New Nanos National Poll - CP, 32%, LP 30%, NDP 20%, GP 10%, BQ 9%

Well well it appears that Canadians are having second thoughts about Harper and his band of incompetent clowns. The very fact that Liberal supporters sat on their hands in the last election was of some comfort to me because they didn't and couldn't vote for Harper or lyin Jack, the greens, etc.

And with the Libs getting a NEW LEADER they should get lots or press while the economy goes down the tubes from Tory mismanagement.

I believe the Libs will try and topple the cons b/f the end of this year.

[updated Wed Nov 19 16:46:50 EST 2008]

Honestly - i think conservative supporters just don't answer telephone polls as much between elections. This is about what we saw from nic's numbers just before the election - where suddenly they jumped up and stayed fairly high thru the election, and now nosedive back to where they've been for a while.

It is interesting to note that almost every pollster missed calling this election badly.

I think that there's going to have to be a serious rethink about how we conduct polls to gain better accuracy. I have seen absolutely zero increase in liberal support around here, nor have i heard of any anywhere else, nor is there really an event that would tend to suggest there should be (other than dion quitting, which admittedly might bump them up a bit. The guy was an albatross around their neck).

Something's changed, and we're just not seeing the kind of accuracy we used to. Perhaps voters are just more volitile, or perhaps more people refuse to take polls.

[updated Wed Nov 19 16:51:07 EST 2008]

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20081118.weconomy19/BNStory/politics/home

"OTTAWA — Jim Flaherty may be set to become the first federal finance minister in nearly 40 years to oversee a return to budget deficits,"

IHS Global Insight Canada managing director Dale Orr said Mr. Flaherty and the Conservatives should have taken better precautions against a deficit, noting they cut some rainy-day cushions and drove program spending up 13.8 per cent in their first two years.

It's also hard to find an economist who supports the Conservatives' decision to forgo $11-billion of annual revenue and cut the goods and services tax by two points, instead of using that fiscal room for productivity-enhancing, broad-based income-tax cuts.

That notwithstanding, Mr. Orr said, he believes Mr. Flaherty “is certainly the best person in the Conservative cabinet to be the finance minister.”

"If Ottawa runs a deficit in the 2009-2010 fiscal year, as bank economists have predicted, it will be the first in 13 years. It will also be the first time Ottawa has slid into the red from a surplus since 1970-1971.

That's despite the fact that Mr. Flaherty – a soldier in Mike Harris's Common Sense Revolution – declared several times this year that he wouldn't be the finance minister who oversees the return of deficits."

[updated Wed Nov 19 17:26:02 EST 2008]

It is far too early to determine what the trend will be in the coming days/weeks.

However, there is one thing I have noted. The government is being much more proactive about promoting and explaining their agenda. That is a good thing, The Libs, NDP and Bloc will have a hard time getting away with their sometimes outrageous comments about what the government is doing when government ministers are front and centre.

It is also clear we as a country are in for a tough ride and the government is signalling that everyday. They are making the right noises and that is good. Keep Canadians in the loop.

Canadians will decide whether they are doing the right things over time and not the opposition parties.

[updated Wed Nov 19 17:58:24 EST 2008]

It all goes to show that elections are related to the stock market whose prime motivating force is emotion rather than common sense. The volatity of the voter at large is surprising but looking back at recent previous elections it is easy to see those surprising swings when something negative pops up or is deliberately introduced into the election process.

The fact a new Liberal leader is in the offing has to be positive for the Grits. The deficit word is a negative and, seemingly, the electorate expects the Government to have some foolproof crystal ball in these economic times to predict the future begs common sense. One usually has difficulty predicting the future in their own family with stable economic times but governments are supposed to have Extra Sensory Perception ? ? ?Governments are made up of people like you and me with all our flaws but Governments employ a trained Civil Service to give them the best advice possible but even that is not flawless assuming Ministers listen.

Yes, job losses in the manufacturing belt understandably will be a big negative when Government, at this moment, appears to have no plan to implement. This is where the "huge" Unemployment Insurance surplus should be readily available to give some relief. The melt down of the Alberta Heritage Fund must be a real shocker to the core area of Conservative support and a further discussion of a cutback in Alberta's per capita spending must be another shocker for Conservativeland. It would seem to me common sense to cut back provincial spending when the bottom has been knocked out of your revenues.

