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Conservative Party of Canada Platform

Leader: Stephen Harper

The Conservative Party is only a few months old heading into this election, and plans to focus on the lack of accountability of the Liberal government. Harper's campaign will also focus on health care, taxation, and defence.

Health Care

The Conservatives have said that Canadians should have reasonable access to health care regardless of the ability to pay. They have promised the following reforms:

• Implement the 2003 National Health Accord to provide stable, long-term health care funding
• A national drug plan to be negotiated with the provinces
• Maintain the Canada Health Act's guarantee of public funding for necessary services, but favour private delivery of some medicare services

The Conservatives said that health care spending should be left to the provinces, but the federal and provincial governments should work cooperatively to improve medicare.

Same Sex Marriage

The Conservatives support the traditional definition of marriage. They would withdraw the reference question to the Supreme Court and allow a free vote on the issue in Parliament.

Defence

The Conservatives would increase defence spending by $1.2 billion per year, and eventually increase that to $2 billion. Other reforms include:

• Raise the number of Canadian Forces from 55,000 to 80,000
• Ensure better cooperation between Canada 's intelligence and security agencies
• Increase Parliament's involvement in defence policy and equipment purchases

Marijuana

The Conservatives do not believe that small amounts of marijuana should be decriminalized.

Municipalities

The Conservatives will transfer from 3-5 cents (out of 10) of the fuel tax to cities.

Crime

The Conservatives intend to combat crime through the following reforms:

• Moving violent or repeat young offenders to adult court
• Ending the statutory release of prisoners having served two-thirds of their sentence
• Establish a nation-wide sex offender registry
• Increase penalties for people convicted of using a firearm to commit a crime
• Introduce consecutive sentences for multiple violent crimes

The Conservatives would also take away the voting rights of federal prisoners

Gun Registry

The Conservatives intend to replace the Gun Registry with a practical firearms control system. That system would include:

• Redirecting the money from the Gun Registry to law enforcement
• Develop gun-control programs including mandatory penalties for criminals who use firearms and a licensing system for firearm users

Democratic Reform and Accountability

The Conservatives intend to increase accountability and introduce democratic reforms through the following measures:

• Creation of an independent ethics commissioner who reports to Parliament
• Require fixed election dates every four years
• Allow free votes by MPs on moral issues
• Consider proportional representation and the single transferable ballot
• Senators should be elected, not appointed
• Create a Judicial Review Committee to respond to court decisions Parliament believes should be addressed through legislation
• Annual reports of each government department and program (including Crown Corporations)
• Conduct an audit of social programs
• Authorize the governor general to look at all federal government documents

Taxes

The Conservatives intend move toward a simpler tax system. They would introduce an $18 billion tax cut package by:

• Cutting personal income tax by 25% for middle-income earners
• Eliminating corporate subsidies in favour of lowering business taxes
• Introduce a $2000 per child tax deduction

The Conservatives have announced a long-term goal of lowering Canadian taxes below USA rates.

Foreign Policy

The Conservatives have said that Canadian Foreign Policy should protect our sovereignty and promote our national interests. It should emphasize democracy, human rights, and free trade. The following reforms have been promised:

• Make Parliament responsible for supervising Canadian Foreign Policy and Canadian Forces
• Work with NATO and the United Nations to address international security threats
• Expand trade through the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)
• Allow low-cost generic drugs to be sold in developing countries
• Begin talks with the USA about joining a North American missile-defence system

Immigration

The Conservatives have promised to work with the provinces to develop a national policy on immigrants:

• Eliminate abuse of the system, but still be responsible for our fair share of refugees
• Focus on immigrants who best fit into the “Canadian fabric”
• Develop a new program to assess the credentials of foreign-trained professionals

Environment

The Conservatives have promised to develop made-in-Canada policies to deal with environmental issues. They would also start negotiations with the USA to regulate emission limits. Proposed reforms include:

• Legislating limits on air pollutants
• Increased fines for ocean polluters
• Audits of contaminated federal waste sites
• $4 billion over 10 years to clean up contaminated sites
• Compensation for people or groups who have to give up land for endangered species

Aboriginals

The Conservatives have promised the protection of aboriginal self-government through the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. They would also give aboriginals the power to raise their own revenues.

Trade

The Conservatives have promised to focus on diversification when it comes to trade. This includes the products that are sold, as well as the markets they are sold into. They have also proposed reforms in the following areas:

• Work to reduce tariffs and trade barriers
• A clear definition of what constitutes an export subsidy
• Eliminate inter-provincial trade barriers through non-Constitutional means

Education

The Conservatives have promised to invest in post-secondary education by making the following reforms:

• Increasing the maximum loan limit for student loans
• Offering grants to low-income students
• Introduce Canada Learning Bonds
• Increase Canada Education Savings grants and the Registered Lifelong Savings program

Child Care

The Conservatives have promised to evaluate and improve existing programs for child care. They have promised to:

• Expand the government's “Understanding the Early Years” program
• Fund research into the first five years of a child's life
• Speed progress on improvements to support childcare centres
• Create more quality child-care spaces

The Economy

The Conservatives have promised to introduce a debt repayment plan, with the goal of lowering the national debt-to-Gross Domestic Product (GDP) ratio. They will also encourage research and development through tax credits, and promote small businesses.

Mapleleafweb Links

• The New Conservative Party
• 2003 PC Party Leadership Race
• 2002 CA Leadership Race

External Links

• Conservative Party Website

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This page was last modified: August 10, 2007