Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - June 19, 2004, Winnipeg, Manitoba 2004 Federal election a16 saturday june 19, 2004 your vote counts promises promises. Here a a Plank by Plank accounting of the Federal Liberal conservative and nip platforms Issue health care taxes fiscal projections and debt education environment cities defence National Unity foreign affairs and foreign Aid parliamentary Reform electoral Reform same sex marriage agriculture Law and order liberals. Raise health spending by $9 billion Over five years with a suggestion of More Money following an agree ment with the provinces to fix health care for a . A focus on reducing waiting times in the five areas of cancer heart diagnostic imaging joint replacements and sight restoration. . A new dispute Resolution system to Rule on violations of the Canada health act and that could impose Finan Cial penalties on offending provinces. Paul Martin has not committed to the Public delivery of health care. . Home care would receive $2 billion Over five years while the amount of family caregiver expenses that can be claimed on income tax would double to $10,000. . No tax increases and no tax cuts until health care is addressed. . $27 billion in new promises Over five years while existing government spending is expected to grow by four per cent annually. . An annual $3-billion contingency Reserve would go toward the debt. . Reduce the debt to Gap ratio to 25 per cent within 10 years. . $5 billion Over five years for Early childhood education. . No new spending pledges for education but the Martin government has already created a $500 learning Bond to every child born after 2003 to families earning less than $35,000 and improved the resp. The Canada Stu Dent Loans program was expanded and More Grants to Low income families will be provided. . Martin supports the Kyoto Accord but has said there is currently no plan to implement the agreement. . $4 billion Over 10 years to clean up contaminated Sites across Canada. . $600 million for clean water for aboriginal communities. . Support the construction of about 4,000 wind turbines so that wind produces five per cent of Canadas electricity within 10 years to be funded out of existing climate change funds. . A new Deal for cities. . Transfer five cents per litre of the Gas tax to municipalities by 2005. . $1.5 billion Over five years for affordable housing. . $3 billion Over five years for a peace and nation build ing . Increase the Canadian forces by 5,000 personnel up from 60,000. . Strengthen the reserves. . Support continued talks on missile defence with the United states but oppose space based missiles. . Supports the clarity act which requires a Clear major Ity to a Clear question in a referendum on sovereignty. . Currently reviewing Canadas foreign policy but peacekeeping and improving democratic institutions will be priorities. . Reduce or forgive debts owed by poor and deserving countries. . Fight aids around the world. . Allow free votes for backbench maps on most issues. . No new promises on parliamentary Reform in the party platform. . Platform does not mention electoral Reform but Paul Martin has said he is open to studying the merits of proportional representation. . Have sent draft legislation to the supreme court to legalize same sex marriage which would then be voted on in the House of commons. . Federal agriculture minister Bob speller has said his no. 1 priority continues to be dealing with the be Cri Sis and pledges to continue to work to get the Border . Recently provided $1 billion in assistance to Farmers affected by be. . Recently passed legislation creating a National sex offender registry. . Introduced legislation allowing Roadside testing to determine if Drivers Are under the influence of drugs. . Cap gun registry costs at $25 million. conservatives. Reducing waiting lists is also a Central pledge of the conservative health platform. . Revive the february 2003 first ministers Accord on health care renewal and encourage Alberta and que Bec to participate in the new Canada health Council. . Increase health transfers to the provinces by $10.2 Bil lion Over five years. . A federally run catastrophic drug plan at a Cost of $2.8 billion Over five years. . Though Stephen Harper said in the debate that his advisers Don to like it when he says it the conservative Leader says he sees no reason Why private companies can to deliver certain health services provided canadians do not have to pay out of pocket for health care. . $31.2-billion reduction in personal income taxes and $6?billion reduction in corporate taxes. Cuts to business taxes to be accompanied by reductions in corporate subsidies. . Including a 25 per cent reduction in income taxes for Middle income canadians. . A $2,000 per child tax deduction. . Increase the get tax credit for Low income canadians. . Introduce a registered lifetime savings plan As an alternative to rasps. Resp contributions would not Gen Erate a tax deduction but withdrawals Are not taxed. . $57-billion five year platform arguing the Federal Bud get is no longer a realistic assessment of the amount of fiscal room . At least $5 billion annually As a contingency fund. . Introduce legislation that sets a target debt to Gap ratio. . The platform does not budget new Money for education but pledges to work with the provinces to ensure that no student who has the desire and ability to learn is denied a Post secondary education due to a Lack of Finan Cial . The Canada student Loans program would be improved. . Withdraw from Kyoto. . Become an environmental world Leader by focusing on clean air water land and Energy. . Legislate Caps on