Randy Hoback MP Report

The parliamentary schedule resumed on June 3rd, when His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada, delivered the Speech from the Throne to open the 1st session of the 41st Parliament. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Stephen Harper, the Government will deliver on its commitments and be there for all Canadians – for individuals, for families and for all regions of the country – working together to move Canada forward. Specifically, the Government will focus on:

· Supporting jobs and growth by implementing the Next Phase of Canada’s Economic Action Plan, which will include further steps to promote a stable, low-tax environment; develop a highly skilled and flexible workforce; support innovation and the adoption of new technologies, and expand access to markets abroad.

· Eliminating the deficit one year earlier by making responsible choices and reducing the cost of government, ensuring that the economy can continue to grow and create jobs.

· Supporting hard-working families by helping seniors make ends meet and continuing to help Canadians save for their retirement; by supporting family caregivers; by helping parents who want to provide their children with opportunities to discover their creative passions; and by working with the provinces and territories to ensure that the health care system is sustainable and delivers results for Canadians.

· Standing on guard for Canada by celebrating our heritage; by developing Canada’s extraordinary resource wealth in a way that protects the environment; and by continuing to stand for what is right on the world stage, including through our missions in Afghanistan and Libya.

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· Supporting law-abiding Canadians by reintroducing comprehensive law-and-order legislation to combat crime and terrorism; by protecting the most vulnerable and working to prevent crime; by addressing the problem of violence against women and girls; and by reintroducing legislation to clarify and strengthen laws on self-defence, defence of property and citizen’s arrest.

· Helping communities and industries by ending the long-gun registry; by continuing to support Canada’s traditional industries; and by addressing the barriers to social and economic participation faced by many Aboriginal Canadians.

· Promoting integrity and accountability by reintroducing legislation to reform the Senate and restore fair representation in the House of Commons; by taking steps to phase out direct taxpayer subsidies to federal political parties; and by ensuring that citizens, the private sector and other partners have improved access to the workings of government.

The economy remains the Government’s top priority. Hence, on Monday, June 6, 2011, the Government introduced the Next Phase of Canada’s Economic Action Plan to build on the progress already made and to ensure Canada remains one of the world’s top-performing advanced economies.

Implementing the Next Phase of Canada’s Economic Action Plan  will preserve Canada’s advantage in the global economy; strengthen the financial security of Canadian workers, seniors and families; and provide the stability necessary to secure our recovery in an uncertain world.

On March 22, 2011, the Government tabled Budget 2011, the Next Phase of Canada’s Economic Action Plan—A Low-Tax Plan for Jobs and Growth, in the House of Commons. However, that budget was not adopted, as the Opposition parties instead chose to bring the Conservative government down with an election call.

However, on Election Day, Canadians expressed their support for the Government’s economic record and its plan to ensure Canada remains at the forefront of economic growth and job creation. As a result, our budget tabled on June 6th includes all of the measures that were part of the March 22nd budget.

As part of the plan,

– We will keep taxes low;
– We will undertake additional targeted investments to support jobs and growth;
– We will improve the quality of life of seniors, families and children;
– We will invest in innovation, education and training; and
– We will control government spending, and stay on track to eliminate the deficit.

In addition, in this budget The Government also announced the phase-out of quarterly allowances for political parties. Unlike the NDP and the Liberals, the Conservative Government opposes a tax on voting.

Since 2006, our Conservative Government has taken action to ensure that having money isn’t a ticket to influence on political parties, including eliminating large personal donations, and banning donations from corporations and unions. Governments also have a duty to use taxpayer dollars wisely, and only in the public interest – especially in a time of fiscal restraint, when families are struggling to make ends meet.

That’s why the Next Phase of Canada’s Economic Action Plan follows through on our Government’s campaign commitment to phase out per-vote subsidies for political parties. The Government will therefore introduce legislation to gradually reduce the $2.04 per year per-vote subsidy in $0.51 increments starting April 1, 2012 until it is completely eliminated by 2015-16. This will generate savings ramping up to $30 million by 2015-16.

Our Government has always opposed direct taxpayer subsidies to political parties and believes that political parties should rely primarily on their supporters for their financing. Parties receive adequate public support by virtue of their ability to issue tax receipts for contributions and to receive a partial reimbursement of election expenses.

Phasing out the per-vote subsidy will allow parties to adjust to their loss of income by stepping up their fundraising efforts over time and in doing so, increase their contact with Canadians.

A pdf copy of Budget 2011 can be downloaded at the following link: http://www.budget.gc.ca/2011/plan/Budget2011-eng.pdf

Question of the Week

On rural health care, the Conservative Government announced in Budget 2011 it would forgive a portion of the federal share of Canada Student Loans for new family physicians, nurse practitioners and nurses who practise in underserved rural or remote communities. Are you supportive of this budgetary initiative? Please respond this question by clicking here.