I believe another consideration has to have come out of the Winnipeg Policy Convention where the far right of the party---the Reform element--- indicated they were alive and well and they "would have their way" if at all possible-----if not now, then in the future. They got the press and, in my opinion, they have somewhat devalued the Conservative persona in the eyes of the electorate at large. I referred to this particular aspect as Harper's threat from within.

One positive is that time heals all and the electorate has a short term memory and usually no long term memory.

[updated Wed Nov 19 18:26:04 EST 2008]

The next election is a long way off. What was the purpose of this poll? Seems rather useless except for a few political junkies to argue over.

[updated Wed Nov 19 18:41:12 EST 2008]

Warning Warning do not listen to any Liberals or the EDC about exporting to China, Civil unrest is happening and Canadian (BC) companies are not getting paid by Chinese Banks, Do not let a Chinese in Canada scam you about investing or visiting China!!!!!
Stay Away For Your Own Good!!!!!!!

[updated Wed Nov 19 22:24:57 EST 2008]

I was a little surprised with this poll and the direction it's going in. It's immaterial . It has no significance now that the election is over , other than to satisfy the curiosity of some of us (me included). It has no intrinsic value.

Nik's comments on the Mike Duffy show were spot on. So I won't rehash them here.
I cannot help but think that Harper's response to the economy crisis and reaction to the convention in Winnipeg will be eroding his popularity over time.

As Tom so often reminds us governments engineer their own demise.

[updated Thu Nov 20 08:28:01 EST 2008]

Rubbish ! The "Greens" at 10% more like .01%.This poll is worthy of the trash bin.

[updated Thu Nov 20 08:35:01 EST 2008]

Certainly some of the Liberal rebound will be as a result of the Dion resignation, although I think voters may well find Rae and Ignatieff equally unpalatable. I think the drop in Conservative support is largely Harper's pre-election comments about recession, deficits and the market (bargain hunting anyone? the markets off another 3000 points since then!) coming back on him.

We are pretty much back to where we were a month before the election. A lot will depend, going forward, on how Harper conducts himself and his Party in Parliament over the next few months, and on his first budget.

[updated Thu Nov 20 12:01:20 EST 2008]

Martha Hall Findley is acting like a bit of an ass in Parliament right now at 11:41 am pacific do you not think, Habs was this your choice for Leader of the Liberal Party, I think so!

[updated Thu Nov 20 14:42:09 EST 2008]

Deflation now tops policy-makers' hit list

Cars are piling up in storage because dealers don't want bloated inventories. Chinese factories are running out of room for all the appliances they're turning out but can't ship. The prices of flat-screen TVs are plummeting; and Americans are so sure housing prices will continue falling that they would rather wait than take the plunge back into real estate.

These are some of the disquieting signs that the once-distant spectre of deflation is looming larger on the horizon, now that economies around the world have fallen into the iron grip of a deep recession.

The latest news has only added to growing fears that the existing global credit mess and feeble economies could be the springboard for a crippling bout of deflation of the sort that derailed the once-thriving Japanese economy for about a decade.

http://www.reportonbusiness.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20081119.wdeflation20/BNStory/Business/?cid=al_gam_nletter_newsUp

[updated Thu Nov 20 18:04:47 EST 2008]

I’m a westerner that voted Con last election and I will not be happy with a deficit. However the odds of the Liberals ever getting my vote is about as likely as them trying to get my vote. I will be watch the Liberal leadership race and listening intently. I’m cynical and I highly highly doubt they’ll even try to resonate out here is Saskatchewan. The Liberal party here is a joke they were under 10% of the vote for the last provincial election they’d be under 10% federally too if it wasn’t for Goodale. Most of the candidates they ran were Green party quality in their knowledge and experience. This would be all fine and great if you’re a hard core Con however some of us would like a realistic choice (no the NDP isn’t one). Here’s to hoping the Liberals try to resonate out here otherwise I’ll just keep stumbling into the voting booth to mark my X by the Con again next time.
Cheers Chris

[updated Fri Nov 21 00:18:53 EST 2008]

Here's a report by the Commons guy who was appointed by Harper and has given /flaherty failing grades.
http://www.thestar.com/business/article/540348

" The report by Kevin Page, the new Parliamentary Budget Officer, concludes that the federal Conservatives are likely to run budget deficits "in the near term," possibly beginning this year, and that the fault lies as much with Flaherty as it does with the weak economy."

