewFamilyCareEIBenefitmeansyoucantakesixmonthsoffworktocareforasickfamilymember.

The Liberal Family Care Plan will introduce:

1)Anewsix-monthFamilyCareEmploymentInsuranceBenefitsothatmoreCanadianscantaketimeoffworktocareforgravelyillfamilymembersathomewithouthavingtoquittheirjobs.

2)AnewFamilyCareTaxBenefit,modeledontheChildTaxBenefit,tohelplow-andmiddle-incomefamilycaregiverswhoprovideessentialcaretoafamilymemberathome.


31www.liberal.ca

A Stronger Public Pension System for Working CanadiansCanadianswhoworktheirwholelivestoprovidefortheirfamiliesdeserveasecureandcomfortableretirement.

Unfortunately, fewerand fewerCanadianshaveaccess toahighquality,employer-sponsoredpensionplan.Infact,in200875percentofallprivatesectoremployeesdidnothavearegisteredpensionplan.Meanwhile,contribution levelstoRegisteredRetirementSavingsPlanshavenotgrownoverthelastdecade,withonly1in4taxpayersactuallymakingRRSPcontributions.ManyRRSPshaveannualchargesof2percentormoreonassets.Thecosts, riskandcomplexityofRRSPsdetermanyCanadiansfromusingthemtoprovidefortheirretirementsecurity.

ThankstotheworkoftheLiberalgovernmentinthe1990s,theCanadaPensionPlan(CPP)andOldAgeSecurity(OAS)areonsoundfinancialfooting.Butformanyseniors,thesepillarsofourretirementsystemaretheironlysourceofincome.

Unfortunately,theHarpergovernmentbackedawayfromstrengtheningtheCPP,afterspendingmonthstalkingaboutit.Instead,theyhaveadvancedonlyaprivatesectoroptionthatwilldolittlemorethanRRSPsalreadyoffer.Thefinancialservicesindustryhasanimportantroletoplayforin-vestorswhocanaffordthefeesandtoleratetherisk,butaprivateoptiononitsownisinadequate.TheHarperapproachiswelcomeonBayStreet,butfailstomeettheneedsofCanadianfamilies.

Asolidpensionplanshouldbeavailable toall,not justa luxury fora fortunate few.Themostreliableandaffordablewaytoachievethatisbyenhancing the trusted and cost-efficient CPPthathasservedCanadianssowell.TheCPPpro-videsenormousadvantagestobothemployersandemployeesasitavoidstherisk,complexityand hidden management fees that too oftendrainretirementsavingsfromplansthataread-ministeredbytheprivatefinancialsector.

ALiberalgovernmentwillworkwiththeprovincesandterritoriestoenhancetheCanadaPensionPlanintwocomplementaryways.Wewillsupportagradual increase of the defined benefits under the core CPPtoenhancetheretirementsecurityofallCanadians.Inaddition,aLiberalgovernmentwillproposeanew,voluntarysupplementtotheCPPcalledtheSecure Retirement Option(SRO).

TheSROwouldbeavailabletoanyCanadianworkerwhowantsit,withmaximumflexibilitybuiltin.Entirelyvoluntary,Canadianscould,forexample,opttosaveanadditional5-10percentoftheirpayinasecureretirementfundbackedbytheCPP.MillionsofCanadianscan’taffordtheriskorcostofthestockmarketorRRSPs.Thisisanoptionforthem.

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ContributionstoanSROwouldfallwithinthesame limits thatapply toRRSPcontributions,topreventupperincomeearnersfromaccess-inganunfairamountoftaxsheltering.

Employers would have the option to alsocontributetotheiremployees’SROaccounts,providingalow-costpensionplanforcompa-nies,particularlysmallandmediumsizedbusi-nesses for whom the expense of creating apensionplanwouldotherwisebeprohibitive.By leveraging the CPP, employers of all sizeswouldhaveaccesstoalarge,risk-pooledfundwithverylowadministrativefees.

TheSROwouldalsobefullyportable,allowingworkerstocontinuemakingcontributionsastheymovefromemployertoemployer.

ALiberalgovernmentwillpursuethisinnovativeapproachtoretirementsecuritycollaborativelywithprovincialandterritorialgovernments.Theiragreementwillberequiredtomaketheneces-sarychangestotheCanadaPensionPlanandtheQuebecPensionPlan.

ALiberalgovernmentwilltakeadditionalstepstoensurethatCanada’spensionregimeprotectssociety’smostvulnerable.Wewillensurethatthosecollectinglong-term disability benefitsaregivengreaterprotectionintheeventthatthecompanyprovidingthebenefitgoesbankrupt.Wewillalsocreateastranded pension agency.Intheeventthatanemployergoesbankrupt,thisagencywillgiveCanadianworkersachancetotransfertheirpensionsintotheCanadaPensionPlansothattheirassetscancontinuetogrowthroughasecureinvestmentvehicle,ratherthanhavingtheirpensionsimplyplacedinalow-returnannuity.

Supporting Low-Income Seniors

Together,theOldAgeSecuritypensionandGuaranteedIncomeSupplement(GIS)providelow-incomeseniorswithafullyindexedbenefitthatensuresabasiclevelofincomethroughouttheirretirementyears.Still,anincreasingnumberarestrugglinginpoverty.ALiberalgovernment,andindeedmostCanadians,cannotacceptthiswithouttakingseriousaction.

In its failed election Budget, the Harper Conservatives took a disappointingly small step, butaLiberalgovernmentwillgomuchfurther. WewillboosttheGISbenefitfor low-incomese-niorsby$700millionperyear,strengtheninganimportanttoolintheefforttoeliminatepovertyamongseniors,especiallyolderwomenandseniorswithdisabilities.

Liberal Commitments on Pensions

GradualincreaseintheCPP

SecureRetirementOption,avoluntarysupplementtoCPP

EnhancetheGIS

Protectdisabilitybenefitsinbankruptcy

StrandedPensionAgency


33www.liberal.ca

The Secure Retirement Option

TheSecureRetirementOptionisanewpublicoption,withintheCPP,thatwouldchangetheoutlook for thoseCanadianswhocurrentlydonothaveapensionplan. Itwouldallowthemtoavoidtherisk,complexityandhiddenmanagementfeesofRRSPs.Atwo-personhousehold,withearningsthatstartat$35,000peryear,andriseto$65,000peryearovertimewouldneedtohaveannualpensionof$14,000ontopoftheexistingCanadaPensionPlanandOldAgeSecuritytosecureapensionworth60percentoftheirhouseholdincomeatretirement.Avoluntarysixpercentcontributionratefromgrosspayovertheworkingyears toanSROaccountwouldputthehouseholdontracktoachievethatgoal.Participatingworkerswhocontributemore,orthosewhoseemployersprovideadditionalcontributions,wouldreceiveanevenmoregenerouspension.

Health and Health Care: At the Table For CanadaThiselectionpresentsvoterswithasimplequestion:WhodoyoutrusttospeakforCanadaascrucialdecisionsaremadeaboutthefutureofourhealthcaresystem?

LiberalgovernmentsbroughtinuniversalmedicareandpassedtheCanadaHealthAct.AnewLiberalgovernmentwill bring a robust, renewed commitment. For Liberals,asformostCanadians,universalaccesstoquality,timelycare regardless of your ability to pay, and regardless ofwhichprovinceyoulivein,ispartofwhatdefinesCana-da.ItisembeddedinCanadianvalues,andintheLiberalrecord.UnderLiberalleadership,thefederalgovernmentwillreturntoitslong-establishedroleasastrongpartnerinhealthandhealthcare.

Canadiansarebecomingmoreconcernedaboutthesustain-abilityofthesystemandthequalityofserviceswearegettingfortaxpayers’dollars.Thecrunchisleadingsometoofferfalsesolutions.Userfees,forexample,couldactuallymakehealth-caremoreexpensiveforeveryone.Sickpeopledeterredfromseekingtreatmentwhentheyneeditcanbecomemoresickandrequireevenmorecostlyinterventionslater.

Thefederalgovernmentisamajorhealthcarefunder,asupporterofhealthresearchandinfor-mation,amajorplayerinpublichealthandhealthpromotion,aregulatorofprescriptiondrugs,thedefenderofpan-Canadianobjectivesandprinciples,andaservice-providerforAboriginalpeopleandveterans.ItisalsoverywellplacedtoworkwiththeprovincestospreadknowledgeandlessonslearnedfrominnovationstriedinparticularjurisdictionsinCanadaandelsewhere.

34


WhatwillmattermostishowaLiberalgovernmentbuildsforthefutureonourpreviousrecordofachievement.WewillbespeakingforCanadawithfourobjectives:

1) Easing the pressures on Canadian families,especiallythosecaringforlovedonesathome;

2) Achievingmeasurable,long-termimprovementsinhealth outcomes;

3) Improving qualityinthehealthcaresystem;

4) Containing costsoverthelong-term.

SpeakingforCanadaiscrucialbecausenolevelofgovernmentactingalonewillbeaseffectiveastheywillbeinarealcollaborationwitheachotherandwithstakeholders.Wewillsupporttheseobjectiveswiththefollowingnewinitiatives:

TheLiberalplanforFamily Care–supportingCanadianswhocareforlovedonesathomes;

Investinginhealth promotion, sport and a National Food Policy;

IntroducingaCanadian Brain Health Strategy;

Collaboratingwithprovincesandhealthprofessionalsonquality and innovation;

Implementingnewmeasurestoimproverural healthcare;

Addressingthegapsincoverage of prescription drugs,andthehighcostsofdrugsingeneral.

Health Promotion, Sport and a National Food PolicySomeofthemosteffectivestepstoimprovethehealthofCanadianswilltakeplacefarawayfromanyhospitalordoctor’soffice.Andtheresultscouldsavebillionsinhealthcarecosts.

Since1979,obesityrateshavetripledinCanadaamongchildrenandyouth,withobesechildrenandadolescents increasingly becoming obeseadults.Theestimateddirectandindirectcostoftreatingobesityis$4.3billionannually.Itisjustoneproblemthatcanbedramaticallyre-ducedthroughhealthiereatingandexercise.

That’s why a Liberal government will imple-ment a new Canadian Health Promotion Strategy.Wewillsupportsportandactiveliv-ingandimproveeducationandpromotionofhealthyfoods.WewillworkwiththeCouncilofMinistersforEducationinCanadatowardssettingnationaltargetsforphysicalactivityinprimaryandsecondaryschools.

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35www.liberal.ca

ALiberalgovernmentwillcallonCanada’seliteathletestoserveasmodelsforyoungCanadians.AndtoensurethatthenextgenerationofOlympiansistheretoinspireyouthacrossCanada,aLib-eralgovernmentwouldcommittostableandsustainedfundingforOwnthePodiumandSportCanada.OurathletesinspiredtheentirecountryattheVancouver2010Olympics,andaLiberalgovernmentwillsupporttheminfutureinternationalsportingevents.

At the heart of this commitment to a safer, healthier country is Canada’s first National Food Policy,acomprehensivesetofmeasuresdesignedtofulfillthesimple,yetpowerfulgoalofputtingmorehealthyCanadianfoodonCanadianplates.Measuresinclude:

AnewHealthy ChoicesprogramtoeducateCanadiansonhealthyeating,howthefoodsystemworks,andhowtominimizethreatstofoodsafety;

New,progressive labeling regulationsthatgiveclearandsimpleinformationtoCanadiansonthenutritionalvalueofthefoodstheypurchase,improvetheregulatoryprocessfornewhealthclaims,andclarifyProductofCanadalabeling;

Strongnewregulatorystandards on transfats and salt;

$40millionoverfouryearstoimplementanewHealthy Startprogramtohelp250,000childrenfromlow-incomefamiliesaccesshealthy,home-grownfoods,inpartnershipwiththeprovinces,territoriesandnon-governmentalorganiza-tions.ALiberalgovernmentwillalsocommittoongoingsupportfortheCanadaPrenatalNutritionProgram(CPNP)andAboriginalHeadStartProgram(AHSP)

$80millionoverfouryearstocreateaBuy Local Fund.TheFundwillpromotehigh-quality,homegrownfoodsproducedbylocalfarmersandsupportaFarmers’ Markets Development ProgramtomarketandgrowCanada’sfarmers’markets,incooperationwiththeprovincesandterritories

Acomprehensivereview of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency(CFIA),HealthCanadaandthePublicHealthAgencyofCanada(PHAC),toensureCanada’sfoodsafetysystemiseffectivelycoordinatedtominimizerisksandassureCanadiansthatthefoodontheirdinnertablesissafe,and

Anadditional$50millionoverfouryearstoimprovefood inspectionbytheCFIAandtoensurethesamefoodsafetystandardssetforCanadianproducersareappliedtofoodsimportedintoCanada.

36


A Canadian Brain Health Strategy

In2008,anewdementiacasewasdiagnosedevery5minutesinCanada.In2039,thiswilloccurevery2minutes.Alzheimer’sdiseasealoneaffects500,000Canadiansandcostsus$15billionperyear,inadditiontoincalculableemotionalstrainoncaregiversandlovedones.

This“risingtide”isimpactingCanadianfamiliesofeverywalkoflifeandthetrendwillcontinuetogrow.Thetollisalreadyconsiderable,bothonfamiliesandontheCanadianeconomy,intermsoflostproductivity.

ALiberalgovernmentwillconsultwithprovinces,stake-holdersandexperts,andputinplaceaCanadian Brain Health Strategy initsfirstyearinoffice. Itsmainobjec-tivewillbehelpingCanadianfamiliescopeanditwillen-compass such diseases as Alzheimer’s Disease, MultipleSclerosis, and Parkinson’s Disease. The Strategy will in-cludethefollowingelements:

Awareness, Education and Prevention. We willdevelopapubliceducationcampaigntoencour-agegoodbrainhealththroughoutlife,includingbetterunderstandingofhowproperdiet,physi-calandmentalexerciseslowdownthedeclineofbrainhealth.Publiceducationeffortswillalsocombatthesocialstigmaattachedtobraindis-ease,andmentalhealthproblems.

Research.$100millionoverthefirsttwoyearsofaLiberalgovernmentwillbeinvestedintheCa-nadian Brain Health Strategy, targeting researchintonewtreatmentsandtherapiesforneurologi-caldisorders,andacceleratingprogressinunder-standing,treatingandpreventingbraindiseases.Thisinvestmentofnewfederalfundswillbechan-nelledthroughleadingnationalresearchbodies.

Income security. Wewillconductareviewtoidentifypotentialmeasuresneededtopreventbraindisordersfromforcingfamiliesandindividualsintopoverty.TheLiberalplanforFamilyCarewillmakeasignificantdifference,butmoremaybeneededinthelongertermtohelpthegrowingnumbersofaffectedCanadianfamiliescope.

Integrated Treatment and Support.Wewilldisseminateknowledgeandbestpracticestofosterimprovements in the quality of treatment and support for patients and families coping withbraindisorders.

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Preventing Genetic Discrimination. Today,evenpeoplewithoutsymptomscanbedeniedlife,mort-gageanddisability insuranceandevenrejected foremploymentbasedongenetic testingthatshowsriskoffutureillness.ALiberalgovernmentwillintroducemeasures,includingpossiblelegisla-tivechange,topreventthisdiscrimination.

Pan-Canadian Collaboration on Quality Improvement, Innovation and Best Practices

Provincesareworkingindividuallytoaddressconcernsaboutservicequalityandsafetyinhealth-caredelivery.Butsuccessfulinnovationsinmanagementandservicedeliveryaretoooftencon-finedtoonelocation.Theworkofbodiessetupatthenationalandprovincial levelstofosterqualityimprovementinawiderangeofspecificserviceshasnotbeenfullyexploitednationally.

Identifyingandadoptingthemosteffectiveandefficientdeliverymethodsfromotherjurisdic-tions–whenundertakenbroadlyandsystematically–can reducecostswhile improving thequalityofcare.

