Smelling victory, Stephen Harper is reassuring voters that a Conservative government can preserve social programs and cut taxes within a manageable budget.
The Tory leader handed out his party's full platform Friday. It's a blue-bound, 46-page document that covers seven weeks of promises and includes a last financial goodie — a promise to eliminate taxes on capital gains that are re-invested within six months.
This, the platform says, isn't just a favour to the rich.
"Canadians who invest, or who inherit cottages or family heirlooms, should be able to sell these assets and plow their profits back into the economy without taking a tax hit."
Advertisements
Stock Profile Quote
For an in-depth look at Canadian and U.S. stocks. Enter your stock symbol here. GO Symbol Lookup
Sponsored by:
For an in-depth look at Canadian and U.S. stocks. Enter your stock symbol here. Symbol Lookup
Sponsored by:
Overall, the platform promises $30-billion in new spending and $45-million in tax cuts over five years.
Mr. Harper said he accepts Liberal financial projections for the next few years and his first budget would be within a billion dollars of what the Liberals have said they would spend.
He said he will preserve social programs while offering modest tax cuts and reining in government spending.
Federal departments — with the exception of Defence and Indian Affairs — will see their spending growth limited to the rate of inflation and population growth.
Planned increases in employment insurance benefits, seniors benefits, and scheduled transfers to the provinces for things like health care and equalization would go ahead.
The platform includes a pledge to introduce a new Clean Air Act, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and a $500-million investment over five years in university-based research.
Foreign aid would increase $425-million over five years.
Mr. Harper also promised fixed election dates.
He pledged to work with the provinces to produce a long-term solution to the fiscal imbalance, but refused to detail what kind of deal might be cut.
"We're not negotiating the fiscal imbalance in this campaign," he said.
He said Tory budgeting is flexible enough to cover the billions a deal will cost.
That drew a swipe from Liberal Leader Paul Martin.
"He's started to bring out his money and his projections and the money is not there," Mr. Martin said in French to about 100 supporters crowded into a Liberal campaign office in the southern Ontario riding of St. Catharines.
"It's clear he has just duped the provinces, he has just duped Quebecers."
Mr. Harper has worked hard to dispel fears that he harbours a hidden agenda of hard-right policies and he kept at it Friday, releasing the platform in a breezy, easy style.
Smiling and working the stage without a podium, he said the document stresses values which he believes most Canadians share.
"These are: integrity, families, respect for hard work and achievement and a Canada strong and free."
He portrayed himself as a cautious fellow.
"I don't measure progress by the level of emotion or by the intensity of the sales pitch," he said. "I measure it by achievement, one step at a time. I believe it's better to light one candle than to promise a million bulbs."
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20060113.wtories0113/BNStory/specialDecision2006/
Now if he tries to keep everything the same but does tax cuts, that benefit a select few, not the poor, or the natives or other people, just the rich and middle-class he will have to cut something.
Now, if he does have to cut something or can't follow on his promises his government will only live a few months. No more, no less. He better hope for a majority so he can screw up this country as much as Martin has.
The Tory leader handed out his party's full platform Friday. It's a blue-bound, 46-page document that covers seven weeks of promises and includes a last financial goodie — a promise to eliminate taxes on capital gains that are re-invested within six months.
This, the platform says, isn't just a favour to the rich.
"Canadians who invest, or who inherit cottages or family heirlooms, should be able to sell these assets and plow their profits back into the economy without taking a tax hit."
Advertisements
Stock Profile Quote
For an in-depth look at Canadian and U.S. stocks. Enter your stock symbol here. GO Symbol Lookup
Sponsored by:
For an in-depth look at Canadian and U.S. stocks. Enter your stock symbol here. Symbol Lookup
Sponsored by:
Overall, the platform promises $30-billion in new spending and $45-million in tax cuts over five years.
Mr. Harper said he accepts Liberal financial projections for the next few years and his first budget would be within a billion dollars of what the Liberals have said they would spend.
He said he will preserve social programs while offering modest tax cuts and reining in government spending.
Federal departments — with the exception of Defence and Indian Affairs — will see their spending growth limited to the rate of inflation and population growth.
Planned increases in employment insurance benefits, seniors benefits, and scheduled transfers to the provinces for things like health care and equalization would go ahead.
The platform includes a pledge to introduce a new Clean Air Act, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and a $500-million investment over five years in university-based research.
Foreign aid would increase $425-million over five years.
Mr. Harper also promised fixed election dates.
He pledged to work with the provinces to produce a long-term solution to the fiscal imbalance, but refused to detail what kind of deal might be cut.
"We're not negotiating the fiscal imbalance in this campaign," he said.
He said Tory budgeting is flexible enough to cover the billions a deal will cost.
That drew a swipe from Liberal Leader Paul Martin.
"He's started to bring out his money and his projections and the money is not there," Mr. Martin said in French to about 100 supporters crowded into a Liberal campaign office in the southern Ontario riding of St. Catharines.
"It's clear he has just duped the provinces, he has just duped Quebecers."
Mr. Harper has worked hard to dispel fears that he harbours a hidden agenda of hard-right policies and he kept at it Friday, releasing the platform in a breezy, easy style.
Smiling and working the stage without a podium, he said the document stresses values which he believes most Canadians share.
"These are: integrity, families, respect for hard work and achievement and a Canada strong and free."
He portrayed himself as a cautious fellow.
"I don't measure progress by the level of emotion or by the intensity of the sales pitch," he said. "I measure it by achievement, one step at a time. I believe it's better to light one candle than to promise a million bulbs."
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20060113.wtories0113/BNStory/specialDecision2006/
Now if he tries to keep everything the same but does tax cuts, that benefit a select few, not the poor, or the natives or other people, just the rich and middle-class he will have to cut something.
Now, if he does have to cut something or can't follow on his promises his government will only live a few months. No more, no less. He better hope for a majority so he can screw up this country as much as Martin has.