Further.........

"Page says the deterioration of the federal government's financial picture in the first nine months of 2008 is not so much the result of the weakened economy as Flaherty's policies, particularly the latest reduction in the GST tax and reduced corporate income taxes. This has caused federal revenues to decline by $353 million in the first nine months of this year.
Assuming no changes in Flaherty's policies, "the downgraded economic outlook suggests the government would record modest and temporary deficits in the near term," Page says."

[updated Fri Nov 21 01:06:05 EST 2008]

Budget chief's deficit forecast forces Ottawa to face reality
$3.9-billion shortfall estimate leaves Flaherty weighing amount of spending necessary to stave off recession

Why the economic outlook appears gloomy

1. Plunging commodity prices will reduce the government's revenue

by shrinking corporate profits and personal incomes.

2. Exports will slump because of weaker demand from the United States

and other countries, making layoffs at factories likely.

3. The government's decision to cut the Goods

and Services Tax and boost spending has

shrunk the surplus to its smallest in years.

4. Canada's economy is on track to grow at a fraction

of the 1.7-per-cent pace the government expected

in February, and even risks contracting.

5. Consumer and business confidence has deteriorated
=============================================

This article is typical of biased idealogy or fuzzy math.

A solution agreed to by the G20 is a financial stimulus to increase or spur spending by all groups.

Consumer and business confidence has MELTED: orders inventory are not moving. Trust in our financial industry has evaporated as massive bailouts and halving of pensions are being reported daily.

Until the Banks lend: Business and consumers spend again we are heading towards the "recession/depression" model.

The suggestion lowering the GST by 2% is responsible for NOT stimulating consumer spending and only emptying the federal coffers is INACCURATE. We have had modest growth in the last 2 years. 2009 will see much bigger Revenue shortfalls as EXPORTS vanish.

It's not about our national domestic economy, we are dependent on EXPORTING our good and services for our economic health.

I agree with non-essential spending needs to be FROZEN and CUT but the CPC wants to get re-elected and cutting the programs regardless of necessity will be played by the media, premiers, opposition as attacks and "idealogical mean spirited" based decisions.

I don't think spending between $10-26 Billion on "projects" will fix the "problem" in Canada. It is beyond our borders.

Having the CPC/Liberal Party agree on budget cuts in a cooperative fashion would be nice optics but I don't live in Disneyland.

Expect a return to a bitter HOC with Liberal leaders blaming the CPC for not waving the magic wand and not hoarding billions for rainy day. The aggressive Martin downloading to the provinces won't be adopted by the CPC, so look for modest across the board freezes and cuts in spending.

Proof is the opposition platforms to increase ARTS funding of the Federal Government by $100+ million in the election campaign. They have no genuine interest in supporting the tough measures.

Anyone believe anyother "reality" in the HOC going forward?

Harper will try to keep his party from appearing "mean-spirited" but will push his agenda through when the other parties continue to attack and blame idealogy for the global economy and refuse to cooperate.

Increasing taxes is the NDP, Bloc, Liberal idea to pay for their "needed" social programs.

[updated Fri Nov 21 09:00:47 EST 2008]

Bank meltdown a matter of trust
Andrew Willis, today at 7:52 AM EST

Here's a simple explanation for what's ailing banks in general and Citigroup in particular: There's a lack of trust.

Citi can drop 20-something per cent for two straight days because investors who aren't Saudi billionaires have lost confidence in its management. They don't have faith in executives who blame others for what are clearly self-inflicted problems. As TD Waterhouse pointing out Friday, “ Management is blaming short-sellers, but they also appear to be at fault with some questionable balance-sheet maneuvers that included the unwinding of its SIVs and the reclassification of about $80-billion in assets so that they would not have to be marked to market prices.”

