Vote Canada The promises, so far

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 02/04/2011 (5485 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Conservatives

Allowing families with children under 18 to split up to $50,000 in income to pay less tax, but only once the federal books are balanced — likely not until 2015.

A one-year small-business tax credit to encourage hiring, originally in the federal budget, of up to $1,000 when employment insurance costs go up. The Conservatives say it would be available to 525,000 employers and save them up to $165 million.

Financial support, such as loan guarantees, for the Lower Churchill hydro mega-project in Labrador.

Extend six initiatives under “Here for Workers” plan, including a job-sharing program aimed at reducing or preventing layoffs. Continue scheme to help older workers in hard-hit communities, extend employment-insurance pilot programs, eliminate mandatory retirement for workers in federally regulated workplaces.

Cut per-vote subsidies to political parties over a three-year transition period.

Liberals

Student-aid grants to post-secondary students of $1,000 a year for four years, $1,500 a year for students from lower-income families, using the existing RESP system. Liberals say the program would cost $1 billion a year.

Expand Canada Pension Plan benefits with the help of the provinces, allow people to voluntarily save an additional five to 10 per cent of their income in a CPP-backed fund and boost the Guaranteed Income Supplement by $700 million a year.

Start fund to create early learning and child-care spaces, with initial $500-million investment, rising to $1 billion by fourth year. Would not replace $100-a-month Universal Childcare Benefit.

A $1-billion Family Care Plan to let people take time off work to care for seriously ill or aging relatives, and help with cost of caregiving.

New Democrats

Cap credit card interest rates at five percentage points above prime and limit transaction fees retailers are forced to pay credit card companies. The NDP says the rate cap would save a typical card holder an average of about $60 a month.

Cut small-business taxes to nine per cent from 11, set up a job-creation tax credit for businesses worth up to $4,500 for each new hire and extend the accelerated capital cost allowance for four more years. The NDP estimates cost at $2.3 billion a year, financed by cancelling Conservative cuts to corporate taxes.

Eliminate $2 billion in government subsidies for oilsands, and put the money toward clean energy.

Invest $165 million to train and recruit 1,200 doctors and 6,000 nurses over the next 10 years. Work to repatriate 300 Canadian doctors living abroad.

— The Canadian Press