The federal government is well placed to energize a Canadian effort to put quality improve-ment,bestpracticesandinnovationattheforefront.Thishastobeanationaleffort,andaLib-eralgovernmentwillmakeitapriorityagain.Thefederalgovernmenthasestablishedvaluableinstruments,includingtheCanadianInstitutesofHealthInformation,theCanadianPatientSafetyInstitute,theCanadianHealthServicesResearchFoundationandCanadaHealthInfowayservingalljurisdictions.Thesebodiesarekeytoprogress.ParticularlywithrespecttohealthoutcomesforAboriginalpeople,Ottawamustmakequalityimprovementatoppriority.

Rural Health Care

RuralCanadianshavelongstruggledwithalevelofhealthcareservicethatisnotonparwithurbancentres.This inequitywillnotbeerasedovernight,butaLiberalgovernmentwillworkwithprovinces,territoriesandhealthprofessionalstopursuesolutions.Onestepwillbeanewincentivefordoctors,nurses,andnursepractitionerstopracticeinunderservedcommunities.

Better Coverage of Prescription Drugs Across Canada

Thecarethatpatientsreceiveinhospitalsisonlyonefractionofthetreatmentprescribed.Phar-maceuticaldrugsarebecomingagreaterandgreaterpartofpatientcare.Drugsdeliveredinahospitalarecoveredbyourhealthcaresystembutthoseprescribedoutsideofthehospitalareadifferentstory.

Everyprovinceandterritoryhasadifferentapproachtodealingwiththerisingcostsofpharma-ceuticals.Thismakesthequalityofcaredependentuponyourpostalcode.Morethan3.5millionCanadianshaveinadequatedrugcoverage,ornocoverageatall.

38


ALiberalgovernment,atthetableforCanada,will work with the provinces and territories toensure that all Canadians from coast-to-coast-to-coasthaveadrugplanthatcoversthecostofprescriptiondrugs for illnessessuchascan-cer,diabetesorarthritis thatcanbe financiallycatastrophictofamilies.

A Liberal government will also explore waysto lower thecostofprescriptiondrugs for thehealthcare system, including supporting prov-incesandterritoriestoexpandbulkpurchasing.

The Decisions Ahead

Withthefederal-provincial-territorialHealthAc-cordexpiringin2014,anewfundingarrangementmustbeacentralpriorityforthenextfederalgovernment.Atthispivotalmoment,agreatdealisatstakeforCanadians,buttheHarpergov-ernmenthasdemonstratedlittleinterest.

Incontrast,aLiberalgovernmentwillbeatthetableforCanadians.Wewillcomeequippedwithacollaborativeapproachandtheobjectivesthatdrivethishealthandhealthcareplatform:reliev-ingpressuresontoday’sCanadianfamilies,improvinghealthoutcomes,improvingqualityinthehealthcaresystem,andcontaininglongtermcosts.

TwospecificareaswillalsobeprioritiesforaLiberalgovernment:homecareservicesanddrugcoverage.Withmoreandmorepatientcaretakingplaceathomeratherthan inthehospital,we’llworkwithprovincesandterritoriestoensurethatCanadiansindifferentpartsofthecountrydon’tfacesignificantvariationsindrugcoverage,andhomecareservices,includingpriorityareaslikementalhealthandpalliativecare.

TheGovernmentofCanadaisamajorfunderofhealthcarethroughtransferredtaxpointsandcashtransfers toprovincesandterritories.Allgovernmentsmustdoabetter jobofbeingac-countabletoCanadiansforresults,valueformoneyandthequalityofhealthcareserviceacrossthecountry.Whileprovincesandterritoriesarestrugglingwithescalatingcosts,it’sfarfromclearthatmoremoneyistheonlysolution.Governmentsmustensurewe’regettingfullvalueforthemoneyalready in thesystem.Management improvementand innovation,advanced throughmuchmoreeffectivedisseminationofbestpracticesnationallyandinternationally,promisetocontaincostsandimproveservicetoCanadiansatthesametime.

Canadawasoncethoughttohaveoneofthebesthealthcaresystemsintheworld.Renewedcommitmentatthefederallevel,andeffectivepartnershipwithprovincialandterritorialgovern-mentsandotherhealthsectorleaderscanmakethattrueoncemore.

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Chapter three

Clean Resources, Healthy Environment and the Economy of TomorrowIn the successful societies of tomorrow, the highest standards of living will be generated by a strong growth rate and a healthy environment. The most vibrant economies will be the cleanest. “Energy-efficient” and “resource-efficient” will be synonyms for “competitive”.

A transition is happening around the world.

In countries with smart leadership – in private and public sectors and civil society – brain power, good policies and smart investments are building a future in which economic prosperity and environmental responsibility are mutually reinforcing.

Canadians have world-leading experience in natural resource development, gained over generations in energy, agriculture, forestry, mining and fisheries. The challenge now is to leverage that experience to meet the demands of tomorrow’s global markets, and to better manage our environmental footprint locally, regionally, nationally and internationally.

If governments, businesses, families and individuals each do their part, Canada can thrive in this great transition. Many Canadians are already leading. It’s now time the federal government did so as well.

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Économisezde l’argent et aiderl’environnement

Green Renovation Tax Credit

A new Liberal government will implement a Green Renovation Tax Credit with a goal of retrofitting over 1 million homes by 2017.

42


Clean Resources, Healthy Environment and the Economy of TomorrowOurworldisinthemidstofagreattransition–tothelow-carbon,highefficiencyeconomyoftomorrow.Toremaincompetitiveandkeephigh-payingjobsinCanada,weneedtogetthetransitionright.

Countriesthatareactingnowoncleantechnologiesandgreaterenvironmentalresponsi-bilityaregettingaheadtosecurethejobsoftomorrow.Acrosstheboard,cleanresourcesandstewardshipofnaturewilldriveanddefineprosperityinthesuccessfulsocietiesofthefuture.

Manyinourprivatesector,civilsocietyandprovincialandmunicipalgovernmentsareleadingthewayalready.

Canadianfamiliesalsowanttodotheirpartforahealthyenvironmentandaprosperouswayoflife.

What’smissingisleadershipfromthetop.

TheHarpergovernmenthasembar-rassed Canada on the internationalstagebyobstructingprogressoncli-matechange.Infact,StephenHarperwasopenly scepticalof thesciencebehindclimatechangeuntilrecently,callingit“asocialistscheme”.Mean-while, emissions in Canada are in-creasing,thereisstillnoplaninplace,and Canada’s international reputa-tionisintatters.

Mountain views from the Lake Minnewanka Area Banff National Park Alberta Canada

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43www.liberal.ca

Onenergypolicyinparticular,theHarpergovernmenthasbeenabsent,evenasentrepreneurs,Ca-nadianprovinces,theUnitedStatesandmanyothercountriesmakeaggressivestridestodeveloprenewableenergyandbuildthelow-carboneconomyofthefuture.

A World Leader in Clean Resources

Canadaishometoabundantnaturalresourcesdemandedbyglobalmarkets:oilandnaturalgasreserves,potash,iron,nickel,zinc,copper,gold,leadanduranium.Weareoneoftheworld’stopfiveexportersoffood,andhavesignificantfisheries,andforestryresources,whichhavebeenthebackboneoftheCanadianeconomyformanydecades.Asthecustodiansofoneoftheworld’slargestsuppliesoffreshwater,weshouldbewellplacedtocontinuedevelopingandexportingthenextgenerationsoftechnologiesandexpertisefortheefficientuseandconservationofwater.Decadesofexperienceand investment inhydro-electricityaddconsiderably to theCanadianknowledgebaseandfutureopportunities.

Asglobalmarketsdemandeverhigherstandardsof environmental stewardship, energy efficiencyand corporate social responsibility, Canada canlead the world. Under a Liberal government wewill–byearningareputationasaglobal leader in clean resources. That means both exportingresource-basedproductsproducedwiththelow-est possible impact, and supplying knowledge,

technologyandexpertisetoothermarketsforresponsiblemanagement,developmentandcon-sumptionofnaturalresources.

That’swhycleanresourcesareoneofthree“CanadianChampionSectors”attheheartofaLiberalgovernment’sapproachtoinnovation,includingnewtaxincentivesforinnovativestart-ups.Cleanresourcescanbeanengineof innovationandentrepreneurialism,drivingCanadiansuccess inglobalcommercewhilealsoadvancingthetransitiontothelowcarbon,highefficiencyeconomyoftomorrow.

Canadian Clean Energy Partnership

EnergyisthepointofconvergenceofsomeofthebiggestchallengesshapingCanada’sfuture:eco-nomiccompetitiveness,environmentalresponsibility,thefightagainstclimatechange,thecostoflivingforconsumersathome,andourcontributionontheinternationalstage.

ALiberalgovernmentwillprovidetheleadershiprequiredforasuccessfultransitiontotheprosperous,cleanereconomyoftomorrow,throughactioninfourmajorareas:be-comingaworldleaderinclean resources,anewCanadian Clean Energy Partnership,actiononclimate change,andstewardshipofournatural environment.

44


Different provinces have different energy mixes, and both exports and imports of various energy products play major roles in provin-cial economies. At the same time, there are also common issues, shared challenges, and tremendous opportunities. A pan-Canadi-an process for collaboration on those shared challenges is essential for the long-term transition to the clean, energy-efficient economy of the future.

A Liberal government will launch the Canadian Clean Energy Partnership, inviting provincial and territorial governments, the private sector and stakeholders to work together on five Canada-wide objectives:

Managing a long-term transition to the low-carbon economy of the future;

Helping families advance energy efficiency and conservation;

Encouraging Canadian businesses to become morecompetitive through energy efficiency;

Securing clean technology jobs in Canada;

Doing our part in the global fight against climate change.

Energy Conservation: The Green Renovation Tax Credit

A large part of Canada’s clean energy solution will come from practical energy conservation mea-sures that will save families money.

In the United States, the Obama Administration is spending twice as much as Canada per capita on energy efficiency measures, and 18 times more per capita on clean technology. The Harper govern-ment has allowed billions in clean energy programming to expire. In its failed election budget, the Harper government temporarily extended the ecoEnergy Retrofit Program for just one year.

A Liberal government will implement a new $400 million Green Renovation Tax Credit targetinghome renovations that save families money and bring environmental benefits. Canadians who make energy efficient changes to their homes (such as installing new windows, doors and roofing) will be able to claim a tax credit of up to $13,500. A Liberal government will also cover 50 percent of the cost of the home energy audit required in advance of the renovation. This permanent, refundable tax credit will be simpler and less costly to administer than the temporary grant pro-gram, more generous for many types of projects, and will foster the growth of energy efficiency small businesses.

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The new Green Renovation Tax Credit means that you can qualify for a tax credit of up to $13,500 for renovations to green your home.


45www.liberal.ca

Canadian families want to contribute to a healthy environment and the fight against climatechange.Theydeserveagovernmentthatwillhelpthemactongoodideas.

Homeownerswhohaveperformedenergyefficiencyretrofitssaveanaverageof$500ontheirannualenergycosts.That’sanongoingboosteveryyearforbothfamilyfinancesandtheenvi-ronmentthroughenergyefficiency.We’llstandwithCanadianfamiliesandhelpwiththeup-frontinvestmentforgreenrenovationsonmorethan1millionhomesby2017.

MeasuresliketheGreenRenovationTaxCreditwillhelpfamiliespursueahighstandardoflivingwhile

reducingtheirimpactontheenvironment.

Renewable Energy

LiberalsarecommittedtoquadrupleCanada’slow-impactrenew-ableenergyproductionfrom2009levelsby2017,tosignificantlyre-duceourgreenhousegasemissionsandcreatecleanenergyjobs.

Tohelpmeetthisgoal,wewillbringbacktheRenewablePowerProductionIncentive(RPPI),ahighlysuccessfulprogramcancelledbytheHarperConservatives.Itwillprovideanincentivetorenew-ablepowerentrepreneurstoacceleratethedevelopmentofnear

market-readyrenewableenergytechnologiessuchassolar,wind,tidalandbiomass.Incombina-tionwithexistingprovincialinitiatives,andaCanadianplantotackleclimatechange,outlinedlat-erinthischapter,aninvestmentof$1billioninRPPIoverthecomingyearswillincreaseCanada’srenewableenergymixto10percentofourtotalelectricityoutputby2017.

RenewableenergyshouldhaveagrowingpositioninCanada’senergymix,andaLiberalgovernmentwillhelpachieveit.Canadamustmoveforwardonallfronts–advancingrenewables,whilealsolower-ingthecarbonandenvironmentalfootprintsofcontinuedfossilfueldevelopmentandconsumption.

Cleaner Oil Sands DevelopmentOilsandsdevelopmentmustbecomemoresustainableasthismajorresourcecontinuestocon-tributetoCanada’sprosperity.

AspartoftheCanadianCleanEnergyPartnership,aLiberalgovernmentwillworkto:

Acceleratedevelopmentanddeployment of technologiesthatwillreduceallenvironmentalimpacts,includingthecarbonfootprint,ofoilsandsdevelopment,withagoalofeliminatingthe15percentdifferentialcomparedtoconventionaloil;

Increasetherigourwithwhichthefederalgovernmentexercisesitsregulatoryresponsibilitiesrelevanttooilsandsdevelopment;and

Improvetheknowledge basenecessaryforresponsibleregulationbyincreasinginvestmentinscienceandmonitoringrelevanttooilsandsdevelopment.

46


Thebasicobjectiveof thesemeasures,ofcourse, iscleaneroil sandsdevelopment,and“moreorderlydevelopment”,asformerAlbertaPremier,PeterLougheedhasadvocated.TheindustryisaddressingtheproblemofhowitisperceivedintheUnitedStatesandoverseas.ThisproblemisalsoCanada’s.Acceleratingimprovementintheindustry’senvironmentalperformanceisthebeststrategyforimprovingitsimage.ThatprogresswillalsocontributetoCanada’seffortstocombatclimatechange,andeffectivestewardshipofourwater,landandwildlife.

Insupportofcleaneroilsandsdevelopment,aLiberalgovernmentwillimmediately end a gener-ous tax break for the industry.TheAcceleratedCapitalCostAllowanceforoilsandsinvestmentsisbeingphasedoutslowlybytheHarpergovernment,by2015.Actingmoredecisivelywillyieldnearly$500millioningovernmentrevenueoverthenexttwoyears.Wewillearmarkthesefundsfortwopurposes:neworimprovedincentivesforindustryinvestmentsinemergingtechnologiesthatwilldecreasegreenhousegasemissionsandotherenvironmental impactsofoilsandsdevelopment;andwe’llinvestinmonitoringandscientificresearchonenvironmentalimpactsofoilsandsdevelop-ment,inpursuitofknowledgethatwillinformtheexerciseoffederalregulatoryresponsibilities.

TheHarpergovernmentmadeacommitmentto“phaseoutandrationalize”fossilfuelsubsidies,alongwiththeothermembersoftheG20,atitsLeaders’SummitinPittsburghin2009.HowevernoactionhasbeentakeninCanada,andtheinitiativewasnotevenmentionedinthefinalcom-muniquéofthesubsequentG20summit,chairedbyStephenHarperinJune2010.ALiberalgov-ernmentwilltakethisinternationalobligationseriouslyinitsbalancedapproachtocleanenergy.

Climate Change Action at Home and AbroadTheHarperConservativescampaignedonsettingacarbonpriceinthelastfederalelection,butdidn’tkeepthepromise.Afterfiveyearsandfourenvironmentministers,theyhavefailedtotackleCanada’sgreenhousegasemissionsandbuildthecleanerenergyeconomyoftomorrow.Canadianindustryislookingforclarity,andgenerallysupportsamarket-basedapproachtoreducingemissions.

ALiberalgovernmentwillestablishacap-and-tradesystem–amechanismthatsetsaceilingonthetotalamountofpermissiblegreenhousegasemissionsbylargeindustrialfacilities,andthenauctionsoffemissionpermitstocompanieswhocantradethemamongstthemselvestoremaincompliantunderthelaw.

Acap-and-tradesystemalreadyoperatesinEurope.HereinCanada,leadingprovincesinclud-ingBritishColumbia,Manitoba,OntarioandQuebec–frustratedwiththeinactionoftheHarpergovernment–areworkingwithAmericanstatestoimplementaNorthAmericancap-and-tradesystemby2015undertheframeworkoftheWesternClimateInitiative(WCI).

