Scandals received the most attention during the 43rd federal election, but there’s plenty of ideas to ponder when going through the party platforms.
There’s broad consensus on what many of the issues are — housing costs, economic growth, affordability — but the proposed solutions reflect some deep differences between the main political parties.
None of the three major parties are promising to balance the books in a four-year term of government, but the Conservatives pledge to do it in five years.
EMPLOYMENT AND THE ECONOMY
Liberals: New Career Insurance Benefit with up to $15,900 in benefits over two years if long-term employee laid off because business closes; new federal minimum wage of $15 an hour starting in 2020; more labour protections for workers in sharing economy companies; up to $10,000 per new apprenticeship position; $40-million national workplace accessibility fund.
Conservatives: Reduce red tape for businesses by 25%; ensure intellectual property protection and free trade services in new trade agreements; engage with other countries on free trade; convene first minister’s meeting to draw up interprovincial free trade agreement.
NDP: Universal qualifying threshold of 360 hours for EI, bridge gap between end of EI and start of seasonal work with permanent Extra Five Weeks project; increase wage replacement rate to 60% from 55%; no one on EI regular or special benefits gets less than $1,200 a month; $15 federal minimum wage.
TAXES
Liberals: No federal taxes on first $15,000 income, nearly $600 savings for the average family; new 10% luxury tax on cars, boats and personal aircraft worth over $100,000.
Conservatives: Universal Tax Cut reducing tax rate on income under $47,630 to 13.75% from 15% giving couple earning average salaries extra $850; remove GST from home energy bills; 15% Green Public Transit Tax Credit for regular transit users; two-year 20% refundable tax credit for green home renovations between $1,000-$2,000; reduce number of work hours required to qualify for the Disability Tax Credit and Registered Disability Savings Plan.
NDP: Roll back corporate tax cuts by 3%; increase capital gains inclusion rate to 75%; new 1% wealth tax on wealth over $20 million.
HOUSING
Liberals: First-Time Home Buyer incentive up to 10% off purchase price of home to set amount; national tax on foreign-owned vacant residential properties; new purpose-built accessible housing for homeless veterans of Canadian military and RCMP.
Conservatives: Remove stress test for mortgage renewals; extend amortization period on insured mortgages to 30 years from 25 years for first-time home buyers; make surplus federal real estate available to increase supply of housing.
NDP: Create 500,000 units of affordable housing; waive federal portion of GST on construction of new affordable rental units; 30-year amortizations on insured mortgages for entry-level homes for first-time buyers; double Home Buyer’s Tax Credit to $1,500; bring in foreign-buyers tax.
CHILDREN, YOUNG ADULTS AND FAMILIES
Liberals: Increase Child Care Benefit by 15% for children under one years old, up to $1,000 more for families; maternity and parental EI benefits tax free, new 15-week leave for adoptive parents; Guaranteed Paid Family Leave for parent to stay home with child for one year; give part and full-time post secondary students up to $1,200 more in Canada Student Grants; double Child Disability Benefit.
Conservatives: Maternity and parental EI benefits tax-free; new 15-week tax-free EI adoption leave for new parents; increase Adoption Expense Tax Credit to $2,000 and make it refundable; new refundable 15% Children’s Fitness Tax Credit for sports and fitness programs up to $150 plus ability to claim an addition $500 for a disabled child; refundable 15% Children’s Arts and Learning Tax Credit up to $75 per child for expense related to arts and learning activities; increase government’s contribution to RESPs.
NDP: Cap tuition; eliminate federal interest on student debt; increase access to student grants; create 500,000 new child-care spaces with goal of no cost or no more than $10-a-day child care by 2030; voluntary condensing of parental benefits; allow self-employed workers to opt-in to EI parental benefits.
SENIORS AND NEAR SENIORS
Liberals: 10 per cent boost in Old Age Security after age 74; increase CPP survivor benefit by 25 per cent providing up to $2,080 more a year.
Conservatives: Expand Age Credit by $1,000 saving a lower-income couple up to $300 a year and an individual up to $150 a year on top of Universal Tax Cut; require all federally-regulated companies to report on solvency of pension funds.
NDP: Develop national care standards for home and long-term care; a national dementia strategy and elder abuse prevention plan; stop payout of dividends and bonuses when company pension plan underfunded; put pensioners at front of the line when a company goes bankrupt.
HEALTH
Liberals: Every Canadian has access to family doctor/primary health care team; take “next steps” to pharmacare; $30 million for pediatric cancer research.
