The Federal Election
The Conservative Party
Federal Leader: Stephen Harper
Local Candidates Mary Lou Ambrogio - London Fanshawe
Paul Van Meerbergen - London North Centre
Ed Holder - London West
Economy:
Because they have yet to release their official platform, the Conservatives are running on their record over the past 32 months. After already lowering the GST two percentage points, Harper still believes Canadians are paying too much tax. They are stressing under any other government, but their own, Canadians will be taxed more. A Harper Government will also continue to up the amount Canadians can earn without paying Federal Income Tax to $10,100 in 2009.
Environment:
Although Kyoto is a thing of the past, the Harper Government will cut greenhouse gas emissions 20 per cent by 2020 and cut air pollution in half by 2015. They have also committed $2 billion over seven years for the production of renewable fuels, Created $1.5 billion trust for clean air and climate change, as well as created a $2 billion ecoENERGY Initiative, which will promote smart and clean energy use.
Healthcare:
The Conservatives will continue to implement their 10-year $41.3 billion Federal/Provincial Plan to strengthen healthcare. Over their term in Ottawa, they provided $300 million to protect women from cancer of the cervix, increased medical school intakes to solve the doctor shortage problem and established a patient wait time guarantee with all provinces.
Crime:
The Conservatives are self-described “tough on crime” and will continue to be if they are re-elected. They have cracked down on street racing, invested $16.1 million to help ‘at-risk' youth, armed border guards and invested $1.4 billion to strengthen Canada from the threat of terrorism and facilitated the hiring of 1,000 new RCMP personnel, while continuing to work with the provinces and municipalities to hire 2,500 more municipal police.
Arts & Culture:
Coming under recent attack over the past couple of weeks over funding cuts to the Canadian arts, according to supporters Harper has vowed to spend more than $4 billion on cultural programs, including the CBC, the Canada Arts Council, the National Gallery of Canada and the Department of Canadian Heritage.
Afghanistan:
Harper has been quoted as saying, “The mission, as we've known it, we intend to end” by 2011. At that time Afghanistan's security will be put back in the hands of their own people, although the troops would stay “in some technical capacities.” Stayed tuned for Harper's official platform and what plans he has for Afghanistan if he is re-elected.
Green Party
Federal Leader: Elizabeth May
Local Candidates
Daniel O'Neail - London Fanshawe
Mary Ann Hodge - London North Centre
Monica Jarabek - London West
Economy:
The Green Party plans to incorporate a Green Tax Shift, which will tax $50 for every tonne of carbon produced. They estimate that this will raise $40 billion for the federal treasury, three-quarters being paid out by businesses. The Greens plan “shift” the tax burden by cutting income tax, payroll tax and helping with student loans. They also want to ensure that as a country we are “getting the prices right” on non-renewable energy, while investing in green technologies and energy sources. They will also restore the GST to six per cent.
Environment:
The Environment is basically why the Green Party's in this race. From the economy to healthcare, their platforms are all environmentally conscious. They plan to cut greenhouse gas emissions to 30 per cent below 1990 levels by 2020 and 80 per cent by 2050, cap trade for some of the worst polluters in the country. The Greens also plan to support bio-fuel technology and direct funding away from those energies that dip into the food supply, like corn or grain-based ethanol.
Healthcare:
By tackling climate change the Green Party will be proactive in prevention. They will also protect universal health care reduce cigarette smoking, limit the amount of genetically modified foods and rebuild hospital capacity. They also plan to promote a lifestyle of healthy eating and exercise.
Crime:
The Green Party have taken a stand against Harper's Conservative plan against crime. Rather than toughing the laws on marijuana, they would legalize the drug and tax it, which would add, “$2 billion to government coffers and deprive criminals of pots of easy money.” As for guns, the Green Party plans to incorporate a “Total Gun Ban” in areas of high to medium population density, which will be enforced with automatic jail sentences of three and 12 years. While trafficking of assault weapons would be dealt with by the Anti-Terrorism Legislation.
Art & Culture:
Seeing a dire need to increase funding for the arts in Canada, the Green Party has committed to upping the budgets for The Canada Council for the Arts, Telefilm Canada, orchestras, theatres and publishers. They will also ensure the CRTC has the funding to increase bandwidth and will continue to fund the CBC and other independent, non-profit forms of communication, as well as stopping legislation on politically-appointed censors, who would have the right to deprive films of the right to a tax credit if their content is deemed “unfit.”
Afghanistan:
The Green Party is focusing on peace, rather than conflict in Afghanistan, and that believe Canada has a role in rebuilding the war-torn country. Although they do not support the NATO-backed counter-insurgency, the Greens believe our country should not immediately withdraw the troops from Afghanistan. They would like to see a shift from fighting to diplomacy.