Workingwiththeprovinces,aLiberalgovernmentwilldevelopasystemthatappliestoallsectorsoftheeconomywithnoexceptions,andwhichwillbeequitableacrossallregionsofthecountry.

ALiberalgovernmentwillalsoworkresponsiblywithothercountriesandmultilateralbodiestosecureastrongglobal

climatechangeagreementbasedonscience.


47www.liberal.ca

Liberalshavecommittedtoalong-termgreenhousegasreductiontargetof80percentbelow1990levelsby2050.WealsourgedtheHarpergovernmenttoworkforanam-bitiousglobalagreementonclimatechangethatwouldkeeptheglobalriseintemperaturesbelow2oC.Theirem-barrassing obstruction at the Copenhagen conference,and invisibilitya year later in Cancun made it clear theyhavenointentiontohelpreachanewglobalagreement.

We will continue to advance our long-term emission re-duction target, and ask the independent advisory body,the National Round Table on Environment and Economy,torecommendaseriesofscience-based,achievablemid-termtargets.

RatherthanwaitingfortheU.S.Congresstoact,astheHarpergovernmenthasdone,aLiberalgovernmentwillengageAmericancounterpartsintheAdministrationandCongressproactivelyonkeyissuesincluding:carbonpricing,researchanddevelopmentforstandardsandregulation,cleanenergytechnologies,cooperationonelectricitytransmissiongriddevelopment,andtrans-portation.WhiletheHarpergovernmenthasoutsourcedCanadianpolicytoAmericanlegisla-tors,aLiberalgovernmentwillactintheCanadianinterest.

Stewardship of our Natural Environment

Parks and Protected Spaces

Despite our deep connection with nature, Canada is actually aglobal laggard when it comes to ecological protection. We rank16thamongOECDcountriesintheamountoflandsetasideforcon-servationpurposes. In fact, lessthan10percentofour landbaseandwellunderonepercentofouroceanterritoryareprotected.

Canada is not doing enough to protect biodiversity, and ensurefragileecosystemscanbecherishedforgenerationstocome.

A Liberal government will work with the provinces, territories, First Nations and conservationgroupstoprotectmoreofCanada’sintactwildernessareas.Thiseffortwillemphasizeanecosys-tem-wideapproachtoconservation,wherebynationalandprovincialparksandotherconserva-tionareas,includingpartsofourborealforest,areconnectedthroughprotected“eco-corridors”thatallowspeciestomovefromoneprotectedareatoanother.

Western Climate Initiative

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48


A Canadian Freshwater Strategy

Canadaishometosixoftheworld’s10largestfreshwaterbodies,andsevenpercentoftheworld’srenewablefreshwater,anation-al treasure that we need to conserve. We cannot take our waterresources for granted, particularly as pollution, overuse, climatechange and increasing populations in some regions are puttingwaterqualityandavailabilityatpotentialrisk.

ALiberalgovernmentwillworkwiththeprovinces,municipalitiesandstakeholderstodevelopanewCanadian Freshwater Strategy,thefirstcomprehensivefederalwaterpolicyinover20years.Itwilladdressgrowingchallengessuchasgroundwatercontamination,newmeasuresneededtocombatdroughtandflooding,aswellasbetterwaterconsumptionefficiency.TheobjectiveoftheStrategywillbetopreserveCanada’sfreshwaterheritageforthegenerationstocome.Thatwillincludeprotectingourwaterresourcesfrombeingsubjecttobulkexports.

ALiberalgovernment’sfocusonfreshwaterwillalsobolstereffortstocleanupkeywaterbasinsbyinvesting$100million,risingto$125millionannually,to:

RestoredegradedandthreatenedareasacrosstheGreatLakesandSt.Lawrenceregions;

SupporteffortstocleanupLakeWinnipeg,whichsuffersfromexcesslevelsofphosphorusandnitrogen;

AdvanceresearchandimproveeffortstoprotectfreshwaterecosystemsfrominvasivespeciessuchastheZebraMussel.

Stewardship of Canada’s Oceans

Canadahasthelongestcoastlineofanycountryintheworld.OurwatersintheArctic,PacificandAtlanticOceansarehometosomeoftheplanet’srichestmarineecosystems.

FisherieswillcontinuetobeananchorofCanada’sresourcessec-tor.Yet, thecombinedchallengesof incomplete stock recoveriesandvolatilemarketshaveworsenedthefinancialstrainincoastalcommunities.Theindustryremainsstronglycommittedtorespon-sible,sustainablefisheries,anditwillhaveapartnerinaLiberalgov-ernment.Wewillworkwiththe industryonarangeofmeasuresincludingfleetrationalizationandlicenceretirementprogramsforfisheries in crisis,alongwitholderworkerretirementandretrain-

ingprograms.Harvestingcapacitymustbebetteralignedwiththeresourceandsomeworkersneedmoreeffectiveassistancetotransitiontonewopportunities.ALiberalgovernmentwillalsorecognizethefundamentalimportanceofPacific salmonfortheeconomy,culturesandwayoflifeonCanada’swestcoast,andwillensureitsconservationisthefirstpriorityinfisheryissuesthere.


49www.liberal.ca

Lessthan1percentofCanada’soceansareprotected,whileAustraliaandtheU.S.havefeder-allydesignatedmarineprotectedareasthatare32and16timeslarger,respectively.CanadahascommittedundertheConventiononBiologicalDiversitytoestablishingamarineprotectedareanetworkof10percentof itsoceanareaby2012.Unfortunately,weareavery longway frommeetingthatcommitment.

A Liberal government will expand Canada’s marine protected areasnetworkandensurethatthisnetworkisaccompaniedbyamoreeffectiveapproachtooceanmanagement.Wewillengagewith coastal communities, First Nations, provincial governments,tourismoperators,oceanindustriesandotheroceanusersindeci-

sionsabouthowtoreduceriskstooceanshealth.Wewillalsoadvanceintegratedoceansman-agementandoceanzoning,withthesamerigourasland-useplanningisconductedonCana-dianlandscapes,tosupportconservationandouroceaneconomy.

Designatingappropriateareasforvarioususesreducesthepotential forconflictamongusers,allowsustoaddressthecumulativeimpactsofhumanactivities,andprovidesindustrywithgreatercertainty regarding the regulatory environment. Advancing an integrated approach to oceanszoningwillbeacriticalbuildingblockforsustainableoceansmanagement,andwillultimatelysupportgreateraccessforCanadianfisheriestothegrowingmarketforeco-certifiedseafood.

A World-Leading Oil Spill Contingency Plan

The Harper government has been unable to assureCanadiansthatfederalresponsecapabilitieswouldbesufficienttocopeifadisastersimilartotherecentGulfofMexicooilrigexplosionandspillweretohappeninCanadianwaters.

ALiberalgovernmentwillworktogetherwithprovincialandterritorialcounterpartstoconductanindependent review of Canada’s offshore oil spill prevention and response capability,includingthelegislativeandregu-latory regimes, and capacities and practices in placeacrossthecountry forpreventionandremediationofoilspills.Drawingonthisreview,aLiberalgovernmentwillcreateaworld-leadingoil spill contingency planforCanadatoensuretheverybestemergencyandsafetymeasuresarepartofthecostofdoingbusiness.

Intheeventofanoilspill,absoluteliabilitylimitsoncompaniesarecurrentlyamaximumof$30millionor$40million,dependingontheregulatorybodytheyfallunder.Theywouldberequiredtopaymoreonlyiffoundnegligentincourt.GiventhatbillionsofdollarswillbespentoncleanupinGulfofMexico,aLiberalgovernmentwillputinplacenew liability limitstoensuretaxpayersarenotlefttopayfortheclean-upofamajorspill.

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Fishermen,touristoperators,coastalcommunitiesandothersmusthaveaccesstocompensationintheeventofamajoroilspill,withouthavingtospendyearsincourtfightingforit.Newliabilitylimitswilladdresscompensationforlossofincomeandthecostofclean-upactivities,withoutbeingsoprohibitivethatoilandgascompanieswon’tbeabletooperate.

Halting New Leasing and Oil Exploration in Arctic waters

ThereisnotechnologyinplacetocleanupanoilspillunderArcticice.Twoyearsago,theHarpergovernmentacceleratedtheapprovalofleasesforexplorationbyBPandImperialOilintheBeau-fortSea,despitethefactthatitwouldbeimpossibletoprotectthisfragileecologicalzoneiftherewaseveramajorspill.

Giventheuncertaintysurroundingthetechnology,aLiberalgovernmentwillhalt all new leasing and oil exploration activities in Canada’s Arctic waterspendinganindependentexaminationoftherisks.

Moreeffectivecooperationamongstanetworkofgovernmentsand indigenouspeople iskeytotheLiberalapproachtotheArctic,andtoLiberalforeign

policy.ALiberalgovernmentwillleadinternationalcooperationonArcticissuesincludingclimatechange, environmental stewardship, responsible resource development, and future shippingthroughtheNorthwestPassage.Wewillbuildandstrengthenmultilateralinstitutionsinordertoadvancecooperationonenvironmentalstewardship,economicandsocialdevelopment,trans-portation,searchandrescue,andsecurity.TheprioritieswouldincludeajointmappingexerciseofArctic landsandwaterstohelpestablish internationalprotected lands,oceans, fisheriesandwildlife,andsacredindigenoussites.

Formalizing the Existing British Columbia Crude Oil Tanker Moratorium

In1972, theLiberalgovernmentput inplaceamorato-rium prohibiting crude oil tanker transit through B.C.’snortherncoastalwaters.

FullyopeningB.C.’scoasttocrudeoiltankersnowwouldheighten the risk of a major spill, endangering wildlifeandthelivelihoodsofdozensofcommunitiesthatliveinandaroundthecoastline.Topreventanoilspillfromoccurringinthecoastalwatersoftheeco-logicallysensitivePacificNorthCoast,aLiberalgovernmentwillformalize the moratoriumoncrudeoiltankertrafficinthesewaters,includingtheDixonEntrance,HecateStrait,andQueenCharlotteSound,throughregulation,legislationorboth.

Chapter four

Bringing Canadians TogetherToday governments do many things, but Liberals believe the job of the Prime Minister really comes down to one thing – bringing Canadians together.

Liberal governments always focus on what Canadians have in common, and what we can accomplish as one country.

That kind of leadership is needed again. More than ever, we need to bridge the gaps that divide us, and welcome all contributions to the ongoing work of building stron-ger communities and a better country.

Canada is not a small or selfish country. It’s a bilingual country, with a multicultural and creative people, proud of their heritage, their communities, provinces, cities, and cultures. We draw strength from our diversity. We expect our leaders to reflect the best in us, and to build on it.

Canadians cherish equality – equality of individuals, of women and men, Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people, of North and South, rural and urban, and people with dis-abilities and their fellow citizens. Equality is the foundation of our Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Where we find gaps between the ideal and practical reality, we work together to narrow them. We’re all in it together.

Our democratic institutions have served us well, and we expect our representa-tives to respect them. Canadian federalism has evolved with changing realities, and helped us reconcile valued identities with common purposes. While preserving what’s best in our institutions, we have to be open to change, so they continue to serve us well in a rapidly changing world.

a Creative, Bilingual,

Diverse and More equal Canada

rural Canada Matters

Volunteerism:Canada

Service Corps

Canadians Make the rules

Respecting and Renewing Canadian Democracy Stronger,

SaferCommunities

Bringing Canadians Together

Divisive politics have made our country smaller. It’s time for all of us to build bridges, renew ourdemocracy and strengthen our communities.

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Stronger, Safer CommunitiesCanadianstakeprideintheircommunities,whethertheyliveinourlargestcities,thegrowingsuburbs,smalltowns,orruralareas.

Still,wefacerealchallenges.Althoughcrimeratesaredecliningnationally,somefami-liesdon’talwaysfeelsafeintheirownneighbourhoods.Manyofourfellowcitizenslivein poverty, are homeless, suffer from mental illness that is not adequately treated, orstruggletopaytherent,evenforsub-standardhousingthatcontributestopoorhealthandhopelessnessamongchildren.ToomanyCanadianswithdisabilitiesdon’tenjoythesamestandardoflivingasothers.

Thesechallengesmattertoallofus,evenifwe’refortunateenoughtoavoidtheminourownfamilies.Theymattertoourcommunities.

Therearemanystrengthstobuildon.Dedicatedcommunityservants–police,firefightersandotheremergencypersonnel–workhardtomaintainoursafety.Weneedtoensuretheyhavethetoolstheyneedtodotheirjobs.Communitygroupsandgovernmentsatprovincial,territorialandlocallevelsareadvancingstrategiestofightpoverty,andtacklespecificproblemslikethelackofaffordablehousing.Theyneedastrongerpartnerinthefederalgovernment.Canadiansaregenerousvolunteers,andthereisgreatpotentialforvolunteerismtodoevenmoreinthefuturetomakeourcommunitiesstronger.

TheHarpergovernment’snarrowpreoccupationconcerningourcommunitieshasbeenpunishingcrime,andexploitingfear.TheParliamentaryBudgetOfficerestimatesthatjustoneoftheirpiecemealsentencingBillswillcostfederalandprovincialgovernments$10to13billionover fiveyears, forbuildingUS-stylemega-prisons.Noonedisagreesthatcriminalsmustbepunished.Butmoreprisonsalonewillnotmakeourcommunitiessaferandstronger.ThatapproachhasfailedintheU.S.Evidenceandexperiencesuggestitwilltakemuchmorethanprisons.

Affordable Housing

AccordingtotheCanadianMortgageandHousingCorporation(CMHC),one-quarterofhouseholdsfaceaffordabilityproblems,meaningthatmorethan30percentoftheirin-comeisspentonhousing.Thirteenpercentofhomesare inneedofmajorrepairs,orareunsuitableforthenumberofpeoplelivinginthem.ThefiguresareevenworseforseniorsandnewCanadiansand,ofcourse,theydon’tevenaddressthehomeless.Atthesametime,theshortageofaffordablehousinginlargecitiespresentsagrowingbarriertoyoungfamiliesofmodestincomeslookingfortheirfirsthome.

Whilemodestpublicinvestmentsareresultinginnewaffordablehousingcomingonthemarket,otheraffordableunitshavebeendisappearingatdoubletherate,duetogentri-fication,lowinterestratesandgrowingdemand.Thefederalgovernmenthasbeenan

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unreliablepresenceinaffordablehousinginrecentyears.Along-termcommitmenttopartner-shipwithotherlevelsofgovernmentisneeded.

ALiberalgovernmentwillworkwithprovincial,territorialandmunicipalpartnerstoputinplacearenewedAffordable Housing Framework(AHF).ThepreviousFrameworkwasestablishedadecadeago,andseveralprogramsaretemporarilyextended,butunderreviewbytheHarpergovernment.ThemainobjectivesofthenewFrameworkwillbeto:

Reducehomelessness;

Maintainandrenewexistingaffordablehousingstock;and

Stimulatenewconstructionofaffordablehousing.

ThenewFrameworkwillfeaturealong-termcommitmentbythefed-eralgovernment,replacingthecollectionoftemporaryprogramsthatcurrentlyexist.Themagnitudeofthatlong-termcommitmentwillnec-essarilydependonconsultationswithmunicipalitiesandthegovern-ment’soverall financialsituation inthecomingyears.However, in itsfirsttwoyears,aLiberalgovernmentwillincreasefederalinvestmentinaffordablehousingby$550million.

Housingchallengesandopportunitiesvaryfromoneregiontoanother.Therefore, the new Affordable Housing Framework will emphasizeflexibilityandopennessto innovativeapproachessuchastax incen-

tivesandloanguarantees.Itwillofferaplatformformoreeffectivecollaborationamongalllevelsofgovernment,theprivateandnon-profitsectors.ThenewFrameworkwillpromoteprogressontheparticularneedsofpeoplewithdisabilities,aswellasNorthernandAboriginalcommu-nities. Itwillalsorecognizethataffordablehousingisonemajorpieceofthelargerpuzzleforreducingpoverty.