As we saw with Lehman Brothers, this can end badly, and quickly. The Wall Street Journal is reporting Friday that Citi's board of directors is beginning to consider radical strategic moves – a bust up or sale of the bank.

Citi's market capitalization is now much smaller than that Royal Bank of Canada's, and on par with the mid-tier Canadian players. And Cit, remember, is expected to write a $13-billion cheque for its share of the BCE buyout loans by Dec. 11.

The credibility issue looms large at Citi, but hangs over other banks too. When Toronto-Dominion Bank highlights its ability to avoid the credit mess, then takes a $350-million writedown on its $10-billion proprietary credit portfolio, the stage is set for Thursday's one-day, 13-per-cent drop in the stock.

Once lost, trust is devilishly difficult to rebuild. It will be some time before the banks enjoy premium valuations.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/blogs/streetwise?cid=al_gam_nletter_maropen

[updated Fri Nov 21 10:33:02 EST 2008]

How many of you out there are as amazed as I am that a month ago Harper was saying how sound and safe our economy was? Now he thinks deficits are essential. Bob Rae did exactly what Harper is about to do . Rae tried to spend his way out of a recession and still gets blamed for the mess Ontario got into. When the economy turns around in 5 or 6 years we will just go back to the same policy that got the world into this fiasco. I am a retired electrician but could see this coming months ago and said so on this site in May. I could have told you sooner but only joined this illustrious group of experts during that month. I have been told by the real experts here that I am ignorant ,ill informed and don't have a clue about anything . Sure am glad I'm not as knowledgeable as some of you think you are. How long before WW3 starts to stimulate the world out of this economic mess? Maybe if we got out of phoney wars we could spend those billions rebuilding our country instead of blowing one up to rebuild it. We would at least create a few jobs at Timmy's for all those soldiers coming home. Can you imagine a franchise on every military base?

[updated Sun Nov 23 10:00:13 EST 2008]

Should taxpayers funds be used to keep the Detroit 3 plants open in Canada? If yes what conditions are acceptable?

Should Canada act before OBAMA is in office January 20, 2009?

If yes, what other industries should be allowed to apply for taxpayers funds?

If no, will the current government bear the brunt in the next election, or will the Canadians against any bailout with taxpayers shift support as a result. Opinions?

[updated Sun Nov 23 20:03:08 EST 2008]

Here's a few novel idea from a left wing govt of a EU country. Wonder where they got it from?

ERIC REGULY

From Monday's Globe and Mail

E-mail Eric Reguly | Read Bio | Latest Columns
November 23, 2008 at 10:40 PM EST

ROME — Britain's Labour government will shift its attention from fixing the banks to propping up consumers Monday with the expected announcement of a massive economic stimulus package dominated by a cut in the value-added tax.

In the so-called pre-budget report, Alistair Darling, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, is expected to reduce the VAT, the equivalent of Canada's GST, to 15 per cent from 17.5 per cent.

Mr. Darling is expected to scrap plans to increase the corporation tax on small companies, postpone rises in vehicle excise duties and extend a £120-a-year rebate to basic-rate taxpayers. He might also announce infrastructure projects and plans to encourage the banks, which were offered a £50-billion rescue package, to resume lending.

[updated Sun Nov 23 23:23:23 EST 2008]

Flaherty and Harper being called out on Deficit lies:

http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/news/story.html?id=c26755ed-9e2a-477b-a9f8-88f4da3c99ce

"Ottawa underestimating potential deficit: think tank
ERIC BEAUCHESNE, Canwest News Service
Published: 2 hours ago
Even a mild recession would leave the federal government with a deficit of more than $12 billion next year and in excess of $20 billion the year after, while a major recession would put Canada nearly $28 billion in the red next year and almost $50 billion a year later, according to a think tank that has a better budget-forecasting track record than the government itself.

And those figures don't take into account the costs of any economic stimulus package, the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, which advocates such government action, said in a report being released today."

[updated Tue Nov 25 07:06:29 EST 2008]

More Tory hypocrisy and lies:

Kevin Donovan
Staff Reporter

Federal politicians and public servants are blowing the bank on travel – taking a multitude of trips at high-class prices to London, Paris, Geneva, Sydney and various North American destinations.

