Conservative Party Platform Summary

Conservative Party Platform Summary

Balanced Budget & Low Taxes

Promise 1: Balance the budget every year in the next four years while keeping taxes low, increasing transfers to the provinces and territories for health care and education, and making affordable investments to protect the economy and help Canadian families.

Promise 2: Maintain government operating budget freeze for one more year.

Promise 3: Enact “tax lock” legislation that prohibits increases to federal personal and business income tax rates, sales tax rates, and discretionary payroll taxes in the next four years.

Promise 4: Continue to reduce Canada’s debt-to-GDP ratio to achieve the target of 25% by 2021.

Economy

Promise 5: Create 1.3 million new, well-paying jobs by 2020.

Promise 6: Cut taxes on small businesses from 11% to 9% by 2019.

Promise 7: Lower payroll taxes on small businesses and workers by more than 20%.

Promise 8: Ratify and implement the Trans-Pacific Partnership.

Promise 9: Provide new incentives for manufacturers to purchase equipment and invest in new technologies.

Promise 10: Grant tax relief to businesses that hire apprentices.

Promise 11: Lower EI premiums in 2017 by 20%.

• This is projected to represent a significant pay increase for 16 million workers.

Promise 12: Mandate the Canada Border Services Agency to carry out a full investigation of trade complaints even in cases when preliminary reviews by the Canadian International Trade Tribunal come back negative.

Promise 13: Require the Canadian International Trade Tribunal to carry out an automatic five-year review of every finding of non-compliance, to ensure the conflict has been resolved.

Promise 14: Establish an Investment and Trade Promotion Office with a mandate to coordinate the government’s various efforts to encourage businesses in other countries to invest in Canada, and to promote Canadian exports abroad.

Cutting Red Tape

Promise 15: Launch new round of consultations with small businesses on current and future reforms.

Promise 16: Significantly expand the scope of “red tape burden” subject to the one-for-one rule.

Promise 17: Reduce red tape by 20% overall while maintaining the highest standards in health and safety.

Promise 18: Work to harmonize child car seat standard with the U.S. in collaboration with the Retail Council of Canada.

Promise 19: Allow anyone who makes a home office expense tax claim to use the same calculations year to year adjusted for inflation.

• This measure affects an estimated 1.2 million people.

Manufacturing

Promise 20: Make it easier for manufacturers to invest in advanced technology and equipment through lower taxes.

Promise 21: Help Canadians acquire training to take advantage of opportunities in the manufacturing sector.

Promise 22: Make strategic investments to encourage research and development and the creation of new products and technologies.

Promise 23:Support a new Advanced Manufacturing Hub (located in Southwestern Ontario) in partnership with employers, colleges and universities, and other stakeholders to encourage the development of new cutting edge products and technologies.

Promise 24: Establish a $100-million Manufacturing Technology Demonstration Fund to support large-scale, cutting-edge manufacturing projects in the developmental, pre-commercial stages.

Promise 25: Renew the Automotive Innovation Fund for ten years, beginning in 2018-19, at baseline funding of $100 million per year.

• The terms of this fund will also be changed so that brick and mortar, Greenfield investments, and facilities promising a long-term presence will all be eligible.

Skills & Training

Promise 26: Enhance (to a maximum $2,500 claim) and extend (into third and fourth year of a program) the Apprenticeship Job Creation Tax Credit.

Promise 27: Establish a new Skilled Trades Job Experience Program.

• This may service up to 2,000 youth.

Promise 28: Work with provinces, territories and interested universities and colleges to develop a curriculum that better responds to employer needs.

Promise 29: Implement Canada Apprentice Loans.

Promise 30: Maintaining programs such as the Opportunities Fund and the Enabling Accessibility Fund that help disabled Canadians participate in the job market.

Promise 31: Provide up to 20,000 loans over the next four years to help new Canadians seeking credential recognition.

Promise 32: Work with the provinces and territories, through the Pan-Canadian Framework for the Assessment and Recognition of Foreign Qualifications, to improve the service standards for accreditation decisions for target, high-demand occupations under the Framework from one year to 60 days.

Promise 33: consider ways to build on the Canada Jobs Grant in other job-training programs.