Conservatives: Health and Social Program Guarantee to increase federal transfers.
NDP: Pharmacare to cover necessary medicines by late 2020; work toward dental, mental health, eye and hearing care coverage under Canada Health Act.
CRIME AND PUNISHMENT
Liberals: Ban assault rifles; buy back program for military-style assault rifles; allow municipalities to restrict or ban handguns.
Conservatives: End statutory release and replace with earned parole focused on rehabilitation and skills training; end unescorted day passes from prison; stop needle exchange program in prison; end automatic bail for gang members; stronger background checks for gun licences; tougher sentences for violent gang crime; mandatory five-year sentence for possession of smuggled gun.
NDP: Reduce reliance on mandatory minimum sentences; expunge criminal records for minor cannabis possession; increase funding for legal aid programs.
ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT
Liberals: Tax on carbon sources like gasoline and natural gas; up to $40,000 interest-free loan for homeowners/landlords for energy retrofits; new $5 billion Clean Power Fund to help companies switch to electricity; ban on single-use plastics.
Conservatives: Remove carbon tax; create a national energy corridor to move oil and gas from Alberta and Saskatchewan; ban foreign-funded groups from using approvals process to block energy projects in national interest; build Trans Mountain pipeline expansion project.
NDP: Maintain carbon pricing; bring in Fair Gasoline Prices Watchdog; invest in low-carbon transit projects with goal of electrifying transit and other municipal fleets by 2030; support high-frequency rail along Quebec-Windsor corridor; waive federal sales tax on zero-emissions vehicles; eliminate fossil fuel subsidies
DIVERSITY AND IMMIGRATION
Liberals: Create gender-balanced cabinet; promote diversity in government appointments; protect women’s access to abortion; create National Institute for Women’s Health Research; ban conversion therapy; annual increases in overall immigration numbers
Conservatives: Focus on immigrants who can fill skills shortages; work to keep international students in Canada after graduation; allow Quebec greater autonomy over immigration; remove cap on privately sponsored refugees; end “illegal border crossings” at unofficial points of entry.
NDP: Ensure access to abortion; ensure full range of prescription contraceptive and reproductive health-care options easily accessible at no cost; ban conversion therapy; establish clear and permanent path for resettlement of LGBTQI2S+ refugees
SECURITY
Liberals: Create a director of Terrorism prosecutions; new regulations for social media platforms to remove illegal content including hate speech and terrorist propaganda within 24 hours; renew Canada’s commitment to peacekeeping efforts.
Conservatives: Give CSIS more power to disrupt terrorist threats; streamline listing of terrorist entities; enter discussions with the U.S to join Ballistic Missile Defence program and modernize NORAD alliance.
NDP: Ensure social media platforms remove online hate.
NATION-BUILDING AND BEYOND
Liberals: Create a national infrastructure fund for projects that benefit all Canadians; continue plans to ensure high-speed access to all Canadians by 2030; appoint only bilingual judges to Supreme Court of Canada.
Conservatives: Designate grave sites of former prime ministers and governors general as national historic sites; formally recognize Jerusalem as capital of Israel; require national security review of foreign takeover of Canadian company; use Magnitsky sanctions law against worst human rights offenders; provide military defensive aid to Ukraine’s military; cut foreign aid by 25%
NDP: Support nuclear disarmament, commit to peacekeeping, prevent Canadian-made weapons from “fuelling conflict and human rights abuses” abroad, pursue two-state solution with Israel and Palestine; fund equipment, training and support for Canadians in uniform
RESPONSIBLE GOVERNMENT
Liberals: Non-partisan, merit-based Senate appointments; implement Hon. Anne McLellan’s recommendations in a recent review of the role of minister of justice and attorney general of Canada
Conservatives: Launch judicial inquiry into SNC-Lavalin scandal; introduce “no more cover ups act” to allow RCMP to apply to courts to access information protected by cabinet confidence; increase oversight powers of ethics and lobbying commissioners; introduce “real penalties” for violations of Conflict of Interest Act; strengthen whistleblower protections
NDP: Mixed member proportional representation with a referendum to confirm; lower voting age to 16; hold social media platforms responsible for spread of fake news; tougher Conflict of Interest Act penalties, ban cash-for-political access events; launch an independent public inquiry into SNC-Lavalin scandal; work with provinces to abolish Senate.
(For full election platform of any of the parties in this campaign, check their websites.)
Copyright Postmedia Network Inc., 2019