A Star investigation found spending by ministers, political staff and bureaucrats that is far from the frugal image of the Stephen Harper government.

Some federal travellers can't seem to get to London, England, for less than $6,000, even though economy seats were available for $1,000 to $2,000. In our analysis of 60,000 travel records over four years, we found $18,000 flights to Australia, $7,000 flights to Paris, $11,000 flights to Indonesia and $8,000 flights to Switzerland.

By contrast, travel surveys show businesses are reducing costs by choosing more economical flights. At least one other government, Alberta, has shown more care with taxpayer dollars. For example, the Alberta environment minister and an aide spent $3,200 each to fly to Bali for a United Nations conference on climate change last year. The former federal environment minister, John Baird, took a $10,920 flight to the same conference. Three political aides and two bureaucrats joined him at similar rates. Total airfare was $61,000.

In the Star's investigation, we found that Harper's ministers often travel with a large entourage, at a high cost.

[updated Tue Nov 25 07:11:15 EST 2008]

B.C. Premier calls 'timber!' on auto aid
Campbell says any rescue plan should help workers in all struggling industries, including forestry; Ontario Premier downplays tensions

“They [auto makers] have a cost structure that is not sustainable. I don't like talking about that. I'm not saying that an automobile worker doesn't deserve the money they get, but that's part of the system,” Mr. Campbell said.

“It's pretty hard for someone who's getting paid in the $20-an-hour range to say that they should be doing something for someone that's getting paid in the $60-an-hour range.”

The three auto companies are seeking loans, loan guarantees or backing for short-term borrowings as their cash-strapped U.S. parents plead for at least $25-billion (U.S.) in financial aid from the U.S. government. Chrysler last week asked Ottawa and Ontario for $1-billion in aid, while officials with GM Canada have suggested that Canadian governments would need to spend $3.5-billion to match possible assistance from the U.S. government.

Mr. Campbell said Ottawa should consider an aid package that targets workers through measures such as skills development and training, transition programs for older workers to help them ease into retirement, and short-term funding to help one-industry towns survive.

Avrim Lazar, president and CEO of the Forest Products Association, said governments need to focus on the long-term viability of his industry. He said he doesn't want a bailout for individual mills, but rather a comprehensive strategy to get credit markets working again, competitive taxes, infrastructure and rail that work for resource industries, and investment in research and technology.

“It's not enough to just provide assistance to people losing their jobs. The government has to invest so that people can keep their jobs,” he said.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20081124.wforestry25/BNStory/Front/home

[updated Tue Nov 25 17:59:42 EST 2008]

In his official reply, the Prime Minister provided additional details about the priorities outlined by the Governor General in yesterday’s Speech from the Throne including:

http://www.conservative.ca/EN/1091/107628

1)The Harper Government will conduct a thorough strategic review of all program spending to streamline operations and save taxpayers money and this review will also include all Crown corporations and assets. As part of this review, all Departments and agencies will be required to produce detailed quarterly financial statements accessible to the public.
2)The Harper Government will encourage investment in the uranium mining and airline sectors by raising the threshold for foreign investment while retaining the right to block foreign investment if it jeopardizes national security.
T3)The Harper Government will provided targeted supports to industries by reducing tariffs on imported machinery and equipment, extending the mineral exploration tax credit, extending support for international marketing of forestry products and providing incentives for energy-from-biomass.
4)The Harper Government will restore funding to Canada’s regional economic development agencies, make regional economic development funding available in high-unemployment Southern Ontario for the first time ever and create a new agency dedicated to the economic development in Canada’s North.
5)The Harper Government will support small businesses by further raising the small business tax threshold, indexing the Lifetime Capital Gains Exemption to Inflation and establishing a new venture capital fund for entrepreneurs.
6)The Harper Government push for an agreement on a Canadian internal economic union that would reduce interprovincial trade barriers, improve labour mobility and increase investment.

===============================================

Which priority will the LIBERALS not support?

Will they stand up in the HOC and decry when the CBC budget is cut?
Will they stand up in the HOC and decry more CORP tax cuts for small business?