Immigration

Promise 34: Continue to make the immigration system faster, flexible, and more responsive to the needs of Canada’s economy.

Promise 35: Increase the intake of applications for the parents and grandparents sponsorship program, as the backlog and processing times continue to decrease.

Innovation

Promise 36: Implement the $100 million Automotive Supplier Innovation Program to support product development and technology demonstration by Canadian automotive parts suppliers.

Promise 37: Roll out the $200 million Advanced Manufacturing Fund to support new and innovative products and production methods in Ontario.

Promise 38: Develop a national supplier development initiative for Canada’s aerospace industry.

Promise 39: Continue participation in the International Space Station.

Promise 40: Provide ongoing support to the National Research Council’s transformation to better support the needs of business.

• This includes ongoing support for the Industrial Research Assistance Program which is helping small and medium-sized businesses finance research initiatives.

Promise 41: Expand support for National Optics Institute.

Promise 42: Implement the $1.5 billion Canada First Research Excellence Fund.

Promise 43: Provide $1.33 billion over six years, starting in 2017-18, to support the Canadian Foundation for Innovation’s ongoing work.

Promise 44: Invest in ongoing support for the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, Canadian Institutes of Health Research, and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council.

Agriculture

Promise 45: Increase funding to the Agri-Innovation program by $100 million over three years, and make projects driven by universities and colleges eligible for financing.

Promise 46: increase support for the Agri-Marketing Program to help promote Canada’s agricultural and agri-food products around the world.

Promise 47: Continue to expand the activities of the Market Access Secretariat.

Promise 48: Continue to defend Canada’s system of supply management in all international forums and trade negotiations.

Promise 49: Improve Canada’s transportation network and support market access for Canadian farmers, based upon the recommendations of the transportation review.

Fisheries

Promise 50: Continue to build on past initiatives with a focus on science, marine conservation, and promoting Canadian products in new markets.

Promise 51: Fund a new lobster branding initiative to be carried out in co-operation with the Lobster Council of Canada both domestically and abroad.

Promise 52: Pursue new markets for lobster.

Promise 53:Work in collaboration with the provinces and the University of Prince Edward Island’s AVC Lobster Science Centre to pursue biomass research to inform lobster policy.

Promise 54: Confront Greenland on the issue of overfishing Canada’s Atlantic Salmon.

Promise 55: Increasing the harvest of striped bass to improve the survival of juvenile Atlantic salmon, following receipt of an upcoming Department of Fisheries and Oceans scientific study.

Promise 56: Establish a system of certification to demonstrate that products resulting from Aboriginal hunting meet European Union standards.

Promise 57: Work with Newfoundland and Labrador to provide compensation for losses arising from the gradual elimination of Minimum Processing Requirements in Fisheries.

• $280 million ($93 million per year over 3 years) intended to be matched 70:30 by the province.

Forestry

Promise 58: Establish a fund to match private-sector contributions to promote Canadian forestry products and its sustainable management practices, and to counter those who are conducting misinformation campaigns.

Promise 59: Pursue new export market opportunities, including renegotiating the Softwood Lumber Agreement with the U.S.

Promise 60: Continue to encourage the growth and modernization of the industry through the Forest Innovation Program.

Promise 61: Continue investing in the Forest Industry Transportation Program.

Mining

Promise 62: Extend the Mineral Exploration Tax Credit for three years to support further mining exploration and investment.

Promise 63: establishing an enhanced Mining Exploration Tax Credit for northern and remote mining projects.

Promise 64: expand the eligible costs under the Canadian Exploration Expenses policy to include environmental studies and community consultations.

Responsible Resource Development

Promise 65: Will not interfere in independent project review processes, and will make final decisions on individual projects based on the science and recommendations of expert bodies.

Promise 66: Continue to support the development of a Liquefied Natural Gas Industry and Sustainable Development Technology Canada.

Infrastructure

Promise 67: Launch the Quebec Maritime Prosperity Initiative to fund maritime and port infrastructure.

Promise 68: Fund key Asia-Pacific Gateway projects in Western Canada.