Fighting Poverty

More than 3.5 million Canadians live in poverty, includingmorethanoneintenchildren.Canadaranksnearthebottomofthelistofmajordevelopedcountriesforpovertyrates.

Leadersatalllevelsmustcometogripswithrisinginequality.Thepersistenceofpovertyacrossthecountryremainsanun-metchallenge,robbingindividualsoffairandequalopportu-nity,sappingproductivityfromtheeconomy,andevenunder-miningconfidenceinourdemocracy.Canadacannotaffordnottofightpoverty.ItwillrequiretheengagementofallCanadians,includingbusinesses,individuals,expertsandcivilsociety.

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Mostprovincialgovernmentshavedemonstratedleader-shipby launchingpoverty reductionstrategies.Buildingonthoseefforts,aLiberalgovernmentwillworkwithpart-nersatalllevelstodevelopaPoverty Reduction Plan for Canada. Itwillsetgoals, indentifypracticalmeasuresforachievingthemandsetoutwhocandowhatamongallthepartners.Theoutlookwillbelong-term.

SeveralmajorcommitmentsofthisplatformwillbethefoundationofaPovertyReductionPlanforCanada:theCanadianLearningStrategy,particularlyEarlyChildhoodLearningandCare,theLearningPassportforpost-secondaryeducationaccess,andAboriginallearning;FamilyCare;arenewedfocusonvolunteerismthroughtheCanadaServiceCorps;theNationalFoodPolicy’snutritionmeasures;andanewAffordableHousingFramework.Thesepracticalmeasurestosup-portCanadianfamilies,worthmorethan$5billionovertwoyears,willhelpreducepovertyandinequality,especiallyaspartofawhole-of-Canadaefforttostrengthenourcommunities.Theywillalsocontributetoastrongereconomyoverthelong-term.

Supporting Police, Firefighters and other First Responders

Ourcommunitiesoweagreatdealtopolice,firefightersandotheremergencypersonnel,whosepublicserviceputstheirownlivesatrisk.Governmentsmustgivethemthetoolstheyneedtodotheirjobs.

Improving the Long Gun Registry.ALiberalgovernmentwillimprovethelonggunregistrysothatitbetterservespolice,Canadianlong-gunownersandruralCanadians.

Policeofficersconsultthelong-gunregistryanaverageof11,000timeseachday.Soit’snowon-derthattheCanadianPoliceAssociation,theCanadianAssociationofChiefsofPolice,andtheCanadianAssociationofPoliceBoardssupport it,asdocountlessorganizationsthatrepresentwomen’shealthandsafety.

Sincethecreationofthelong-gunregistry,over90percentofCanadiangunownershaveregisteredtheirfirearms.RuralCanadiansandCanadianlong-gunowners,however,haveexpressedlegitimatefrustrationandcriticismofthefees,paperworkandthreatofcriminalchargesrelatedtotheregistry.

ALiberalgovernmentwillmaintaintheintegrityofthegunregistryinordertoprotectpublicsafety,whileaddressingthelegitimateconcernsofCanadianlong-gunowners.Wewillimprovethelong-gunregistrywiththefollowingactions:

1) Decriminalize.First-timeinfractionsforfailingtoregisterfirearmsshouldnotbeacriminaloffence,andshouldbesubjecttoaticketinstead,intheabsenceofaggravatingfactors.Workingwiththeprovincesandterritoriestomakethischangewouldgivefrontlineofficersthelegaltoolstodifferentiatebetweenanhonestmistakeandathreattopublicsafety.


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2) Eliminate fees. ALiberalgovernmentwillpermanentlyeliminatefeesfornewlicenses,renewalsandupgrades.

3) Simplify. Althoughformsareavailableon-line,manyinruralandnorthernareascontinuetofindthesysteminaccessible.ALiberalgovernmentwillsimplifyforms,makeregistrationassimpleaspossibleandimprovecommunityaccesstoregistrationservicesthroughServiceCanadalocationsacrossthecountry.

The Harper government disregarded the views of law enforcement professionals across thecountry,andcarriedonaprolongedcampaignagainstthelonggunregistry.Theonlyrealresultwaspoliticaldivision,whichtheConservativePartyexploitedaggressively forpartisanadvan-tage.LiberalshavestoodfirmandunitedwithCanada’spoliceforces.Atthesametime,wehaverespondedtolegitimateconcernsabouttheregistry,andwewillimproveit.Thisapproachwillgivepolicethetoolstheyneedtoprotectthepublic,whilebridgingdifferencesbetweenruralandurbanCanada.

Managing the RCMP. TheRoyalCanadianMountedPolicehaveauniqueplaceinCanada’shistory,andplayacrucialroleinserv-ingandprotectingcommunitiesacrossthecountry.Sadly,inrecentyears,theRCMPhavebeenplaguedbyfrequentsetbacksthathaveshakenpublictrust.TheHarpergovernmenthasfailedtotakeef-fectiveactiontoresolvemanagementproblems.Furthermore,on

oneofthekeypolicyissues–thelackofcivilianoversight–theHarpergovernmentdisplayeditsintoleranceofobjectiveandinformedcriticism,failingtoreappointtheoutspokenRCMPPublicComplaintsCommissioner,whocriticizedthegovernment’slackofprogressonreforms.

ALiberalgovernmentwillmovedecisivelytoestablish a civilian oversight board,restoretrans-parency,andaddressmanagementandleadershipissuesintheRCMP.Past,presentandfutureMountiesdeservenolessfromtheirgovernment,astheyworkhardtoprotectourcommunitieseveryday.

Community Heroes Fund. Representativesofpoliceand firefightershavelongcalledforanationalfundtorecognizetheserviceandsac-rificeofofficerskilledinthelineofduty.ALiberalgovernmentwilles-tablishaCommunityHeroesFundthatwillpayabenefitof$300,000tothefamiliesoffallenofficers,notonlyhelpingtosecuretheirfinancialfuture,butalsodemonstratingtherespectandgratitudeoftheircom-munitiesandtheircountry.

Volunteer Firefighters Tax Credit. CommunitiesacrossCanada relyonvolunteerfirefighters,andtheirservicewillberecognizedunderaLiberalgovernmentwitharefundabletaxcredit.

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Dealing with Missing and Murdered Aboriginal Women

ViolenceagainstwomenpersistsinallCanadiancommunities.Aborigi-nalwomenareparticularlyaffected.TheNativeWomen’sAssociationofCanadaestimates thenumberofmissingormurderedAboriginalwomeninCanadaismorethan580.ThesecasesamounttonearlytenpercentoffemalehomicidesinCanada,eventhoughonlythreepercentofthefemalepopulationisAboriginal.Therehasbeenlittleactionfromthefederalgovernmenttoaddressthistragedy.

ALiberalgovernmentwillmandateanational task force toexaminethe systemic causes of this problem, with an emphasis on preventing its continuation in thefuture.ItwillbuildontheworkofprovincesandAboriginalwomen,andreporttotheMinisterofJusticewithananalysisandrecommendations.

Valuing Volunteerism

Volunteerism–givingone’stimeandlabourtohelpothers–isvitaltoahealthysocietyandvi-brantdemocracy.ItstrengthensCanadiancommunitiesandbenefitsboththevolunteerandtheorganization.

ALiberalgovernmentwillmakea“calltoservice”toallCanadians,toinspireevengreatercontri-butiontoourcommunities.ThiswillbeunderpinnedbyanationalgoalforincreasingtherateofvolunteeringinCanada,setinconsultationwithvoluntarysectorleaders.

TohelpachievethisgoalaLiberalgovernmentwillcreateanewCanada Service Corps.ThiswillreplacetheCanadianVolunteerInitiativethatwascancelledbytheHarpergovernment.TheCorps’mandatewillbeto:

IncreaseCanadians’awarenessofthevalueandrewardsofvolunteerismandcivicengagement;

Increasecapacity,knowledge-sharingandtrainingofCanada’svolunteerorganizations;and

CreateadditionalopportunitiesforCanadianstovolunteerinameaningfulway.

Wewillinvestaninitial$180millionoverfouryearsinthenewCanadaServiceCorps.Fromthesefunds,$20millionwillbededicatedtocapacity-buildingandpromotioninthevoluntarysector.Specifically, the Canada Service Corps will work to develop networks of voluntary non-profitorganizationsandfundtrainingandcapacitybuildingprogramstoencourage,sustainandsup-portvolunteerism.TheCorpswillalsosupportvolunteernon-profitorganizationsinmarketingthemselvestoattractvolunteers.


59www.liberal.caDaily Bread Food Bank, Toronto

Theremaining$160millionoverfouryearswillbeinvestedtoencouragevolunteerisminyoungCanadians.TheCanadaServiceCorpswillforgive $1500 in student loan debt for young Cana-dianswhodonateatleast150hoursofserviceinayear,inaCanadaServiceCorpsvolunteerposi-tionaftergraduatingfrompost-secondaryeducation.Thevolunteerservicecanalsotakeplaceinagapyearorduringstudies,butthedebtreliefwillbecontingentoncompletingstudies.Thisinitiativewillcreateupto26,000volunteerpostingsannually.TheCanadaServiceCorpswillworkwithvoluntaryandnon-profitsectorstocreatedomesticandinternationalvolunteerpositions.

It’stimetoreturntoarespectfulandconstructiverelationshipbetweenthefederalgovernmentandcivilsociety.

The Harper government has been actively hostile to volunteer, non-governmental and com-munityactivistgroups,particularlythosewhodisagreewithitsright-wingideology.Howeverahealthydemocracyrequiresadiversityofvoices.Thegovernmentdoesnothavetoagreewiththem,butshouldrespecttheroletheyplay.Ratherthanattempttocontrolpublicdebate,andshutdowndissent,aLiberalgovernmentwillengageconstructivelywithcivil societygroups,andrespecttheirrighttoadvocateandcriticizethegovernment.

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A Creative, Bilingual, Diverse, and More Equal Canada

Promoting Arts and Culture and Home-grown Content in a Digital Canada

TheculturalsectorisamajorpartoftheCanadianeconomy.

AccordingtoaConferenceBoardstudy,culturegeneratesmorethan$80billionindirectandindirecteconomicbenefitseveryyear,andcreates1.1millionjobs.

Liberalshavealwaysunderstoodthatartistsarehardworkingcitizens,committedtothevalueofculturalexpression.ALiberalgovernmentwillstandwiththemastheynavigateboththeop-portunitiesandchallengesofthenewdigitalsociety.

Asnewsandentertainmentchoicesproliferate,acceleratedbynewdigital technologies,con-cerns have grown about the future of Canadian content in our major media and local newsandprogramming. Inthisfragmentedmediaenvironment,publicbroadcastingisanessentialpromoteranddefenderofCanadianculture,inbothFrenchandEnglish.Ontheradio,ontelevi-sion,andthroughtheInternet,themandateoftheCBCandRadio-Canadaremainstoinform,enlightenandentertainwithprogrammingthatisdistinctivelyCanadian,reflectingthecountryanditsregionstonationalandlocalaudiences.

The role of the public broadcaster is especially significant for Radio-Canada, which remainsuniquely the defender on the airwaves of the French language from coast to coast to coast.ALiberalgovernmentwillprovidetheCBCandRadio-Canadawithstableandpredictablefundinginsupportoftheiruniqueandcrucialroles.

More support for Canada’s artists

TheCanadaCouncilfortheArtsisamajorforceinsupport-ingworkingartists.ALiberalgovernmentwillsignificantlyin-creasesupportforCanadianartistsandcreatorsbydoubling the annual budget of the Canada Council for the Arts,from$180millionto$360millionoverthenextfouryears.

ALiberalgovernmentwillalsorestore the Promart and Trade Routesculturalpromotionprograms,increasingtheirfundingto$25million.TheseprogramsplayanimportantroleinbringingCanadianculturetotheworldandincreasingourexports.Thenewannualfundingwillhelptocreateadomestictoursprogramaswell.


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Supporting Official Languages

Canada’s two Official Languages help to define who we are. It wasa Liberal government that made official bilingualism a reality over40yearsago.WorkingwithminorityOfficialLanguagecommunitiesacrossthecountry,Liberalsputinplaceaneffectiveprogramtosup-portandpromoteFrenchandEnglishthroughoutCanada.ItssuccesshashelpedbringandkeepCanadianstogether.

WhentheOfficialLanguagesPlancametoanendin2008,theHarpergovernmenthastilyputto-getherareplacementbutfailedtoconsultthelinguisticminoritycommunitiesthattheprogramissupposedtoserve.Twoyearslater,someelementsoftheprogramhavestillnotbeenimple-mented, causing significant concern and disruption to those communities. Official languagesgovernancewithinthefederalgovernmenthasatrophiedundertheHarpergovernment,andthisslidemustbereversed.

ALiberalgovernmentwillimmediatelybeginconsultationsforanext generation Official Lan-guages Plansothatitcanbeasinclusiveandcomprehensiveaspossible.TheseconsultationswillseekpublicviewsonhowOfficialLanguagespolicyshoulddealwithdigitaltechnologies,amongotherissues.Anotherimportantissuewillbehowtoencouragedevelopmentofmorebilingualprogramsinpost-secondaryinstitutions.

Canada is always evolving and always growing. Bilingualism is one of the dimensions of thatgrowth.Forexample,todaynoonecanenvisageaprimeministerwhoisnotabletocommuni-catewellinbothEnglishandFrench,butthatwasnotalwaysthecase.Bilingualismiswell-estab-lishedintoday’sfederalpublicservice.ALiberalgovernmentwillworktocontinuethatprogress,inordertostrengthenthetiesthatbringCanadianstogether.

The Success of New Canadians

ImmigrationhasbeencentraltotheCanadianexpe-rience throughout our history. Immigrant stories areCanadianstories,wovenintothefabricofouridentity.

Liberalsunderstandthatour immigrationandrefugeesystem often fails to meet expectations for efficiencyand fairness. That is why a new Liberal governmentwillmake fixing the immigration and refugee de-termination processesatoppriority.Waitingtimesare too often unacceptably long, information andcommunicationinadequate,andproceduresconfus-ingandinefficient.Theseservicesaretooimportanttoleavethemindisrepair.WewillconsultwithnewCanadians,immigrationstakeholdersandexpertstodevelopsolutions.

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Family reunificationmustremainacrucialpartofCanada’simmigrationpolicy.AfterfiveyearsofreductionsinfamilyclassimmigrationundertheHarpergovernment,Liberalswillrestorebalancebyincreasingfamilyclassvisas.

ALiberalgovernmentwillexpandlanguage trainingfornewCanadians,since languageskillsareoftenamajorbarriertotheirsuccess.TheotherbarrierstonewCana-diansintheworkforcearealackofCanadianjobexperi-ence and unrecognized credentials earned abroad. It’sestimated that faulty foreign credential recognition inCanada iscostingoureconomymore than$2.6billiona year. The federal government must do a better job

screeningandadvisingprospectiveimmigrantsoncredential recognitionbeforetheyleavetheircountriesoforigin.ImprovingcredentialrecognitionandmorequicklyintegratingnewCanadiansintotheworkforcerequiresarenewedlevelofconcertedattentionandmoreeffectivecooperationamongthefederalgovernment,provinces,territories,professionalgroups,educationalinstitutions,sectorcouncilsandunions.ALiberalgovernmentwillmakethisapriority.

Court Challenges

CanadianstakeprideintheirCanadianCharterofRightsandFree-doms,andsee itasbothanexpressionofourvalues,anda toolforbuildingamoreequalsociety.Accesstojusticeisessentialforameaningfulcommitmenttoequalityinourdemocracy,butthehighcosts of litigation can sometimes silence those whose rights arealreadymostvulnerable.TheCourtChallengesProgramprovidedfinancialassistanceforpursuinglanguageandequalityrightsunderCanada’sConstitution,buttheHarpergovernmentcancelledtheprogram.ALiberalgovernmentwillreinstate the Court Challenges Programinordertomaintaineffectiveaccesstojustice,andtopreventfinancialbar-riersfromblockingthepursuitofequalityforallCanadians.

