THE NEW DEMOCRATS
ECONOMY
- Reverse corporate tax cuts brought in by Liberal and Conservative governments, which would raise the rate to 22.12 per cent from 19.5 and add billions of dollars a year to government coffers
- Reestablish national minimum wage at $10 an hour and index it to inflation
- $750-million a year job fund to train workers for "green-collar" jobs, which includes installing and maintaining energy efficient and renewable energy technology
- Appoint job protection commissioner to probe major layoffs and shutdowns
- Lower the small business tax rate to 10 per cent from 11 per cent
- Outlaw use of replacement workers in strikes or lockouts
ENVIRONMENT
- Slash greenhouse gas emissions by 80 per cent below 1990 levels by 2050
- Raise $2.5-billion a year in carbon auctions and reinvest the money in public transit and other green initiatives
- Halt new tar sands development until carbon emissions are capped and protected areas set aside
- Meet 35 per cent of Canada's energy needs by 2020 with renewable energy, including biomass, wind power and renewable fuels
- $600-million for industry innovation fund to help businesses reduce energy use
- New clean water act that includes ban on fresh water exports, minimum of secondary water treatment in municipalities, and a $10-million safe water fund to address issues of emerging pollutants
FAMILIES
- A new monthly cheque of up to $400 that would replace three existing child benefits, including the Conservatives' $100-a-month cheque. A family with two children and an income of $75,000 would take in an extra $2,140 a year
- Eliminate poverty in Canada by 2020 by setting firm targets, establishing a poverty elimination office within HRDC, and economic measures such as national minimum wage and new child benefit
- National child care program calling for 150,000 new child care spaces in the first year, growing to 220,000 spaces annually in the fourth year
- $1-billion national home-care program for seniors
HEALTH CARE
- $1-billion a year on a new catastrophic drug plan
- $200-million a year to increase training spaces and expand Canada's medical schools by 50 per cent
- Establish mental health crisis response centres
- Dedicate one per cent of Health Canada budget to physical fitness and amateur sports promotion
EDUCATION
- $1,000-a-year grant to all undergraduate or equivalent students who qualify for student loans
- Broaden eligibility for EI benefits to Canadians engaged in full-time training and retraining programs
CITIES & COMMUNITIES
- $4-billion for transit over four years
- Invest one cent of GST in infrastructure by 2011
- Dedicate one per cent of federal spending to affordable housing within 10 years
CONSUMER PROTECTION
- Ban ATM fees for institutions regulated under the Bank Act
- Limit interest rates and fees by "fringe banks," including on pay day loans, tax refund advances and cheque cashing
- Cap interest rates on credit card to 5 percentage points over prime
- Mandatory labelling of farmed fish, genetically engineered food
CRIME
- Enable cities and provinces to ban handguns
- 2,500 new police officer positions
- Federally funded permanent youth gang diversion strategy
- Set national standards for use of Tasers
- Repeal use of security certificates
Notice the Conservatives have yet to announce their platform? Wonder what they're hiding?