Promise 69: Support major public transit projects – such as Smart Track in the Greater Toronto Area, Light Rail Transit in Surrey and Ottawa, and Calgary’s Green Line.

Promise 70: Increase rural and remote internet access by funding high-capacity backbone – such as fibre optic cable networks or satellite – in hundreds of communities across the country.

Northern Economic Development

Promise 71: Require that all retailers have a point-of-sale system for the Nutrition North program so that Northern customers can clearly see on their grocery receipts how and when the Nutrition North subsidy is applied.

Promise 72: Extend the Nutrition North Program to 40 additional communities.

Promise 73: Completing the devolution of land and resource powers to the Government of Nunavut over the next four years.

Promise 74: Improving the section of Highway 5 running through Wood Buffalo National Park and connecting Hay River to Fort Smith, NWT.

Promise 75: Continue to support the Strategic Investments in Northern Economic Development program and Northern Project Management Office.

Family Home

Promise 76: Enact a plan for affordable, responsible homeownership to add more than 700,000 new homeowners by 2020.

Promise 77: Raise the Home Buyers’ Plan limit once again, from $25,000 to $35,000.

Promise 78: Enact a new permanent Home Renovation Tax Credit, available each year for substantial home renovation expenses up to $2,500, beginning in January 2017, and $5,000, beginning in January 2019.

Promise 79: Collect comprehensive data on acquisition of Canadian real estate by non-Canadians not residing in Canada, and depending on the results, work with provinces to take appropriate action.

Education Savings

Promise 80: Double the enhanced grant for middle-income families from 10 cents to 20 cents per dollar on the first $500 contributed each year to the RESP.

Promise 81: Double the enhanced grant for lower income families from 20 cents to 40 cents per dollar on the first $500 contributed each year.

Promise 82: Eliminate in-study income from Canada Student Loan Program, so students can work while studying and remain eligible.

• This will impact an estimated 87,000 students.

Promise 83: Reduce the expected parental contribution from the Canada Student Loan Program.

• This will increase support for an estimated 92,000 students.

Promise 84: Make Canada Student Grants applicable to short-term vocational programs.

Secure Retirement

Promise 85: reducing the minimum withdrawal requirements for Registered Retirement Income Funds.

Promise 86: Raising the Lifetime Capital Gains Exemption from $500,000 to 750,000 to $800,000 and indexing it.

• It will be raised to $1 million for farmers and fisherman to help with retirement.

Promise 87: Consult with Canadians on how to supplement the Canada Pension Plan with other savings options.

Promise 88: Establish a $2,000 “equivalent-to-spouse” Pension Income Credit for single and widowed seniors.

• This will apply to nearly 1.6 million single and widowed seniors.

Canadians with Disabilities

Promise 89: Increase the maximum annual Canada Disability Savings Grant for low and middle income families from $3,500 to $4,000.

• Families who use this program will get $4 for every $1 they contribute.

Promise 90: Improve the administration of the RDSP program, and to expand the range of investment options for RDSP holders in conjunction with the provinces and territories.

Families

Promise 90: Increase the amount eligible for the Adoption Expense Tax Credit from $15,000 to $20,000 per child, and make this tax credit fully refundable.

Promise 91: Expand Employment Insurance maternity and parental benefits and federal leave provisions.

Promise 92: Provide new parents in federally regulated sectors with job protection to care for a baby up to 18 months of age.

• This represents up to 6 months of additional unpaid leave.

Promise 93: Provide the option of receiving full EI benefits up to 35 weeks or extend payments at a lesser rate up to 61 weeks.

Promise 94: Establish a two-year pilot project to allow parents to earn self-employment income, without impacting EI maternity or parental benefits, up to 100% of the weekly EI maximum insurable earnings threshold.

Promise 95: Establish a pilot project that allows women receiving EI maternity benefits to also be able to earn employment income

Promise 96: Increase the Child Care Expense Deduction by $1,000 (to $8,000), beginning this year.

Promise 97: Extend the Employment Insurance Compassionate Care Benefits period from six weeks to six months.

Consumers

Promise 98: Pass legislation that allows the Minister of Transport to issue motor-vehicle recalls and to demand that manufacturers repair defective vehicles as required, as well as levy significant fines on manufacturers and importers who do not comply.