Equality of Opportunity for Canadians with Disabilities

ToomanyCanadianswithdisabilitiesliveinpoverty,areunemployedorlackaccesstogoodsandservices.Moremustbedonetoremovethebarriersbetweenthemandequalityofopportunity.

TheUnitedNationsConventionontheRightsofPersonswithDisabilitiesprovidesaframeworkfor addressing the barriers. Canada has signed and ratified the Convention, and yet little hasbeendonetoimplementit.

ALiberalgovernmentwillworkwiththeprovinces,territories,disabledCanadiansandtheirorga-nizationstodevelopanactionplanforimplementingtheConvention,monitoringandreportingtothepubliconprogress.


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Equal Pay for Work of Equal Value

Payequity,orequalpayforworkofequalvalue,isafundamentalrightthatensureseconomicfairnessinourworkforce.Despiteprogressovermanyyears,theincomegapbetweenwomenandmeninCanadapersists.Forexample,womenaged50to54earnjust72centsforeverydol-lartheirmalecounterpartsearn.StatisticsCanadadatasuggesttheprogressofyoungerwomeninnarrowingthegaphasstalledinrecentyears.Payequityalsoremainsanissueforpeoplewithdisabilities,andvisibleminorities.

Asthecountry’slargestemployer,thefederalgovernmenthasadutytoleadbyexampleonequalcompensation.ThatiswhyaLiberalgovernmentwillreverse the Harper government’s decision to reduce pay equity to an ordinary labour relations and collective bargaining issueinfederallyregulatedindustries.Wewouldinsteadcreateaneffective,proactivesystemforimplementingandmonitoringpayequityatthefederallevelinwhichequalityisagainrecognizedasahumanright.

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Rural Canada MattersRuralCanadaputsfoodontablesanddrivestheresourcewealthofourcountry.

ButtoomanyCanadiansareleavingruralcommuni-tiesbecausetheycan’tfindjobsoraccessessentialserviceslikehealthcare,internet,oreducation.

ALiberalgovernmentwillcommittonarrowingthegapbetweenruralandurbanCanadastartingwithnewmeasuresinfivemajorareas.

Rural BroadbandCanada’s economy is increasingly knit together through the internet. As jobs, education, andcommunicationbecomemoredependentontheinternet,Canadianswithoutaccessorrelevantskillswillbeleftbehind.

In 2006, Canada’s Telecommunications Review Panel recommended the federal governmentachieve100percenthigh-speedinternetconnectivityby2010.Thisgoalwasnotachievedun-der the Conservative government. According to the CRTC, in 2009 close to 800,000 Canadianhouseholds(20percentofallruralCanadians)stillcouldnotaccesshigh-speedinternet.AlthoughCanadarankedsecondintheworldininternetconnectivityin2000,we’venowfallentotenthplace.Thisthreatensoureconomiccompetitivenessandqualityoflife.

Usingproceedsfromtheupcomingspectrumauctionslatedfor2012,aLiberalgovernmentwillsetagoalof100 percent high-speed internet connectivityofatleast1.5MB/secforallCanadiancommunitieswithinthreeyearsofbeingelected.Thiscommitmentwillincreasetheavailabilityofaffordablelineandwirelessconnectivity,andimprovemobilephonecoverageinruralareas.

Rural Health Care

Formanyyears,CanadianslivinginsmalltownsandruralcommunitieshaveexpresseddeepconcernabouttheavailabilityofHealthCareservicesintheircommunity.Whilesome20percentofCanadiansliveinruralareas,only10percentofdoctorspracticethere.Manyruralfamilieshavetotravelhourstogetafamilydoctorfortheirchildren,findmentalhealthservices,orputelderlyparentsincarefacilities.

Incooperationwithprovincesandterritories,aLiberalgovernmentwillintroduceanewincentivebyforgivingaportionofCanadaStudentLoansfordoctors,nursesandnursepractitionerschoosingtopracticeinadesignatedunderservedsmall-townorruralcommunity.Familydoctorswillbeeligibleforstudentloanforgivenessupto$8,000peryeartoamaximumof$40,000.Nursesandnurseprac-titionerswillbeeligibleforstudentloanforgivenessup$4,000peryeartoamaximumof$20,000.QuebecdoesnotparticipateintheCanadaStudentLoansProgram,thereforeaLiberalgovernmentwillworkwiththegovernmentofQuebectodeterminethebestwaystomeettheobjectives.


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ALiberalgovernmentwillinvestanadditional$40millionovertwoyearstoimproveruralhealthservicesincooperationwithprovinces,territories,municipalitiesandmedicalprofessionals.

Volunteer Firefighters

Over90percentoffiredepartmentsdependonCanada’s84,000 volunteer firefighters. They perform a crucial ser-vicetotheircommunities,particularlyinsmallercentres.

ALiberalgovernmentwillintroducea$3,000 refundable tax credit inrecognitionofthecostsCanada’svolunteerfirefighters incur for their emergency public service. All

volunteerfirefighterswithaminimumof200hoursofvolunteerserviceduringthetaxyearwillbeeligible.Thisannualvolunteerservicewould includetimedevotedtoachievingandmaintainingfirefightertraininginaccordancewithrecognizedstandards.Thetaxcreditwouldbemadeavailabletoeveryonewhoqualifies,regardlessofincome.

Mail Service

NomatterwhereCanadianslive,theyshouldexpecthigh-quality,reliablemailservicewithintheircommunities.Manyseetheirpostofficesascommunityhubs,butsince2006theHarpergovernmenthas overseen closure of 42 rural post offices, and cancellation of55,000ruralroadsidemailboxesfromservice.

Still more closures are likely unless a commitment is made to protect rural postal services.Therefore,aLiberalgovernmentwill:

1) Protect Universal Service. CanadaPostwillmaintainapostalsystemforcollection,transmissionanddeliveryofletters,parcelsandpublicationsanywhereinCanada,andensurethatruralregionsremainanintegralpartofitsuniversalservice.

2) Restore and Maintain Rural Mail Service. Amoratoriumwillbeplacedontheclosureofruralpostoffices,andpriorityplacedonre-establishingdiscontinuedbox-to-box,ruralandroadsidemailservices.

3) Improve Community Consultation. Sixmonthsbeforeanychangesinserviceordeliverymethodsaffectingruralpostofficesorroadsidemailboxescanbeimple-mented,CanadaPostwillcommunicatewithallaffectedcustomersandcommuni-ties,andconsultwithlocalresidentstoexploreoptionstoaddresstheirconcerns.

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Canada’s First National Food Policy

Safe Food: Strengthening inspection and enforcement

CanadiansexpectallfoodswithinCanadatomeetthesamequality,safetyandenvironmentalsustainabilitystandards,regardlessofwhetherthatfoodisproducedathomeorabroad.

ALiberalgovernmentwill:

ConductacomprehensivereviewoftheCanadianFoodInspectionAgency(CFIA),HealthCanadaandthePublicHealthAgencyofCanada(PHAC),toensureeffectivecoordinationofCanada’sfood safety systemtominimizerisksandassureCanadiansthatthefoodontheirtablesissafe.

Investanadditional$50millionoverfouryearstoimprovefood inspectionbytheCFIAandtoensurethesamefoodsafetystandardssetforCanadianproducersareappliedtofoodsimportedintoCanada.

Sustainable Farm Incomes: Supporting innovation and protecting against risk

Sustainablefarmincomes,ruralinfrastructureandresearchandinnovationarekeystoensuringCanadamaintainsastrongandvibrantfoodproductionsystem.Unfortunately,Canada’sfarmersfaceamazeofconfusingandunpredictableprograms.ALiberalgovernmentwillworkinpartner-shipwithCanadianfarmerstobuildfarmprogramsfromthefarmup,notOttawadown,including:

A“Clean Slate Committment”,foracompletereviewofAgricultureandAgri-FoodCanadaprogramminginpartnershipwithfarmerswithinthefirstyearofaLiberalgovernment,includingbusinessriskmanagementprograms,agriculturalresearch,innovationandenvironmentalprograms.

RestoringAgriFlextoitsoriginalmissionofofferingregionallyflexible programsincludingpractical,bankablebusinessriskmanagementtohelpfarmersmeettheircostsofproduction.ThiscouldincludeprogramssuchastheRiskManagementPrograminOntario,AssurancestabilizationdesrevenuesagricolesinQuebec,marketpriceinsuranceandimprovedcropinsuranceintheWest,oraBuyAtlanticprogramintheAtlanticprovinces.

Environmental Farmland Stewardship

Canadiansknowthatourfarmsandourfoodaretiedtoournaturalenvironment,andthatacleanenvironmentforthefuturemeansinvestingincleanenergyandfarmlandstewardship.AspartofourCleanSlateCommitment,aLiberalgovernmentwill:

WorkwithCanada’sfarmerstostrengthenCanada’sEnvironmental Farm Plans,supportimprovedfertilizerandpesticidemanagement,andintroducenewenvironmentalgoodsandservicesprogramsthatrewardfarmersforenvironmentally-sustainableinitiativessuchassettingasidelandforwildlifehabitatsorcarbonsequestration.


67www.liberal.ca

InvestinthedevelopmentofcleanenergyfromCanadianfarms–biomass,wind,solarandgeothermalenergy–aspartoftheLiberalcommitmenttoquadrupleCanada’scleanenergyproduction.

International Leadership: Opening new markets and building capacity.

Steadygrowthinfair,rules-basedtrade in agri-foodwillcontinuetobeofvitalinteresttoCanada.Ourfuturecompetitivenessandopportunitiesforexportgrowthrestonexpandingourshareofhigh-valuemarketswhereourreputationforqualityputsusahead.Wealsohavearoletoplayinen-suringthatsomeoftheworld’spoorestnations–particularlyinAfrica–haveaccesstosafe,healthyfood,andcanparticipateininternationaltradeinagri-food.Therefore,aLiberalgovernmentwill:

ExpandexportopportunitiesbybuildingCanada’sinternationalbrandasaproducerofthehighest-qualityfoodsandbeveragesintheworld.

Supportcapacity-buildinginlocalfoodproductionandfoodsecurityamongworld’smostvulnerablenations,particularlyinAfrica,byreassessingtheCanadianInternationalDevelopmentAgency’sprioritynationslist,andfocusingoninitiativessuchasmicro-lending,research,trade-relatedcapacitybuilding,andenhancingagriculturalproductivityandsustainability.

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Federalism in a Networked Era and Public Service Excellence

Leadership for the Era of the Network

ALiberalgovernmentwillbeunafraidtoengagewithallthosewhocancontributetosolvingacomplexproblem.PerhapsthemostunderutilizedpowerofthePrimeMinisterintheHarperyearshasbeenthepowertoconvene. Intoday’snetworkedworld,effectiveleadersarticulatethesharedmission,bringtogetherthekeyplayers,fosteragreementonresponsibilities,andholdthemselvesandothersaccountableforresults.

Thisstyleofleadershiprequiresleaderstoworkwithmanyothers,includingpeoplewithwhomtheymaydisagree.

Ofcourse,sometoughdecisionsultimatelyrequireastrongPrimeMinistertostandalone.Butplaying only to hard core supporters doesn’t serve the country as a whole. Instead, a Liberalgovernmentwilldrawonthestrengthsofawidercircle.Widelysharedvictoriesarethemostimportantoutcomes,notcrushedopponents.

Modern Federalism

Themajor issuesconfrontingCanada for thecomingyearscutacross jurisdictionsmore thaneverbefore:economicuncertainty;ever-increasingdemandforknowledgeand innovationtomaintaingoodjobsathome;therangeoffinancialpressuressqueezingmiddle-classfamilies;ris-inginequality;theagingpopulation,anditsimplicationsforhealthcareandothersocialservices;theproductivityofourworkforce;climatechangeandstewardshipofourwater,landandair;andmanagingthetransitiontothecleantechnologyeconomyofthefuture.Importantpowersofbothfederalandprovincialgovernmentsareatplayinalltheseissues,andnoneofthemcanbeaddressedseriouslybyjustonejurisdiction.

A Liberal federal government will work with other governments to address 21st century chal-lengesthatdonotconfinethemselvesneatly to jurisdictionaldivisions.Butourapproachwillbebasedonarigourousrespectforthejurisdiction,rolesandresponsibilitiesofprovincesandterritories

Expertsandstakeholdersoftencall fora“nationalstrategy”onaserious issue.Whileprioritiesmustbechosencarefully,aLiberalgovernmentwillnotshyawayfromsuchchallenges,asthisplatformdemonstrates.However,nooneshouldconfusethecouragetofacenationalchallengeswithadesiretocreateintrusivenewfederalprograms.


69www.liberal.ca

Canadianfederalismisnotasecurityfence,tokeephostilecampsapart.Toremainvibrant,itmustbeaframeworkforpartnershipinanewcentury,notanexcuseforisolation,norarationaleforstuntedambition.

It’saframeworkthatrespectsdiversity,reconcilesidentitywithcommonpurposeandenablesinnovation.Inthisfederation,wefacecommonchallenges–together.

Public Service Excellence

Canada’spublicserviceisacornerstoneofourdemocracyandgoodgovernment.Fordecades,dedicatedandpublic-spiritedwomenandmenhaveservedgovernmentsofdifferentpartisanstripeswithprofessionalism,integrityandcompetence.

However,inrecentyearsthepublicservicehasbeenwidelyregardedasindecline.Thisismostvisibleatthefrontlines,whereservicesaredeliveredtothepublic.Toomanyhavesufferedfromconfusing information, waited endlessly in line, or bounced from one place to another whileseekingservicefromthefederalgovernment.Front-lineemployeesworkhard,butthemachineoftensputters.

Liberalsbelievegovernmentcanbe,andmustbe,apositiveforceinthelivesofcitizens.

Workingwiththepublicservice,itsmembers,theirunionsandmanagement,aLiberalgovern-mentwilldevelopandimplementconcreteservicestandards,soCanadianswillknowspecificallywhattheycanexpectwhentheycometotheirgovernment,andbeconfidenttheirexpecta-tionswillbemet.Achievingexcellenceisagoalpublicservantsshare.Servicestandardswillhelpspread best practices, supporting front-line employees in their efforts to provide the highestqualityservicepossible.

Thefederalpublicserviceisinneedofrenewalacrossitsfullrangeoffunctions,notjustinfront-linedelivery.ButitschallengeshavebeengreatlyaggravatedinrecentyearsbytheHarpergov-ernment’sdistrustofprofessionalpublicservants.Conservativeshavepublicallyattacked,firedorforcedintoresignationofficialswhoactedresponsibly,orofferedexpertadvice,well-informedopinionandsoundtechnicalanalysistheyfoundinconvenient.

Thepoisoned relationshipbetweenpublic servantsandtheirpolitical leadershipmustbe re-pairedasafirststeptowardbroad-basedrenewal.Withgoodwillanddetermination,Canada’spublicservicecanagainbecomethefoundationofgoodgovernment,andamagnetforrecruit-ingthebestandbrightestyoungCanadianseagertohelpmaketheircountrythebestitcanbe.

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Canadians Make the Rules: Respecting and Renewing our DemocracyCanadiandemocracyisinpoorhealth–notterminal,butdeclining.Voterturnoutisatanalltimelow,especiallyamongtheyoungestvoters.

Canadiansstillwanttobeproudofourdemocraticinstitutions,butfindthemoftenparalyzedinacrimony,personalattacksandpartisangamesmanship.Theylamentthatournationalpoliticaldebateisrarelyaseriouscontestofideas,andseethefederalgovernmentasaclosed,unrespon-sivemachineirrelevanttotheirownlives.FortoomanyCanadians,votingisnottheexerciseofpoweritshouldbe.Asaresult,peoplearedisengagedfromtheirowndemocracy.

ThedeclineofCanada’sdemocracydidnotstartwiththeelectionoftheHarpergovernment.Allpartiesshareresponsibilityforthebroadtrendsofrecentdecades.However,since2006thedeclinehasaccelerated.