Liberal Party
Federal Leader: Stéphane Dion
Local Candidates
Jacquie Gauthier - London Fanshawe
Glen Pearson - London North Centre
Sue Barnes - London West
Economy:
Their primary focus is to build a prosperous Canada. The Liberal Party of Canada will create more jobs, ultimately putting Canada's economy on a solid footing for the future of our children. The Liberals will cut the lowest income tax rate by 10 per cent while cutting middle class citizens taxes by four or five per cent. As a result, the Liberals plan to create a new generation of green-collar jobs in energy, construction and design.
Environment:
According to the Liberals, Canada needs a vision, for a richer, fairer, greener Canada. By implementing their “Green Shift” plan of action, Liberals will stand by their word by reducing our economy's reliance on polluting fossil fuels. Dion's Green Shift will “shift our economy away from fuels that pollute and contribute to the climate change crisis, and toward more efficient and cleaner energy.” They believe we need to find alternate measures to reduce greenhouse gasses and find more efficient ways to use our energy.
Healthcare:
The Liberal Government is determined to create a new plan for catastrophic drug coverage to cover its cost. While they anticipate reaching a goal of having the healthiest possible Canadians, the Liberals need to be able to properly measure health outcomes by monitoring the present as a way of not having poor decisions made in the future.
By doing so, the Liberals plan on establishing a Doctors and Nurses Fund, which will greatly reduce the shortage of Canadian doctors and nurses available for all families.
Crime:
Crime is on people's minds in urban Canada and appropriate measures need to be addressed in order for families to feel safe and at ease in their own homes. The Liberal Government will create a $40-million Gun Violence and Gang Prevention Fund to help aid people most affected by gun crime in Canada. Also, it is our homes, schools and playground we need to feel safe in and to better protect these communities the Liberal Government will create a $75-million Community at Risk program.
Arts & Culture:
The Liberal Government will support cultural industries, while increasing Canada's competitiveness and our quality of life. The primary focus will be by inviting cultural figures to showcase Canada to the world, while celebrating and encouraging the wonderful diversity that is present within our communities.
This support will begin at the institutional level. Over the next four years, the Liberal Government will double funding to the Canada Council for the Arts, bringing its annual budget to over $360-million.
Afghanistan:
Canada and the United States of America are each other's biggest allies and rely on one another at time of need. The Liberal Government is committed to helping people in Afghanistan as they work effortlessly to rebuild a stable, secure democratic country. The Liberals are proud of the Afghanistan people's self-efforts by wanting to make a better future for those affected by the war.
New Democratic Party
Federal Leader: Jack Layton
Local Candidates
Irene Mathyssen - London Fanshawe
Steve Holmes - London North Centre
Peter Ferguson - London West
Economy:
The NDP are putting jobs first. They believe too many jobs are being lost oversees, where labour is cheaper and to combat this they will encourage innovation and create a new energy economy. Instead of corporate tax cuts the NDP plan on making taxes fair by redirecting the $50 billion “tax giveaway” Layton says Harper gave to corporations over the past two years.
Environment:
The NDP will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 25 per cent below 1990 levels by 2020 and 80 per by 2050, while getting back on target with the Kyoto Accord. The NDP will also make big polluters pay with a carbon tax, with profits going to environmental solutions. They will also invest in low-emissions automobiles, as well as investing in a “New Energy Economy Strategy” and a “Clean Water Act.”
Healthcare:
With one in five families in Canada without a doctor, Layton has promised to shorten health care waiting lists by training more doctors and nurses.
They plan on making prescription drug more affordable for all Canadians and provide better homecare for seniors and those with disabilities. The party also plans on promoting healthy lifestyles so some diseases and health issues can be prevented.
Crime:
The NDP five-point plan on violent crime includes supporting police officers by adding 2,500 new positions across the country. Under Jack Layton the NDP will also deal with gang crime by adding community programs, banning handguns and halt importation of illegal weapons, initiate crime prevention programs and administer fair prosecution.
Arts & Culture:
By reversing the legislative efforts of Bill C-10, the NDP will not censor the arts in Canada. Their arts plan includes increasing public funding in the arts, while bringing high-speed Internet access to rural parts of the country and strengthening the independence of the CRTC and public broadcasters.
Afghanistan:
The NDP plan on withdrawing the troops from Afghanistan, as soon as reasonably possible, although they will continue to support the country with foreign aid efforts, such as human rights and women's issues. They will also ensure that the United Nations, not NATO or US, will take over security and development in Afghanistan.
