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It has only been a few months since the Canadian Alliance and the Progressive Conservative parties decided to merge. Under the watch of new party chief, Stephen Harper, Conservatives hope to take more seats from the Liberals with policies that aim to "Demand better."
The issues that feature most predominantly in the new party's interim policy document include health care, democratic reform, government accountability, taxation, and defence.
Health care
- The Conservative Party will work with the provinces to implement the commitments of the 2003 Health Accord
- Will provide funding of $2 to $3 billion per year over five years in additional transfer payments for health care
- Allocate between $600 million and $800 million over the next four years to pay for the establishment of a national catastrophic drug program
- Supports the goal of achieving national catastrophic drug coverage by 2005-06, and will report to Canadians on how provinces are planning to ensure this goal
- Will ensure that performance indicators on timely access, quality, sustainability and health status and wellness are developed
- Provide Canadians with a list of common home care services eligible for coverage
- Work with the provinces through the Canada Health Council to monitor and report on waiting lists and explore ways of dealing with the problem
- Support the appointment of a Chief Public Health Officer and the creation of the Canada Public Health Agency
- Define federal and provincial governments' roles during public health crises
- Agree on a compensation formula for public health emergencies
- Clear the drug approval backlog and bring drug approval waiting times in line with the U.S. average
- Treat natural health products as "food style" rather than "drug style" products
Same-sex marriage
- Stephen Harper believes marriage should be reserved for heterosexuals
- A Conservative government would withdraw the four questions put to the Supreme Court on same-sex marriage and would instead hold a free vote in Parliament
- Harper believes the Supreme Court would likely not overturn Parliament's decision
Defence
- An immediate infusion of $1.2 billion per year over four years, to bring Canada's military spending in line with NATO's European average
- An increase in troop levels from 52,400 to 80,000
- Review a plan to replace Canada's tanks with lighter vehicles
- New powers for Canada's Coast Guard
- More Parliamentary control over troop deployment and military equipment
Marijuana
- Stephen Harper has been a harsh critic of the legislation that would decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana
- He rejected the findings of a Senate committee report in 2002, saying he doesn't believe alcohol is more harmful than pot
Municipalities
- Transfer at least 3 cents of the gas tax to the provinces to be invested in infrastructure
Crime
- Proposing amendments to the Criminal Code to toughen gun crime provisions
- Strengthen penalties for having a loaded handgun in a public place
- Increase minimum penalties for weapons trafficking and possession for the purposes of trafficking. It is currently one year
- Reinstate child protection legislation
- Ensure the safety of children with a strategy to combat sexual exploitation of children on the Internet
Gun registry
- Scrap the gun registry and divert the savings to hire 200 more Mounties and pay for a sex-offender registry
- The Conservative Party would like to see mandatory minimum penalties for criminal use of firearms and their illegal possession
- Strict monitoring of high-risk individuals
- A crackdown on gun smuggling
- Safe storage laws
- Firearms safety training
- A licensing system for anyone who wants to use firearms legally
- A registry of convicted criminals who have been prohibited by the courts from owning a firearm
Democratic Reform
- Allow free votes by MPs on moral issues
- Hold elections to fill vacancies in the Senate
- Set fixed election dates for every four years
- End corporate and union political donations, and forced taxpayer subsidies of political parties
- Allow Parliament, not the courts, to make a final decision on issues like same-sex marriage
Government accountability
- Create an independent Ethics Counsellor, who will report directly to the House of Commons -- to be appointed by Parliament, not the prime minister
- Direct the auditor general to audit all federal granting programs and act on the recommendations
- End corporate and union political donations, and forced taxpayer subsidies of political parties
- Set fixed election dates for every four years
- Hold elections to fill vacancies in the Senate
- Increase the power of individual Members of Parliament
- Allow Parliament, not the courts, to make a final decision on issues like same-sex marriage
- Ensure fairness in party nomination and leadership races
Taxes
- Introduce a Registered Lifetime Savings Plan (RLSP) that would allow Canadians to invest up to $5,000 a year. It would tax investors up front, not when they withdraw the funds
- Reduce the federal tax rate on middle-income Canadians by more than 25 per cent
- Introduce a $2,000 per child deduction
- Reduce premiums to eliminate the annual surplus in the Employment Insurance account
- Transfer at least 3 cents of the gas tax to the provinces
- Cut corporate subsidies in order to cut taxes for all businesses
- Expand tax credits for those taking care of elderly, sick or disabled relatives
Foreign policy
- Foreign policy should protect Canada's sovereignty, promote our national interests, enhance international development, and contribute to collective security
- Make Parliament responsible for supervising the conduct of Canadian foreign policy and Canadian Forces to foreign operations
Immigration
- Harper promises to speed up recognition of foreign-trained doctors and other professionals
Environment
- Harper will scrap the Kyoto Protocol in favour of a new clean-air bill that would include mandatory limits on emissions with targeted levels to be achieved by 2010
- The Conservative Party vows to become an "environmental world leader by focusing on clean air, clean water, clean land, and clean energy"
Aboriginals
- Work to improve economic and social conditions for aboriginal Canadians
Trade
- Diversify the products that are sold abroad, as well as the markets they are sold into
- Secure access to international markets through negotiation of trade agreements
- Work to reduce tariffs and trade barriers
- A Conservative government will seek a clear definition of what constitutes an export subsidy
- Eliminate inter-provincial trade barriers in commerce, labour and capital mobility through non-constitutional means
Education
- Work with the provinces to reduce financial barriers to post-secondary education and training
- Improve the Canada Student Loans Program
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