Mr.Harper shutdownParliament twice inayear toavoidaccountability.Hisgovernment fired,forcedoutorharassedtheheadsofarms-lengthgovernmentagencies.AndseniorConservativeshaveissuedwarningstonon-governmentalorganizationsnottodivergefromthegovernment’sideologicalagenda.Theyendedthemandatorylong-formcensus,ignoringtheunifiedopposi-tionofanunprecedentedarrayofvolunteer,faith-based,business,academicandofficiallanguagerepresentatives.Thegovernment’ssystemicdelayshaveunderminedboththespiritand letteroftheAccesstoInformationlaw.ConservativeministershaveignoredthewillofParliamentre-peatedly,misleditandwithheldvitalinformationfromitandfromthepublic.ConservativesalsoactivelysabotagedtheproceedingsofParliamentarycommitteesonnumerousoccasions.FourmembersofStephenHarper’sinnercirclearefacingjailtimeifconvictedofchargesforelectoralfraudtogetaroundspendinglimits.HisformerChiefofStaff,whopreviouslyservedtimeinprison,isunderinvestigationforinfluencepeddling.AndtheHarpergovernment–thefirstinCanadianhistory–hasbeenfoundincontemptofParliamentforwithholdingbasicfinancialinformationabout itsspendingpriorities:stealthfighter jets,US-stylemega-prisonsandcorporatetaxcuts.HarperConservativesthinkthey’reabovetherulesofourdemocracy.

Making Public Policy in Public

The Liberal Platform is the result of many months spent listening to thousands of Canadians in commu-nities across all ten provinces and three territories.

We have talked about our country in coffee shops, backyards, church basements, union halls, and legion halls. When Stephen Harper shut down Parliament, Liberals held two dozen public roundtables on Parlia-ment Hill to air views on important policy issues.

At the “Canada at 150” conference in Montreal, we used internet technology to connect more than 30,000 participants and 72 satellite meetings across the country in a three-day discussion about

Canada’s future. Liberal Party members held workshops in every re-gion. We spent the sum-mer of 2010 travelling on the Liberal Express bus, meeting with Ca-nadians in 112 communities. We followed that up taking questions from all comers at “Open mike” townhalls throughout the fall and winter.

We believe this has been the broadest and most open exercise ever undertaken by a Canadian politi-cal party – doing public policy in public.


71www.liberal.caTalking to Etobicoke-Lakeshore residents from Montreal at the Canada at 150 conference.

LiberalsproposetoengageallpartiesinParliamentandtheCanadianpeopleinasustainedef-forttorebuildtrust,respectandameaningfulconnectionbetweenourdemocraticinstitutionsandthepeopletheyserve.

A Liberal government will lead a democratic renewal with a wide-ranging, three-part plandesignedto:

Createan“OpenGovernment”;

Workwithallpartiestofixourhyper-partisanParliament;and,

Developaninternetvotingoptiontomodernizeelections.

Open Government

AkeyelementoftheLiberalplanfordemocraticrenewalisOpenGovernment.Liberalswilladoptanewapproachto information, issuinggovernment-widedirectionthatthedefaultpositionforalldepartmentsandagencieswillbetorelease information to the public, both proactively and responsively,afterprivacyandother legal requirementsaremet.Thisinitiativewillseeasmanygovernmentdatasetsaspossibleavailabletothepubliconline,freeofchargeinanopenandsearchableformat.

Furthermore,allAccess to Informationrequestsandresponseswillbeposted online.

Thisnewpresumptionofopennesswillalsodriveanewlevelofaccountabilityforpublicfinances.Wewillestablishasearchable,online database for grants, contributions and contracts.

All levels of government, civil society, researchers, business and the public must haveaccesstoindependentandreliablestatisticsanddemographicinformationtomakein-formeddecisionsanddevelopsoundpublicpolicytobenefitallCanadians.Therefore,aLiberalgovernmentwillrestore the mandatory long form census.

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The Parliament Canadians Deserve

Liberalswilladvancereformstoimprovethehyper-partisanatmo-sphere inParliament.Canadianswant to seepartiescompetebyattacking issues,not justeachother.Returningsubstanceandci-vilitytoParliamentwillrequirethecollaborationofallparties,butleadershipcounts.

UnderaLiberalgovernment,newrestrictionswillbeplacedonPrimeMinisterialpower,particu-larlybyplacingprocedurallimitations on the prime minister’s power to prorogue.

LiberalsbelievethatallpartiesmustacttoincreasethecivilityandsubstanceofQuestion Period.Manyobserv-ersbelieveamodelclosertothatoftheBritishParliamentwouldbebetter,withmoretimeforbothquestionsandanswers,scheduledthemesandrostersofrequiredmin-isters, and a weekly Prime Minister’s question period(thoughthePrimeMinistershouldstillbeexpectedtoattendalldayspossible).ALiberalgovernmentwillad-vancesuchreforminParliament.

Even further innovation is possible, deploying internet technology to involve Canadians directly.UnderaLiberalgovernment,allCanadianswillbeabletoparticipateinPeople’s Question Period,wherethePrimeMinisterandMinisterswillresponddirectlytounscripted,user-generatedquestionsonline.Ministers’participationintheweeklyonlinequestionandanswersessionwillberotatedandas Prime Minister, Michael Ignatieff would participate at least monthly in the online People’sQuestionPeriodtoanswercitizens’questionsunfilteredbypoliticalpartiesorthemedia.

Standing Committeeshavesufferedfromexcessivepartisanshipandmanipulation.Liberalspro-posethatstandingcommitteesbetaskedmorewidelytodigdeeplyintomajor issuesbeforepolicy decisions are taken or legislation is introduced. In addition, “Committee of the Whole”shouldbeusedmorefrequentlytosubjectMinistersindividuallytowide-rangingquestioningforanextendedperiodintheHouseofCommons.Furthermore,recenteventshavedemonstratedtheneedyetagainforanewStandingCommitteeonNationalSecurity.OurmajorNATOallieshavehadsuchcommittees inplace fordecadesand itsexistencewouldhaveprevented thecontroversyoverAfghandetaineedocumentsfromreachingatime-consumingdeadlock.

Inaddition to these specificchanges, restoringcivilityandsubstance toParliamentwill requireleadership. Under a Liberal government, the Prime Minister will convene regular face-to-face meetings of all party leaderstotakestockofthetoneofParliamentarydebate,productivityintheconductofthepeople’sbusiness,andthemandatesforin-depthworkbystandingcommittees.


73www.liberal.ca

Modernizing the Voting System

Inthe2008federalelection,voterturnoutinCanadadippedtoanall-timelowoflessthan59percent.Mostdiscouragingly,inrecentyearsCanada’syoungestvotershaveconsistentlyhadthelowestturn-outandstudiestelluswecannolongercountonnon-votersbecomingvotersastheygrowolder.

The internet is revolutionizingmany facetsof life formostCanadians. It is time toharness itspowertobringelectoralparticipationclosertocitizens.ALiberalgovernmentwilldirectElec-tionsCanadatodevelopanonline voting option, startingwithapilotproject for individualsservingoverseasintheCanadianArmedForcesandthefederalpublicservice,andpost-second-arystudentslivingoutsidetheirhomeridings.ThepilotwillsupportabroaderdiscussionwithCanadiansaboutanonlinevotingoptionforeveryvoter.

Chapter five

Canada in the World: a Global Networks StrategyFor generations Canadians have taken pride in our role in the world, and our repu-tation for balance, tolerance, and ability to work with others to solve problems. But that reputation has suffered badly.

It is now essential that we reapply those qualities on a new and rapidly changing global landscape. Few countries are as well-equipped as Canada to thrive in today’s networked world. We should approach it with ambition, not suspicion.

Our skilled diplomats, and battle-hardened armed forces matter enormously, as do Canadian business people, diaspora communities, artists and entertainers, scien-tists and academics, and non-governmental organizations. They all reflect Canadian ambition around the globe.

That presence in the world directly impacts job creation and our standard of living at home. Today, the economy, climate, and security are more global than ever be-fore. The world matters to Canada. Canada should, once again, matter to the world.

That means we must return to constructive multilateralism in the United Nations and other bodies. It means we should be innovative in deepening people-to-peo-ple relationships at all levels with major emerging powers like China and India. We should be leaders in the Arctic, and partners in Africa.

Canada should use all its human connections to manage relations with the United States, our most important partner, and seize new opportunities with Mexico and others in Latin America.

This “whole of Canada” approach to the world will require a confident and collab-orative new brand of leadership from Canada’s federal government.

Embracing a Changing World

Global leadership today means much more than stage-managed summitry. It demands a deep understanding of the world, and a willingness to share the

spotlight with all those who succeed every day in connecting Canada.

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Canada in the World: a Global Networks StrategyCanadahasalwayshadastrongpresenceintheworld.

We have made a difference for the benefit of others and ourselves: the invention ofpeacekeeping, theearlyopeningtoChina,astrongcontributor todevelopmentassis-tanceand trade relations, the foundingof theG-20,andmajorcontributions tomanymultilateralinstitutions.

Unfortunately,theHarpergovernmenthaslostgroundontheworldstage.Thishasledtoalongandgrowinglistofembarrassmentsandmissedopportunities,including:

FailingtowinaseatontheUN Security Councilforthefirsttimeever,anunprecedentedrebukebytheinternationalcommunityoftheHarpergovernment’sconduct,andarguablythegreatestforeignpolicyfiascoinourhistory.

Obstructingprogressatclimate change summitsinCopenhagenin2009andCancunin2010,earningcondemnationfromaroundtheworld.

Wastingyearsofgoodwillwiththeemergingeconomicgiants,asStephenHarpertooknearlyfouryearsasprimeministertogotoIndia andChina–astonishinginanerawhenworldleadersareworkingeverydaytodevelopdeeperrelationswiththesecountries

ThisparochialapproachisinsharpcontrastwiththemodernrealityofCanada.Weareamongthemosttrade-reliantnationsontheplanet.Canadiansarepeopleoftheworld:by2020,one-quarterofourpopulationwillhavebeenborninanothercountry.OurcitiesarebrimmingwithtalentedandhardworkingimmigrantsfromAsia,Africa,theMiddleEastandLatinAmerica.

Canadians are also spread widelyacrosstheglobe,withnearlythreemillionliving,workingandtravelingabroad,morethanhalfamillionoftheseinAsia.NearlyfourmillionCa-nadiansareofAsiandescent.Morethan one million Canadians live inthe United States. Our artists andscientistscompetesuccessfullyandcollaborate confidently with theirpeersamongtheworld’sbest. 0

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77www.liberal.ca

Today, influence is concentratedat thecentresofglobe-spanningnetworks,muchmore thanatthetopofoldhierarchies.Inthenetworkedworld,thebestconnectedarethemostsuccess-ful.Thoseabletoworkacrossborders,withinglobalpartnerships,connectingbetweengovern-ments,business,andcivilsociety,bridgingcultures,speakinglanguages,embracingdiversityandmediatingdifference–thosepeoplewillexcelinthiscentury.AndthosepeopleareCanadians.

Embracing a Changing WorldAnewLiberalgovernmentwillimplementCanada’sfirstGlobalNetworksStrategy,cuttingacrosswhatpreviousgovernmentshavetreatedastheseparatesilosofdiplomacy,trade,defenceandoverseasdevelopment.

TheGlobalNetworksStrategywillrequireanewkindofleadershipfromthefederalgovernmentbothathomeandabroad.TheDepartmentofForeignAffairsandInternationalTradenolongerhas a monopoly on Canada’s interests abroad, or on international economic relations. Today,manyactorscontributetoCanada’spresenceintheworld,fromtransportationexecutivessellingmasstransitrollingstocktoChina,toWaterloosoftwareengineersconqueringforeignmarkets;fromtheCanadiandoctorwhoheadedMédecinsSansFrontièrestotheglobalartisticgeniusofCirqueduSoleil.AllreflectCanadianinterestsandvalues.Theyallsucceedbyunderstandingtheneedsanddesiresofpeopleinotherlands,andmasteringglobalnetworksofhumanrelation-shipstogetthingsdone.

Yetnoneoftheseprivatesector,civilsocietyorculturalleadershasthelegitimacytoleadandarticulatethecountry’soverallprioritiesandobjectivesintheworld.That’swhataLiberalgovern-mentwilldothroughtheGlobalNetworksStrategy.

Global Network Agreements with China and India

Canada is an Asia-Pacific nation, and yet we are the only member of NAFTA without a tradeagreementwithanAsiancountry.Wehavetotakeactiontodeepenrelationshipswiththemajoremergingeconomiesthatareshapingthefuture.ALiberalgovernmentwillpursuenewbilateralagreementswithChina,India,andotheremergingpowers.Anewmodelisneededtoreflecthowtheworldworkstoday.Boostingtradewillbeamajorpartofnew“Global Network Agreements”,buttheywillgofarbeyondexportsandimports.

Thenewagreementswouldmandategreatlyenhancedpeople-to-peoplecooperation,exchanges,andcollaborativeprojects inkeysectorssuchashighereducation,cleantechnologies,culture,tourism,financialservices,publichealth,foodsafetyandsecurity,transportation,tradelogisticsandgovernance.Insteadofanadhocandpiecemealapproach,wewouldsetcoherentobjectivesacrossthewholerelationship,andestablishspecificmandatesfromthehighestlevelsforaction.Successwillmeangoingwellbeyondgovernment-to-governmentcontactsandleveragingrela-tionshipsatalllevels,includingintheprivatesector,academia,artsandcultureandcivilsociety.

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Athome,GlobalNetworkAgreementswillembodyaLiberalgovernment’sstrongcommitmenttonationalleadershipandpartnership,encouragingcollaborationbetweenalllevelsofgovern-ment,theprivatesector,academiaandcivilsociety.Inparticular,wewillengagediasporacom-munitiesinCanada,aswellasCanadianslivingabroad,askeypartnersinpromotingthehumannetworksthatgenerateeconomicopportunities.

Renewed Team Canada missionswillalsobepartof theGlobalNetworkAgreements.Wewillmodernizetheprevious,successfulmodel,focusingeachmissionononeormorekeysectors,likethosehighlightedabove.Missionswillbepartofaprogramofsustainedinteraction,ratherthanone-offevents,andwillpromotereciprocalvisitsbyasimilar rangeof leaders fromthepartnercountrytoCanada.

GlobalNetworkAgreementswilladvancehumanrightsbydeepeningandbroadeninghumaninteractions and building more mature relationships in which dialogue and problem-solvingflourishovertime.

Renewing Partnerships in North America

Canada’sgeographic,economicandculturaladvantagesinaNorthAmericanmarketofnearly500millionpeoplewillremainamongourmajorstrategicassetsinarapidlychangingworld.Over$1.5billionworthofgoodsandservicescrosstheCanada-USbordereverydayaspartofthelargestcommercial relationshipbetweenany twocountries in theworld.Thereare200millionbordercrossingsbetweenourtwocountrieseachyear.AndCanadiansandAmericansare increasinglymakingthingstogetherandsellingthemtotheworld.

Regrettably,asaresultofnumeroussecurity-relatedmea-sures in the US in the wake of September 11, 2001, the“thickening”Canada-USborderisimpedingcross-bordertradeflowsandunderminingthevitalityofoureconomicrelationship.

AspartoftheGlobalNetworksStrategy,aLiberalgovern-mentwillleadandcollaboratewithpartnersathome,aswellasthemorethanonemillionCanadianswholiveandworkintheUnitedStates,toraisetheprofileofthevastandrichCanada-USrelationshipinAmerica.

Wewillexplorethepossibilityofnew,smarteradminis-trativearrangementsformanagingoursharedborder,in

ordertocontainandreverseitsrecent“thickening”,whilemaintainingeffectivesecurity.Trans-parencyandinformeddialoguewiththeCanadianpublicwillbeessential,incontrastwiththeHarpergovernment’ssecretivedealingson“perimetersecurity”.

WewillworkcollaborativelywiththeUnitedStates,andotherlikemindednations,inmultilateralsettingstoadvanceprogressonmajorinternationalissues.