Promise 99: Take action to create greater consumer choice in the wireless sector.

Promise 100: Pass legislation to grant the federal Competition Commissioner the authority to investigate geographic difference sin prices.

Promise 101: Forward with comprehensive legislation to protect consumers in financial transactions.

• Including banning “pay to pay” practices, i.e. charging a fee to make a payment on a mortgage or loan.

Promise 102: List microbeads as a toxic substance under the Environmental Protection Act, effectively banning them in Canada.

Promise 103: Amend Vanessa’s Law impose on health-care institutions a more comprehensive, standardized reporting regime when documenting reactions to medicines.

Jihadi Terrorism

Promise 104: Introduce “Declared Areas” legislation, allowing the Minister of Foreign Affairs to identify any part of the world where terrorists are active as a “no-go” zone for Canadians without legitimate business there.

• This would make going to those areas a serious criminal offence.

Promise 105: Renew funding for the Kanishka Project for another five years to address youth radicalization.

Promise 106: Modernize the definition of High Treason to include fighting against the Canadian Armed Forces alongside jihadist terror groups.

Promise 107: Not withdraw troops from the fight against ISIS.

Global Persecuted Minorities

Promise 108: Funding a new three-year program within the Office of Religious Freedom to support persecuted religious minorities in the Middle East, their places of worship and artifacts at risk.

Promise 109: Accept 10,000 more Syrian refugees.

Promise 110: Provide further humanitarian assistance through the Syria Emergency Relief Fund to match individual donations from Canadians up to $100 million.

Promise 111: Establish a new program within the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development to fund efforts to combat the practices of child, early, and forced marriage.

Promise 112: Continue to rally world leaders to improve women’s and children’s health in developing countries.

Cyber Security

Promise 113: Implement the Protection of Canada’s Vital Cyber Systems Act to require operators of vital cyber systems to implement robust cybersecurity plans that meet established standards, and to report cybersecurity breaches to the federal government.

Supporting Ukraine

Promise 114: Toughen Canada’s sanction regime by adding “gross human rights violations” as a new ground for sanctions and closing loopholes that allow sanctioned individuals to circumvent travel restrictions.

Promise 115: Establish a taskforce to track the flow of Russian capital through global markets in order to ensure that sanctions maintain their effectiveness.

Promise 116: Enter into a defence co-operation agreement with Ukraine.

Promise 117: Add Ukraine to the list of eligible countries for Canadian military and defence exports.

Promise 118: establish a Digital Freedom Fund to support international groups and independent media using digital tools to advance the causes of freedom and democracy around the world.

Military

Promise 119: Expand Special Operations Forces, bolstering their ranks by nearly 35 percent by 2022.

Promise 120: Increase the number of reservists by 15%, bringing the Reserves’ total strength to 30,000 in the next four years.

Promise 121: Streamline and shorten the current reserve recruiting process, improve training opportunities for reserve personnel, and broaden the eligibility criteria to include permanent residents.

Promise 122: Re-establishing Royal Military College Saint-Jean as a full, degree-granting post-secondary institution.

Promise 123: Rebuild and expand Royal Canadian Navy reserve division base HMCS Discovery in Vancouver, positioning it to become a major Maritime joint operations centre for the Royal Canadian Navy and the Canadian Coast Guard.

Promise 124: Commissionfour Royal Canadian Navy patrol vessels, to be dedicated to the Great Lakes and the Saint Lawrence Seaway.

Northern Sovereignty

Promise 125: Transferring ownership of the Lee-Enfields to the Rangers they have served for so many years.

Promise 126: Increase their number of Rangers patrolling in remote and isolated communities to 5,000, in time for the organization’s 20th anniversary.

Anti-Drug Strategy

Promise 127: Create a national toll-free help line to provide parents with advice and guidance on drugs.

Promise 128: Increase funding to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Clandestine Laboratory Teams.

Promise 129: Ask the Mental Health Commission of Canada to collaborate with the Canadian Centre for Substance Abuse to further integrate services.

Promise 130: Direct The Mental Health Commission of Canada to study community suicide-prevention programs, including in First Nations communities, to test their effectiveness.