Federal Leader: Stephen Harper
Local Candidates Mary Lou Ambrogio - London Fanshawe
Paul Van Meerbergen - London North Centre
Ed Holder - London West
Economy:
Because they have yet to release their official platform, the Conservatives are running on their record over the past 32 months. After already lowering the GST two percentage points, Harper still believes Canadians are paying too much tax. They are stressing under any other government, but their own, Canadians will be taxed more. A Harper Government will also continue to up the amount Canadians can earn without paying Federal Income Tax to $10,100 in 2009.
Environment:
Although Kyoto is a thing of the past, the Harper Government will cut greenhouse gas emissions 20 per cent by 2020 and cut air pollution in half by 2015. They have also committed $2 billion over seven years for the production of renewable fuels, Created $1.5 billion trust for clean air and climate change, as well as created a $2 billion ecoENERGY Initiative, which will promote smart and clean energy use.
Healthcare:
The Conservatives will continue to implement their 10-year $41.3 billion Federal/Provincial Plan to strengthen healthcare. Over their term in Ottawa, they provided $300 million to protect women from cancer of the cervix, increased medical school intakes to solve the doctor shortage problem and established a patient wait time guarantee with all provinces.
Crime:
The Conservatives are self-described “tough on crime” and will continue to be if they are re-elected. They have cracked down on street racing, invested $16.1 million to help ‘at-risk' youth, armed border guards and invested $1.4 billion to strengthen Canada from the threat of terrorism and facilitated the hiring of 1,000 new RCMP personnel, while continuing to work with the provinces and municipalities to hire 2,500 more municipal police.
Arts & Culture:
Coming under recent attack over the past couple of weeks over funding cuts to the Canadian arts, according to supporters Harper has vowed to spend more than $4 billion on cultural programs, including the CBC, the Canada Arts Council, the National Gallery of Canada and the Department of Canadian Heritage.
Afghanistan:
Harper has been quoted as saying, “The mission, as we've known it, we intend to end” by 2011. At that time Afghanistan's security will be put back in the hands of their own people, although the troops would stay “in some technical capacities.” Stayed tuned for Harper's official platform and what plans he has for Afghanistan if he is re-elected.
Green Party
Federal Leader: Elizabeth May
Local Candidates
Daniel O'Neail - London Fanshawe
Mary Ann Hodge - London North Centre
Monica Jarabek - London West
Economy:
The Green Party plans to incorporate a Green Tax Shift, which will tax $50 for every tonne of carbon produced. They estimate that this will raise $40 billion for the federal treasury, three-quarters being paid out by businesses. The Greens plan “shift” the tax burden by cutting income tax, payroll tax and helping with student loans. They also want to ensure that as a country we are “getting the prices right” on non-renewable energy, while investing in green technologies and energy sources. They will also restore the GST to six per cent.
Environment:
The Environment is basically why the Green Party's in this race. From the economy to healthcare, their platforms are all environmentally conscious. They plan to cut greenhouse gas emissions to 30 per cent below 1990 levels by 2020 and 80 per cent by 2050, cap trade for some of the worst polluters in the country. The Greens also plan to support bio-fuel technology and direct funding away from those energies that dip into the food supply, like corn or grain-based ethanol.
Healthcare:
By tackling climate change the Green Party will be proactive in prevention. They will also protect universal health care reduce cigarette smoking, limit the amount of genetically modified foods and rebuild hospital capacity. They also plan to promote a lifestyle of healthy eating and exercise.
Crime:
The Green Party have taken a stand against Harper's Conservative plan against crime. Rather than toughing the laws on marijuana, they would legalize the drug and tax it, which would add, “$2 billion to government coffers and deprive criminals of pots of easy money.” As for guns, the Green Party plans to incorporate a “Total Gun Ban” in areas of high to medium population density, which will be enforced with automatic jail sentences of three and 12 years. While trafficking of assault weapons would be dealt with by the Anti-Terrorism Legislation.
Art & Culture:
Seeing a dire need to increase funding for the arts in Canada, the Green Party has committed to upping the budgets for The Canada Council for the Arts, Telefilm Canada, orchestras, theatres and publishers. They will also ensure the CRTC has the funding to increase bandwidth and will continue to fund the CBC and other independent, non-profit forms of communication, as well as stopping legislation on politically-appointed censors, who would have the right to deprive films of the right to a tax credit if their content is deemed “unfit.”
Afghanistan:
The Green Party is focusing on peace, rather than conflict in Afghanistan, and that believe Canada has a role in rebuilding the war-torn country. Although they do not support the NATO-backed counter-insurgency, the Greens believe our country should not immediately withdraw the troops from Afghanistan. They would like to see a shift from fighting to diplomacy.