79www.liberal.ca

Rather than wait for the US Congress to decide Canadian policy as the Harper government isdoing,aLiberalgovernmentwillengagetheObamaAdministrationproactivelyoncleanenergyissuesincludingrenewableenergy,cleantechnologies,andenergyefficiency.

BuildingCanada’srelationshipswithMexicoisalsovital.AneighbourandpartnerinNorthAmer-ica,Mexico’sfurthersuccessmatterstoCanada.Wesharearangeofinterestsandopportunitiesincludingfightingprotectionism,collaboratingonclimatechangeandsupportingMexico’sprog-ressondomesticsecurity.ALiberalgovernmentwillalsoworkwithMexicotowardsphasingoutthe visa requirement for Mexican citizens visiting Canada, while addressing Canada’s concernsregardingrefugeeclaims.

Canada’s North and the International Arctic Region

TheLiberalapproachtoCanada’sNorthandtheinternationalArcticregionwillmovebeyondmilitaryphoto-opsandgrandstanding.ALiberalgovernmentwillfocus on the peoples of Can-ada’s north,aswellastheirknowledge,ideas,andenergy.ThebestpathtostrengtheningArcticsovereigntyinvolvespartneringwiththoseCanadianswhoknowtheregionbest,andarethemostabletoshapeitsfuture.

TheCanadiangovernmentmuststrengthen relations with other Arctic Nations,fosteringsharedinterests,buildingandstrengthen-ingmultilateralinstitutions.TheArcticisanexcellentexampleoftheCanadianinterestbeingmosteffectivelypursuedfromthecentreofanetwork,ratherthanthroughanattempttodictatetermsfromthetopofanold-fashionedhierarchy.

ALiberalGovernmentwillreversethemistakesoftheHarperConser-vatives,byappointinganewAmbassador for Circumpolar Affairs,andenergizingCanada’sparticipationintheArcticCouncil.WewillworktobringtogetherallmembersoftheArcticCouncil,includingindigenous leadership, to formalizecooperationonenvironmentalstewardship, economic and social development, transportation,searchandrescue,andsecurity.WewillalsopursueajointArcticmappingexercisetohelpestab-lishinternationalprotectedlands,oceans,fisheriesandwildlife,sacredindigenoussites,andfurthercooperationonsecurity.ALiberalgovernmentwillalsoacttoestablishapermanent secretariat for the Arctic CouncilinCanadatosupportnegotiations,andbuildcapacityforfullparticipation.

TheLiberalapproachonCanada’sNorthwillbeaboutactiononNorthernissueslikeeducation,jobs,naturalresourcedevelopment,healthcare,infrastructure,environmentandclimatechange,andpreservingtraditionalwaysoflifeinaturbulentmodernworld.ThesearethechallengesandopportunitiesthatwillmeasureCanada’ssuccessinmaking Arctic sovereignty serve Arctic peo-ple.AstrongCanadianmilitarymustplayanimportantroleintheNorth,butasoneelementofabroaderapproachtoleadershipandpartnershipwithNortherners,andournorthernneighbours.

Michael Ignatieff and Liberal candidate Joe Handley, former Premier of the Northwest Territories

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Strong Ties with Europe

Canada’stiestoEuropearedeeplyrootedinourpast,andimportantforourfuture.Our$50billioninexportstotheEuropeanUnionunderlinetheeconomicsignificanceofourtrans-Atlanticconnec-tions,andourtwoOfficialLanguagesareatestamenttosharedhistoryandculturalaffinities.HealthyrelationswithEuropeansinNATOandarangeofmultilateralbodiesarekeytoCanada’sinterestsandwillcontinuetobeessentialtoCanada’sprosperityathomeandourpresenceintheworld.

Marshalling Canada’s Strengths in Human Development

TheGlobalNetworksStrategywillalsotakeahighlyintegratedapproachtohumandevelopment,notonlyspanningthetraditionalsilosofdefence,diplomacyanddevelopmentwithingovern-ment,butalsoleveragingthestrengthsofCanadiansathomeandabroad.

Peace, Order and Good Government

Inemergingdemocraciesandfragilestates,themostprofoundneedisoftenstableandtrans-parentgovernance,basedontheruleoflawandrespectforhumanrights.Weknowfromexperi-encethatvastquantitiesofforeignaidachievelittlelastingchangeforpeoplesufferingcorrupt,unstableoroppressivegovernance.Aid fundsarenotenough.Unstablecountriesneedhelpwithrunningelections,policing,financialadministration,justiceandhealthcaresystems.Canadahasastrongtrackrecordandexpertiseinawiderangeofcivilianandpublicadministrationfieldsthatareessentialforbuildingstabledemocracies.

ALiberalgovernmentwilluse “PeaceOrderandGoodGovernment,” thehighlypracticaldoc-trine thatunderpinsCanada’sownConstitution,asa frameof reference fornot justa “whole-of-government”program,buta“whole-of-Canada”efforttomarshalourgovernanceexpertise.WewillestablishaCanada Democracy Agency,withcapacitytobroker,coordinateandsupportdeploymentsofCanadiangovernanceexpertise,frombothwithinfederalagencies,andbeyond–includingothergovernments,retiredprofessionals,theprivatesectorandNGOs.Thiswillincludefostering innovation, providing training, harvesting lessons learned and sharing best practicesfromdeployments.TheseeffortswillchannelCanadiangoodwillandexpertisemoreeffectively,andcontributesubstantivelytopreventingandresolvingconflict,developingleadership,buildingdemocraticinstitutions,andspreadingrespectforhumanrightsandeconomicstabilityinpost-conflictstates,andemergingdemocracies.

Overseas Development Assistance

UndertheGlobalNetworksStrategy,aLiberalgovernmentwillrenewpartnershipswiththemanyCanadianorganizationsactivelyworkingtoimprovethelivesofthosemostinneed.Thereisnojusti-ficationforimposingachillondemocraticdialogueaboutinternationalpolicythroughintimidation,threatsandpoliticallymotivatedwithdrawaloffundingastheHarpergovernmenthasdone.

Inthe2010Budget,theHarpergovernmentfrozeCanada’sdevelopmentassistance,removingbillionsfromplannedinvestments.ThisbroughtCanada’ssteadyimprovementsinsupportlevels


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to a standstill and has jeopardized long-term program achievement. To restore some of thegroundthathasbeenlostundertheConservatives,Liberalswillre-investindevelopmentassis-tance,aswere-balance the spending in our international priorities.

Still,wemustmovebeyondstaledebatesaboutthedesiredamountofforeignaid.Althoughmoremoneyforthepoorestcountriescanhelp,expertsareincreasinglylookingatnewideasandalterna-tivemethodsofsupportinggrowthinthedevelopingworld.Thekeyisnothowmuchmoremoneytospend,buthowtoempowerpeople.

Canadianaidwillbeguidedbyanoverarching emphasis on the massive untapped potential of women in the developing world.Empoweringwomenisoftenthekeyfactorinsmall-holderfarm-ing,healthinitiativesandeducationthatleadstoeconomicdevelopment.Vasthumanpotentialinmanydevelopingcountriescanbeunlockedbyfocusingontheroleofwomen.ThiswillbecentraltoaLiberalgovernment’sapproachtodevelopmentassistance.

A Return to Africa

ItistimetoreverseCanada’sslideawayfromAfrica.TheGlobalNet-worksStrategywillextendthehandofpartnership to thosemostin need. That means focusing first where extreme poverty – notshort-termcommercialopportunity–exists.Italsomeansencourag-ingprivateinvestmentandbuildingthecapacityofAfricanstatestoservetheirownpeople.

In2009theHarpergovernmentchangedCanada’sinternationalaidtargetsdramatically,withvirtu-allynoconsultation.Thegovernmentshiftedaidawayfromsub-SaharanAfrica,removingeightAfricancountriesfromthelistofpriorityaidrecipients.

ALiberalgovernmentwillreturn Africa to the top of our aid priorities,matchingCanadianresources,capacities,andeconomicinterestswiththegreatestneeds.Thecontinentisthelocationofadisproportionatenumberoftheworld’spoor,theworld’sconflicts,andcrush-ingdiseaseslikeHIV-AIDSandmalaria.Africawillalsobearthebruntofclimatechange.CanadamustleadinadvancinginnovativenewwaysofassistingAfricanstatestoconfrontthesechallenges,whilehelpingtodeveloptheireconomies,attractprivateinvestment,anddeliverservicestotheircitizens.TherealissuesinAfricaareaboutopportunity,notchar-ity,andaLiberalgovernmentwillbuildpartnershipswiththatfundamentalfactinmind.

Middle East Peace

Before2006Canadawasknownasavoiceofreasoninthe Middle East, respected by both sides in the Arab-Israeli conflict. That matters because the objective ofserious diplomacy is to advance Canada’s interestsandthoseofourallies.ButtheHarpergovernmenthassquanderedCanada’sinfluenceintheregion,andpolar-izeddebateinCanadaforpartisanreasons,diminishingourabilitytocontributetoprogress.

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Canada’sultimateobjectivemustbepeaceintheregion.Intheshort-term,weshouldaimforareductioninhostilities,economicgrowthforthemostvulnerable,andade-escalationofinflam-matoryrhetoric.

Liberalsbelieveinatwo-statesolutionandthattrueregionalstabilitycanonlyhappenwhenasafe,secureanddemocraticIsraelexistsinpeacebesideaviable,secureanddemocraticPalestinianstate.

Ontheground,CanadahasplayedaconstructiveroleassistingPalestinianauthoritieswithgover-nanceandpolicingcapacity,andmustcontinuedoingso.WeshouldfacilitatedialoguebetweenIsrael,theArabworldandPalestinianleadership.

Iranisthemajorthreattopeaceintheregion,andCanadashouldbeforthrightincondemningitsmenacingrhetoric,andshouldsupport internationalefforts toprevent Iranfromacquiringnuclearweapons.

Onthesefundamentalquestions,ourpoliticalleadersmustsaythesamethingwhethertheyareinamosqueinCalgaryorasynagogueinMontreal.Politiciansalsohaveadutytodiscouragecom-munitiesfromimportingtensionsandhostilityintoCanada.Instead,weshouldbringtheCanadianvaluesoftolerance,diversityandprincipledcompromisetothesearchforsolutionsoverseas.

The Modern Canadian Military

TheCanadianForcesdoextraordinaryworkaroundtheworld,aswellasdefendingoursecurityandsovereigntyathome,undertakingsearchandrescueoperations,andrespondingtocivilianemergencies.TheForcesablyserveCanadainourmajoralliances,NATOandNORAD,safeguard-ingpeaceandsecurityandfightingterrorism.AfteryearsservingbravelyandeffectivelyinAf-ghanistan,Canada smilitaryisanexperienced,battle-hardenedforce,respectedinternationally.ThatforcewillbeindispensibletoarenewedconceptofCanada’sroleintheworld.

A Return to Peace Operations

In 2009, the United Nations deployed more peacekeepers than ever before – five times thenumberoftenyearsago–withalmost100,000militaryandpolicepersonnelin15UNmissionsaroundtheglobe.Yet,whilethenumberandtheneedforUNpeacekeepershasneverbeengreater,Canada’scontributionhasneverbeensmaller.Whilewewereoncetheworld’ssinglegreatestcontributorofUNpeacekeepers,in2009wewere56th.

TraditionalpeacekeepinghaschangedsignificantlysinceCanadavacatedthefield.Increasingly,de-ploymentsareundertakentomorecomplexandoftendangeroussituations,betterdescribedaspeace-makingmissions.Theseincreasinglyinvolvecombat.Basedonthehard-earnedexperienceinAfghanistan,aLiberalgovernmentwilldevelopanew leadership role for Canada in today’s peace operations.Itwillincludetraining,commandinganddeployingpersonnelwhereit’sclearthatamissionisconsistentwithCanada’sinterests,valuesandcapabilities.Andwhileatpresentonly


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asmallfractionofCanada’sdefencebudgetisdedicatedtotheincrementalcostofUnitedNationsoperations,LiberalswillensurethattheCanadianForceshavetheresourcestheyneedtoengageinadditionalPeaceOperations.

Responsibility to Protect

UndertheumbrellaofPeace,OrderandGoodGovern-ment, the doctrine of Responsibility to Protect (R2P)will provide a rigorous framework for renewed Cana-dian leadership in preventing and addressing conflictand mass-scale human rights abuse. Michael IgnatieffplayedakeyroleindevelopingR2P,aspartoftheCana-dian-initiated,andUN-endorsed,InternationalCommis-siononInterventionandStateSovereignty.

Thedoctrineemphasizesthatsovereignstateshaveanobligationtoprotecttheircitizensfromharm,andwhentheydonot,theinternationalcommunitymustmakeeverypossiblediplomaticefforttopersuadethemtodoso.Whenasovereignstatewillnotorcannotprotectitspeople,R2Prequiresinterventionoftheinternationalcommunity,includingmilitaryinterventionasalastresort,inUN-mandatedoperationstostoplarge-scalelossofinnocentlives,suchasingenocideorethniccleansing.

R2PwasformallyadoptedbytheUnitedNationsGeneralAssemblyin2005,withstrongCana-dianleadership.Sincethen,theHarpergovernmenthashardlymentionedit.CanadacouldhaveadvocatedR2P–fromaseatontheUNSecurityCouncil–tohelpadvanceacoherentinterna-tionalresponsetotheviolenceinLibya,forexample.ALiberalgovernmentwillworkwiththeinternationalcommunity tosolidify thedoctrine’sacceptanceand implementation.ThisdoesnotmeanCanadawillbeobligedtointerveneinconflictswherevertheyoccur. ItmeansthatCanada will renew its leadership in conflict prevention,andthatwhentheworldmustacttostop large-scaleslaughterof innocentpeople,Canadawillbeable tocontributewithmilitarycapacityexperiencedinthecomplexitiesofmodernconflict.

The Future of Our Engagement in Afghanistan

Canada’srolewithNATOinAfghanistansupportssecurityanddevelopmentinatroubledlandpreviouslygovernedbyarepressiveTalibanregime,whichprovidedsafehaventoAl-QaedatoplottheterrorattacksofSeptember11,2001.Morethan150Canadianmenandwomenhavelosttheirlives,andmanymorefacedisabilities.Themissionhasbeenanhonourableoneinournationalinterest.Afghanistanmustnotreverttobeingasafehavenforterrorists.

Thecombatmissionisendingin2011.However,thebasicobjectivewillnotbecompleted.TheAfghanpeoplewillstillnotbefullyabletogovernthemselvesandmaintaintheirownsecurity.

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ThatiswhytheLiberalPartysupportsthe2011-2014trainingmission,andcontinueddevelop-mentwork.ThepurposeistohelptheAfghanpeoplebuildabetterfutureforthemselves.

Thepost-combatpresenceforCanadamustalsoincludeasubstantiveroleinthediplomaticpro-cessandanypoliticaltalksonAfghanistan’sfuture.ALiberalgovernmentwillappointaSpecialEnvoytothepeaceprocessfortheregion.

Respect for Canada’s Veterans

Canadian veterans deserve the best possiblecare and support, and an administrative struc-ture mandated and organized to meet theirneedsinaccordancewiththelifelongsocialcon-tractbetweentheveteranandthenation.TheNewVeteransCharterhasprovidedourveteranswithmanyvaluabletoolstoreintegrateintoci-vilian life, but it’s not perfect. Veterans groups,advisorygroups,SenateandHousecommitteesandindividualinjuredveteransandtheirfamilies,fromtheregularsandthereserves,haveidenti-fiedways to themaketheChartermore fair, responsive, family-focused,andveteran-friendly.ALiberalgovernmentwillworkwiththesegroupstoimplementsignificantimprovements,includingre-visitingwhetherthedisabilityawardshouldcontinuetobealump-sumpayment.

ALiberalgovernmentwillalsoimplementanewVeterans’LearningBenefit,supportingthecostsofhighereducationaftercompletionofservice.

Strengthening Bilingual Learning in the Canadian Forces

BilingualismisamongthemanyattributesthatenabletheCanadianForcestobothserveandreflectourcountrywithprideandprofessionalism.Thesameistrueoftheiremphasisonknowl-edgeandlearning.Arenewedcommitmenttobilinguallearningisnowrequired.College Mili-taire Royal de St-Jean(CMRSJ)hasplayedanimportantrolethroughvariousphasesofitshistory.ALiberalgovernmentwillinvestinCMRSJtorestoreittofulluniversitystatus.