pollutants. . Increase fines for Ocean spills. . $4 billion Over $10 years to clean up contaminated Sites. . Work with provinces on a National strategy for alternative Energy and Energy conservation. . Environment platform would be funded through the Money saved from pulling out of Kyoto. . Transfer at least three cents per litre of the Gas tax to the provinces for infrastructure. . Phase out the Canada strategic infrastructure fund while retaining the Border infrastructure fund. . More Money for Law enforcement to be paid for by scrapping the gun registry. . $3.5 billion Over five years for infrastructure. . $7 billion Over five years. . Increase the regular Force strength to 80,000. . Increase the number of reserves. . Purchase new tanks Cf-18 fighter jets tactical and heavy lift aircraft and new maritime helicopters. . Support for missile defence in principle but no final decision has been made. . Supports the clarity act. . Implement a made in Canada foreign policy with a focus on National Security. . Support International development policies. . Build on regional Trade relationships such As Naftal. . Support Patent Reform to allow generic drugs to be sold in Africa. . Expand the budget and responsibilities of the auditor general. . All votes except the budget and main estimates would be free votes for backbench maps. . Hold elections to fill Senate vacancies. . Fixed election dates. . End All corporate and Union donations As Well As the $1.75 per vote Public subsidy to political parties. . Reverse ban on third party ads in Federal elections. . Place elections Canada in control of party nomination and election races. . Would withdraw the supreme court reference and hold a free vote on same sex marriage. . Maintain the Canadian wheat Board but give Farmers the ability to sell their Grain outside of the Agency. . Enhanced support for agriculture and the Agri food Industry. . Reassess every farm program to ensure the Money is going to Farmers rather than bureaucracy. . Scrap gun registry. . Repeal the faint Hope clause to ensure that life sentences must mean . End conditional sentencing for serious crimes. . Forbid prisoners in Federal institutions from voting in Federal elections. . Strengthen child pornography legislation. nip. Almost $30 billion in health care spending Over five years. . A freeze on private delivery of health care. . Reduce waiting times by creating More Community based clinics. . A National bulk buying drug program and Patent changes to Benefit generic drug producers. . National Pha Macare and Home care programs. . Study the merits of a Crown corporation that would produce cheaper drugs. . A focus on prevention through nutrition and physical fitness including reviving participation. . $35.6 billion in tax cuts Over five years including an increase to the child tax Benefit removing the get from family essentials eliminating income tax for those earning less than $15,000. . $45 billion in tax hikes including full taxation of Capi Tal gains a new 32.5 per cent tax rate for incomes Over $250,000, raising corporate taxes an excess profits tax on Banks and an inheritance tax on All income Over $1 million. . $61-billion five year platform. . Allow debt to Gap ratio to fall gradually without extra debt payments. . $5.8 billion Over five years to reduce tuition fees by 10 per cent and expand Early childhood education. . Create a new Crown corporation modelled after Petro Canada that would research fund and sell renewable resources. . Build 10,000 wind turbines by 2010 at a Cost of More than $10 billion. . Create an emissions trading system that would Gener ate at least $4 billion a year by taxing Canadian Compa Nies that pollute. . A tax shifting regime that would Reward Consumers who make environmentally Friendly choices. . Achieve Kyoto targets through Green cars and transportation. . Ban the bulk Export of fresh water. . A real Deal for municipalities Worth $23.5 billion Over five years. . Transfer five cents of the Gas tax to municipalities. . Build 200,000 affordable housing units. . No new Money in platform for defence. . Withdraw from missile defence talks. . Work to replace nato with a new organization. . Cancel offensive weapons systems reduce the and . Reallocating savings to invest in Reserve and regular personnel and better training and equipment. . Party and Leader oppose the clarity act but majority of caucus voted in favour of the legislation. . Increase foreign Aid. . Work with allies toward and International peacekeeping presence in the Middle East. . Threaten tariffs on . If softwood Issue not dealt with. . Scrap Taftas chapter 11, which allows corporations to sue governments. . Nip maps who disagree with party policy on matters of fundamental human rights such As same sex marriage must abstain from voting. . Abolish the Senate. . A referendum on proportional representation is the main requirement for nip co operation in a minority parliament. . Supports dedicated seats in the House of commons for aboriginals. . Lower the voting age to 16. . Would immediately bring in legislation to legalize same sex marriage. . $1.5 billion annually in new Money for agriculture until . And european farm subsidies Are reduced. . Work to end the 60-40 Federal provincial Cost share split for farm support programs. . More Money for food inspection. . Mandatory Labelling of genetically modified foods. . Fix gun registry. . Make sentences and bail conditions tougher for repeat violent offenders. . Bring Back the National ports police. . More support for Meg trials for organized crime. . Ban the Sale of assault rifles and automatic weapons. . Increase regulations to prevent corporate crime. ;