[updated Tue Nov 25 18:23:47 EST 2008]

Larryl ask yourself which policy did the Liberal Party of Canada DID NOT support? Which policy did they stand up and vote against in 2007 and which Bill will they defeat in 2008?

ROFL

Budget 2007

$510 million to the Canada Foundation for Innovation to support the modernization of research infrastructure.
$120 million to CANARIE Inc. to maintain the CA*net network for the next five years and to develop the next generation CA*net5.
$10 million over two years to the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research to help Canadian students and researchers participate in and lead groundbreaking research on the international stage.
$6 million towards the relocation of Natural Resources Canada’s CANMET Materials Technology Laboratory to the McMaster Innovation Park in Hamilton, Ontario.
An additional $85 million per year through the federal granting councils for research targeted on key priorities: health sciences, energy, the environment, information and communications technologies, management, business and finance.
An additional $15 million per year to cover the indirect costs of research, including the operation and maintenance of research facilities.
An investment of $350 million to support leading Centres of Excellence in Commercialization and Research.
An additional $100 million to Genome Canada to extend promising research projects and sustain funding for regional genome centres and related technology platforms.
$30 million to The Rick Hansen Man in Motion Foundation to translate research into practical benefits for Canadians living with spinal cord injuries.

Budget 2008

Investing in knowledge by providing an additional $80 million per year to Canada’s three university granting councils for research in support of industrial innovation, health priorities and social and economic development in the North.
Providing an additional $15 million per year to the Indirect Costs of Research program.
Building on Canada’s knowledge and people advantage in genomics with an additional $140 million for Genome Canada.
Providing an additional $10 million over two years to strengthen the operations of the Canadian Light Source research synchrotron in Saskatoon.
Providing $250 million over five years to support strategic, large-scale research and development projects in the automotive sector in developing innovative, greener and more fuel-efficient vehicles.
Enhancing Export Development Canada’s guarantee programs to support the automotive and manufacturing sectors.
http://www.conservative.ca/EN/1091/107105

[updated Tue Nov 25 19:52:12 EST 2008]

October 08, 2008

Conservative Government acted to reduce inappropriate risks

Prime Minister Stephen Harper today said that the Conservative Government’s early actions helped put Canada’s banks in a better position to deal with the ongoing global financial problems.

“Our Government saw the U.S. problems coming more than a year ago, so we weatherproofed Canada’s banks before the storm hit,” the Prime Minister said.

“We ended risky practices like zero-down payment mortgages,” he said. “We brought in new rules for banks to disclose and discourage inappropriate risks. And since earlier this year, we have been working at home and with our international partners, to implement more than 60 measures and initiatives to strengthen and reform both the Canadian and global banking and financial sectors.”

Prime Minister Harper said that Finance Minister Jim Flaherty will be meeting this weekend with other G7 Finance Ministers and the International Monetary Fund. At the meetings, Minister of Finance Jim Flaherty will indicate:

Canada supports the proposal for a summit of G7 heads of government to further develop a co-ordinated international response to the current banking crisis.
The actions of the Bank of Canada have already been increasing liquidity in the Canadian financial system – including an increase of $20 billion available to our banks.
We believe other nations should adopt Canada’s mortgage rules, which effectively do not allow people to purchase houses that they simply cannot afford.
“We’ve had a plan for the past year to deal with the banking crisis,” the Prime Minister said. “And it’s why our banks are safe and other countries’ banks are not.”
http://www.conservative.ca/EN/1091/107027

[updated Tue Nov 25 19:55:31 EST 2008]

Larryl ask about Seniors? http://www.conservative.ca/EN/1091/106655

Stéphane Dion threatens to raise seniors' taxes by cancelling pension income splitting
October 01, 2008
Today, on International Day of Older Persons, Stéphane Dion must come clean on his comments that he would cancel income splitting for pensioners.

Appearing on CTV’s Canada AM, Dion was asked: “[W]hat is your position on income splitting of pension income?” He responded, “Well, we, it is not our priority. It would be very, very costly.” The Liberals also voted against pension income splitting when the Conservatives introduced it in 2006 (Division No. 57, November 7, 2006).