Liberal Party
Federal Leader: Stéphane Dion
Local Candidates
Jacquie Gauthier - London Fanshawe
Glen Pearson - London North Centre
Sue Barnes - London West
Economy:
Their primary focus is to build a prosperous Canada. The Liberal Party of Canada will create more jobs, ultimately putting Canada's economy on a solid footing for the future of our children. The Liberals will cut the lowest income tax rate by 10 per cent while cutting middle class citizens taxes by four or five per cent. As a result, the Liberals plan to create a new generation of green-collar jobs in energy, construction and design.
Environment:
According to the Liberals, Canada needs a vision, for a richer, fairer, greener Canada. By implementing their “Green Shift” plan of action, Liberals will stand by their word by reducing our economy's reliance on polluting fossil fuels. Dion's Green Shift will “shift our economy away from fuels that pollute and contribute to the climate change crisis, and toward more efficient and cleaner energy.” They believe we need to find alternate measures to reduce greenhouse gasses and find more efficient ways to use our energy.
Healthcare:
The Liberal Government is determined to create a new plan for catastrophic drug coverage to cover its cost. While they anticipate reaching a goal of having the healthiest possible Canadians, the Liberals need to be able to properly measure health outcomes by monitoring the present as a way of not having poor decisions made in the future.
By doing so, the Liberals plan on establishing a Doctors and Nurses Fund, which will greatly reduce the shortage of Canadian doctors and nurses available for all families.
Crime:
Crime is on people's minds in urban Canada and appropriate measures need to be addressed in order for families to feel safe and at ease in their own homes. The Liberal Government will create a $40-million Gun Violence and Gang Prevention Fund to help aid people most affected by gun crime in Canada. Also, it is our homes, schools and playground we need to feel safe in and to better protect these communities the Liberal Government will create a $75-million Community at Risk program.
Arts & Culture:
The Liberal Government will support cultural industries, while increasing Canada's competitiveness and our quality of life. The primary focus will be by inviting cultural figures to showcase Canada to the world, while celebrating and encouraging the wonderful diversity that is present within our communities.
This support will begin at the institutional level. Over the next four years, the Liberal Government will double funding to the Canada Council for the Arts, bringing its annual budget to over $360-million.
Afghanistan:
Canada and the United States of America are each other's biggest allies and rely on one another at time of need. The Liberal Government is committed to helping people in Afghanistan as they work effortlessly to rebuild a stable, secure democratic country. The Liberals are proud of the Afghanistan people's self-efforts by wanting to make a better future for those affected by the war.
New Democratic Party
Federal Leader: Jack Layton
Local Candidates
Irene Mathyssen - London Fanshawe
Steve Holmes - London North Centre
Peter Ferguson - London West
Economy:
The NDP are putting jobs first. They believe too many jobs are being lost oversees, where labour is cheaper and to combat this they will encourage innovation and create a new energy economy. Instead of corporate tax cuts the NDP plan on making taxes fair by redirecting the $50 billion “tax giveaway” Layton says Harper gave to corporations over the past two years.
Environment:
The NDP will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 25 per cent below 1990 levels by 2020 and 80 per by 2050, while getting back on target with the Kyoto Accord. The NDP will also make big polluters pay with a carbon tax, with profits going to environmental solutions. They will also invest in low-emissions automobiles, as well as investing in a “New Energy Economy Strategy” and a “Clean Water Act.”
Healthcare:
With one in five families in Canada without a doctor, Layton has promised to shorten health care waiting lists by training more doctors and nurses.
They plan on making prescription drug more affordable for all Canadians and provide better homecare for seniors and those with disabilities. The party also plans on promoting healthy lifestyles so some diseases and health issues can be prevented.
Crime:
The NDP five-point plan on violent crime includes supporting police officers by adding 2,500 new positions across the country. Under Jack Layton the NDP will also deal with gang crime by adding community programs, banning handguns and halt importation of illegal weapons, initiate crime prevention programs and administer fair prosecution.
Arts & Culture:
By reversing the legislative efforts of Bill C-10, the NDP will not censor the arts in Canada. Their arts plan includes increasing public funding in the arts, while bringing high-speed Internet access to rural parts of the country and strengthening the independence of the CRTC and public broadcasters.
Afghanistan:
The NDP plan on withdrawing the troops from Afghanistan, as soon as reasonably possible, although they will continue to support the country with foreign aid efforts, such as human rights and women's issues. They will also ensure that the United Nations, not NATO or US, will take over security and development in Afghanistan.