Thiswilladdneededcapacityforeducatingthenextgenerationofofficerswithinthemilitarysystem,complementingRMCKingston,whichisoperatingatfullcapacity.CMRSJwillbuildonitstraditionalstrengthintheliberalarts,whichbecomemoreimportantinmilitaryeducationasmodernconflictgrowsmorecomplex,andmoreentangledwithsocio-politicaldynamicsplay-ingoutbeneaththeleveloftraditionalstate-to-stateclashes.Mostimportantly,thefrancophonemilieuofCMRSJwillhelpattractmotivatedyoungfrancophonestotheCanadianForces,andofferAnglophoneofficer-studentsenhancedopportunitiestomastertheirsecondofficial lan-guagewhileadvancingtheirstudiesintheRMCsystem.


85www.liberal.ca

Military Procurement

ALiberalgovernmentwillhaveaverydifferentvisionofCanada’sroleintheworld.Naturally,theentireprocurementprogrammeintheDepartmentofNationalDefencewillhavetobereviewedinthecontextofthatchangingrole.Awell-resourcedmilitarywillbeessentialunderaLiberalgovernment.Procurementdecisionswillflowfrommissionneedsinastraightforwardandtrans-parentmanner.Theyalsoneedtosecurethebestvalueformoneyandindustrialbenefits.

ALiberalgovernmentwillimmediately cancel the mismanaged $30 billion sole-source deal for F-35 stealth fighter jets,andsavebillionsofdollars.InthelargestprocurementinCanadianhistory,theHarpergovernmentneverexplainedwhythatplaneisessentialatthistime.Itstillcannotsaywhattheactualpricewillbe,andsecurednoguarantee for industrialbenefits.Othercountries,includingtheUnitedStates,arescalingbackordersforanaircraftstillunderdevelopment,buttheConservativeschargedahead,despitethefacts.Thereisamoreresponsiblewaytoproceed.

Aftercancelling theHarperdeal,aLiberalgovernmentwillput further stepsonholdduringareviewofallmilitaryprocurementinlightofthenewinternationalpolicydescribedinthisGlobalNetworksStrategy.ThisreviewwillincludeCanada’ssearchandrescuerequirementsaswellastheneedsofourair,navalandlandforces.WhenCanadapurchasesnewfighterplanes,wewillhaveatransparent,competitiveprocesstoprocureequipmentthatbestmeetsourneeds,achievesbestvalueformoney,securesmaximumindustrialbenefits,andfitsarealisticbudget.

A New Approach in a Networked WorldRenewing Canadian Multilateralism

CanadaisafoundingmemberoftheUnitedNationsandNATO,aleaderinlaFrancophonie,theCommonwealth,theOrganizationofAmericanStates,NAFTAandAPEC,andafounderoftheG20.MultilateralismhasbeenfundamentaltothepursuitofCanadianinterestsandourcontribu-tioninthepast.Innewways,itmustalsobekeytoourfuture.ThatmeansdedicatingsufficientresourcestoCanadianengagementintheseinstitutions,aswellasmanyspecialized,multilateralagenciesdealingwitharangeofissueswhereCanadahasbothaninterestandanopportunity.Canadian leadership can make a difference in multilateral efforts on issues like child soldiers,nuclearproliferation,andbanningclustermunitions.

Renewed multilateralism will require realistic and determined leadership in the reform of es-tablished institutions,especially theUnitedNations. Liberalsare realistic about the limitationsofglobalbodiesliketheUNandwillpursuenewplatformsandpartnershipsalongsidetheoldones.Multilateraldeliberationwillremainindispensibleinworldaffairs.

The G20 in a Changing World

ALiberalgovernmentwillbeactiveinfurthersolidifyingtheG20.It isreplacingtheG8astheworld’spre-eminentbodyforglobalcooperation.ThemembersoftheG20represent90percentoftheworld’sgrossnationalproduct.Noleaderseriousaboutthefuturecanbelieveanymorethatglobalchallengesrangingfromeconomicstabilitytoclimatechange,foodinsecuritytopov-ertycanbeadequatelyaddressedwithoutcountrieslikeBrazil,Mexico,SouthAfrica,Indonesia,SouthKorea,ChinaandIndiaatthetable.

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TheHarpergovernmentmissedauniqueopportunityin2010withitsincompetentorganizationoftheG20andG8summits.Insteadofcarefulplanning,consultationandstatesmanship,theirapproachwasdrivenbypartisancalculationandself-promotion.Theunfortu-nateresultfortaxpayerswasembarrassmentandanastronomicalcost–roughly$1billion,anexpenseunheardofatprevious–andsubsequent – summits around the world. It was dubbed by The Economist,Canada’s“loonieboondoggle.”

Collaboration Within Canada

ThePrimeMinisterofCanadamustleadbysupportingtheeffortsoffellowleaders,andmanyotherplayersintheprivatesectorandcivilsociety,toadvanceCanada’sinterestsintheworld.ALiberalgovernmentwillrecognizetheinterestsandexpertiseofprovincesinmanysubjectsofmultilateraldiscussion,andput inplace thestructuresandprocessesnecessary toengagetheminpreparingforrelevantmultilateralevents.Wewillalsoensurepersonnelareinplaceinkeypostsabroad,mandatedtoliaisewithprovincesonissuesofsubstantiveinteresttothem.NoneofthiswillcompromisetheresponsibilityofthefederalgovernmenttospeakforCanadainternationally.Onthecontrary,itwillallowCanadatospeakmoreeffectivelytotheworld,withthecoherenceofaneffectively-ledteam.

Branding Canada for Success in a Networked World

ALiberalgovernmentwilllaunchanewBranding Canada initiativeinkeymarketsaroundtheworld,workingincollaborationwiththeprivatesector,leadingartistsandacademia.BymakingCanadianstrengthsmorewidelyunderstoodabroad,wewillbolstertheGlobalNetworksStrat-egy,andalleffortstoadvanceCanadianinterestsandvalues.Thiswillhelpboosttrade,invest-mentandotherstrategicsectorshighlightedundernewGlobalNetworkAgreements.Canada’sembassiesandconsulateswillplayaleadingroleinBrandingCanadaandreachingbroadaudi-encesoverseas.

Knowledgefuelsglobalnetworks,andlearningandhighereducationarebecomingincreasinglyinternationalendeavoursasaresult.Wehavesomeofthebestuniversitiesintheworld,butinrecentyearsCanadahasfallenbehindothernations,suchasAustraliaandtheUnitedKingdom,thatareexpandingtheirpresenceininternationaleducationsignificantly.

A Liberal government will work with provinces, post-secondary institutions and associations,andtheprivatesectortosupporteffortsbymajorCanadianinstitutionstoestablishpresenceinmajoremergingmarkets,andstudentexchangesthatprovideCanadiansgreateraccesstoop-portunitiesforforeignstudy.

Canadian culture will also be a major focus of the new Branding Canada initiative. CanadiancreatorsworkinginFrench,Englishandotherlanguages,contributetoCanadianprosperityandidentity,whiledeepeningourconnectionsinanetworkedworld.

Stephen Harper’s G20 “Fake Lake”


87www.liberal.ca

Corporate Social Responsibility

Canadianbusinessesareactiveplayers intheglobaleconomy.They investeverywhere intheworld,across the full rangeofeconomicactivity.Canada ishome, forexample, to75percentoftheworld’sexplorationandminingcompanies.Thevastmajorityofthesecompaniesenjoystrong reputations and operate responsibly in the developing world. But periodically a smallnumber are accused of human rights and environmental abuses. A Liberal government willtakestepstosupportCanadianinternationalinvestmentbypromotingthehigheststandardsofCanadianCorporateSocialResponsibility(“CSR”).

In2007,aCSRAdvisoryGrouprepresentingtheminingindustry,labour,civilsocietyandacademicsreachedaconsensus.Unfortunately,theHarpergovernmenthasdonenothingontheserecom-mendations.

ALiberalgovernmentwillactontheAdvisoryGroup’srecommendations, includingadoptingCanadianCSRstandards,andsettingupanindependentombudsmanofficetoadviseCanadiancompanies,considercomplaintsmadeagainstthem,andinvestigatethosecomplaintswhereitisdeemedwarranted.

Youth Service Abroad

CanadianyouthareapotentforceinshapingCanada’spresenceintheworld.Manyarepassionateaboutmakingadifference,ambitiousaboutwhatcanbeachievedabroad,andcuriousaboutotherculturesandplaces.They’vegrownupwiththepervasivepoweroftheInternetandknowhowtouseittobridgedistance.ExperienceintheworldbenefitsyoungCanadiansbybroadeningtheirhorizons.Theirhumanitarianeffortsbenefitpeopleinlessfortunatecountries,andbenefitCanadawhentheyreturnhomeenrichedwithideas,inspirationandpracticalexperiencewiththeworld’sdiversityanditschallenges.

That’swhyaLiberalgovernmentwill implementaCanada Service Corps. Itwill leveragetheenergy and engagement of Canadian youth by financially supporting their volunteer serviceabroad,bringinginternationalexperiencewithinreachforgreaternumbersofyoungCanadians.

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Renewing Federal Government Capacity

Carryingoutthefederalgovernment’sworkundertheGlobalNetworksStrategywillrequirerevitalizedpublicservicecapacity.FiveyearsofneglectandmismanagementofCanada’sdiplomaticcorps,TradeCommissionerService,embassiesandinternationalcapacityacrossthegovernmentmustbecorrected.

FortheDepartmentofNationalDefence,thestoryhasbeensomewhatdifferent.Since2005-06,asaresultofbothLiberalandConservativebudgetdecisions,Canada’sdefencespendinghasrisennearly50percentandissettocontinuegrowingevenafterthecombatmissioninAfghani-stan has concluded. Liberals support the recent investments in the Canadian Forces, but thetrajectoryforfutureyearsmustbere-evaluated.Aproperly-resourcedmilitaryisessentialtooursovereigntyandourconstructiveroleintheworld,butisnotsufficientonitsown.

ThegovernmentreportsthattheannualincrementalcostofthecombatmissioninAfghanistanisnearly$1.7billion.TheParliamentaryBudgetOfficerhasreportedthattheincrementalcostsareevenhigherthanwhat’sbeendisclosed.Theincrementalcostofthe2011-2014trainingmissionwillreport-edlybe$500millionannually.Thatleavesmorethan$1billiontobereallocatedbyaLiberalgovern-mentinabalancedmanneracrossthefullspectrumofdefence,developmentanddiplomacy.

Thischangewillfreeupresourcestoreinvigorateotherinternationalcapacitiesacrossthefederalsystem,betterreflectingthefullrangeofintegratedfunctionsandforward-lookingengagementthatdefinethisGlobalNetworksStrategy.

What sort of country do we want to be when we turn 150? It’s up to Canadian voters to decide.

Conclusion: Canada at 150

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One hundred and fifty years is a significant milestone in the story of Canada. It’s an opportunity to come together to celebrate our history and prepare for our future.

The lead-up to Canada at 150 must belong to people, not governments. The conversation should come alive, through networks connecting as many Canadians as possible to each other, to our country’s history and to our shared future.

A Liberal government will establish a special Canada at 150 panel, with broad representation heavily emphasizing young leaders. The Prime Minister will task it to work with young Canadians, community organizations, schools, the private sector and other governments to raise awareness and identify the best ideas to commemorate our county’s 150th birthday.

The countdown to 2017 should inspire us. It’s time for a more ambitious Canada. We’ve proven we can compete and win in international sports and global commerce. We excel in science, arts, culture and entertainment. We have built a compassionate society that welcomes the world, and offers everyone an equal opportunity to prosper. But if we don’t keep moving forward, we risk falling behind in an era of rapid change. This is a great country that must seize its future.

What sort of country do we want to be when we turn 150? With the right leadership, Canada can be the best-educated, most environmentally savvy, most open and international country on earth. This platform identifies some major steps that can help us get there. Now it’s up to Cana-dian voters to decide.

In 2017, Canadians will markthe 150th birthday of our country.

91

Sources of Funds ($millions) Page # Year 1 Year 2

Return corporate tax rate to 18% 11 3087 5237

Wireless Spectrum Auction revenue 12 0 500

Cap on stock option deductions 11 300 315

Cancel PPP fund 12 288 263

Immediately end oil sands tax break 46 265 225

Spending review and reallocation 12 250 500

Total funds available 4190 7040

Uses of Funds ($millions) Page # Year 1 Year 2

Affordable Housing Framework 54 275 275

Canada Council for the Arts 60 45 90

Canadian Learning Strategy

Aboriginal and Métis Post Secondary Education 26 115 115

Early Childhood Learning and Care Fund 23 500 700

K-12 Aboriginal Education 27 0 300

Language Training for New Canadians 27 25 50

Learning Passport 24 0 980

Veterans Learning Benefit 27 40 80

Canada Service Corps 58 45 45

Canadian Brain Health Strategy 36 15 65

Canadian Champion Sectors: Innovation & Productivity Tax Credit / Flowthrough Shares

14 0 175

Canadian Freshwater Strategy 16 100 125

Canadian International Arts Funding 60 25 25

Cleaner Oil Sands Development 46 265 225

Collège militaire royal de Saint-Jean 84 25 15

Community Heroes Fund 57 10 10

Court Challenges Program 62 5 5

Eliminate firearms registration fees 56 0 20

Family Care EI Benefit 30 190 250

Family Care Tax Benefit 30 545 610

Green Renovation Tax Credit 44 0 400

Guaranteed Income Supplement 32 0 400

High-speed internet, 100% coverage 64 100 200

National Food Policy 35/66-67 45 45

Open Government (forgone StatsCan revenue) 71 25 10

Renewable Power Production Incentive 45 140 140

Rural doctors and nurses 64 20 20

Volunteer Firefighters Tax Credit 65 5 5

Youth Hiring Incentive 18 130 160

Total new investment 2690 5540

Prudence Reserve (increase to 3 billion) 1500 1500

Balance 0 0

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92 Note: all figures are incremental to the Government of Canada’s fiscal framework

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APP

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Doc

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Canada in the world: a Global Networks Strategy (June 2010)www.liberal.ca/issues/global-leadership/

rural Canada Matters (april, 2010)www.liberal.ca/issues/ruralcanada

Canada at 150: Summary report (May, 2010)www.can150.ca

the Liberal Family Care plan (october, 2010)www.liberal.ca/files/2010/10/lpc-family-care-en.pdf

opening Government to Canadians (october 2010)www.liberal.ca/open

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P7 MatthewMoulton

P8 AndyClark

P10 GeorgesAlexandar

P12 RichardMcGuire

P14 ChristinaRichards

P16 AmaliaLiogas

P17 GaetanoDeBlasio

P24 J.M.Carisse

P27 DarylMitchell

P29 RichardMcGuire


P33 RichardMcGuire


P39 GregKolz

P40 GinoCaron

P42 B.G.Smith

P43 HowardSandler

P44 RichardGillard

P47 SebastienBurel

P48 J.Helgason

P49 LizLeyden

P49 AlistairScott

P50 UryadnikovSergey

P50 JeffSilvester

P51 MichelAlbert

P52 PaulMcKinnon


P55 PatrickTam

P56 RadeyBarrack

P57 DanielPaquet

P58 AlyssaRempel

P59 RadeyBarrack

P60 SylvainPerron

P63 J.M.Carisse

P65 MatthewShoemaker

P67 ElenaElisseeva

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P72 QueensUniversity AlumniAssociation

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P75 YuriArcurs (Handshake)

P75 JeffreyCharters (St Laurent Icebreaker)

P75 CaroleDevillers (Peacekeeper)

P75 RobYoung (United Nations)

P75 SteveRosset (Cargo ship)

P78 J.M.Carisse

P79 BillBraden

P81 GettyImages

P84 RadeyBarrack

P86 ChristopherDrost

P90 RobertJGalbraith

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