“It is shocking that Stéphane Dion would cut programs and raise taxes for some of our most vulnerable Canadians – our seniors. In a time of rising prices and global economic uncertainty, seniors deserve stable, certain leadership from government. We must do more to let seniors keep more of their hard-earned dollars, not eliminate every positive tax measure our Conservative Government has delivered to them,” said Senator LeBreton.

LeBreton added: “Income splitting for pensioners has delivered real tax relief to senior couples. It has support from thousands of seniors across this country. Stéphane Dion is clearly out of touch if he thinks that seniors won’t notice when he cancels this program.”

In addition to income splitting, the Harper Conservatives have brought in other highly popular measures aimed specifically at easing the financial burden on our seniors, including:

Increasing the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) to benefit more than 1.6 million seniors.

Passing legislation so seniors don’t have to reapply year after year to receive the GIS.

Increasing the age credit by $1000 to $5,066, and pledging to increase the credit by an additional $1000, if re-elected.
Stéphane Dion’s comments demonstrate a history of ignoring the needs of older Canadians. In a meeting with seniors in 2006, Dion wasted little time before rejecting their suggestion to have a cabinet minister for the elderly. "Please, do we have a better topic?" he asked impatiently. (Globe and Mail, September 6, 2006).

LeBreton concluded: “In total, our Conservative Government’s Tax Fairness Plan has put $1 billion into the pockets of Canadians, with a large portion going to seniors – and seniors deserve every penny. Dion would cancel income splitting for pensioners and pile on a risky carbon tax that would increase the cost of just about everything. That’s a risk our seniors can’t afford to take.

[updated Tue Nov 25 19:57:55 EST 2008]

Risky Policies Would Take Gains Away

Prime Minister Stephen Harper today said that the Conservative Government’s tax relief and benefits have improved the lives of Canadian families and increased Canada’s standard of living.

“We have worked hard to put thousands of dollars back into the hands of the average Canadian family, because that’s the right direction for our standard of living and for our country,” Harper said.

Since 2006, the Harper Government has taken a number of steps to provide relief to Canadians families including:

Reducing the GST from 7 to 5 per cent.
Introducing a $100-a-month child benefit.
Providing targeted tax cuts for apprentice tools, transit passes and children’s fitness.
Establishing the Tax Free Savings Account.
The Prime Minister said that a typical family is saving more than $3,000 each year as a result of the Harper Government’s policies. Today, Harper met with Edwin and Fei Huang in the kitchen of their home to discuss how the Conservative Government’s tax relief and benefits have made a positive difference in their lives.

Prime Minister Harper said that voters face a clear choice in the coming election – to maintain the gains Canadian families have made since 2006 or to go backwards and jeopardize these accomplishments.

BACKGROUNDER

Since 2006, the Harper Conservatives have introduced tax relief and benefits that have improved the lives of average Canadian families across the country.

Typical Savings

A typical Canadian family earning $87,000 is saving $3,894 each year as a result of the Harper Government’s tax relief and benefits.

In this example, assume that one parent earns $52,000 and the second parent earns $35,000. They have two children – a seven-year-old son and a three-year-old daughter. One of the parents takes public transit to work. Thanks to the Harper Conservatives, the family would save:

GST Cut $800

Universal Child Care Benefit
$1,020

Canada Employment Credit
$306

Child Credit
$611

Transit Credit
$416

Child Fitness Credit
$150

Basic Personal Amount Increase
$96

Total Savings
$3,894

Cutting the GST

The Harper Conservatives have kept their promise to reduce the GST from 7 to 5 per cent.

The two-point reduction saves the average working family hundreds of dollars per year on day-to-day purchases, not to mention hundreds more on a new car or thousands on a new home. This tax cut benefits all Canadians regardless of age or income – including those whose incomes are too low to pay income tax. The total savings from the two per cent reduction are almost $12 billion a year.

Reducing the GST is part of the Conservative Government’s broader plan to ensure Canada’s long-term economic growth and prosperity. Since coming to office, the Conservative Government has taken action to cut sales, income and business taxes, reducing the overall tax burden for Canadians and businesses by close to $200 billion and bringing taxes to their lowest level in nearly 50 years.

$100 per month Child Care Bene