Photo credit: globalnews.ca
Prime Minister Mark Carney is poised to kick off a federal election campaign this Sunday, with the possibility of Canadians heading to the polls as early as April 28. Various parties are rolling out their campaign promises in anticipation of the election.
Conservatives
March 21: Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre unveiled a new initiative aimed at enhancing training and job opportunities in the skilled trades. At a press conference in Ottawa, Poilievre detailed a strategy dubbed “more boots, less suits,” which intends to establish additional training spaces and provide immediate grants along with quicker access to employment insurance for apprentices pursuing licensed trades.
March 20: Poilievre proposed the creation of “shovel-ready zones” that would come with pre-approved permits for significant resource or energy projects. He emphasized the importance of expediting the permitting process for essential initiatives such as mines, liquefied natural gas plants, and pipelines.
March 19: Poilievre announced a commitment to expedite the approval process for all federal permits related to mining in the Ring of Fire region of northwestern Ontario, asserting that a Conservative administration would implement a six-month deadline for these approvals. Furthermore, he pledged $1 billion over three years to develop a road network connecting mining operations with Ontario’s highway infrastructure and Indigenous communities.
March 17: In a move to address emission concerns, Poilievre stated that a Conservative government would completely repeal the current carbon pricing framework for both consumers and the industry. Instead, he proposed expanding access to clean technology tax credits and incentivizing businesses to produce goods with lower emissions than the global average.
Liberals
March 21: Prime Minister Carney announced several significant measures following discussions with Canada’s premiers. Among these, he declared that the one-week waiting period for employment insurance would be waived for individuals affected by job losses linked to U.S. tariffs, alongside a temporary deferral of income tax and GST and HST payments for Canadian businesses to improve financial liquidity.
March 21: Carney also confirmed that plans to increase the capital gains inclusion rate, originally proposed in last year’s federal budget, would not proceed. This increase was intended to be effective June 25 of the previous year, targeting businesses and individuals reporting capital gains exceeding $250,000 annually.
March 20: In a commitment to environmental and infrastructure improvement, Carney announced a $187-million investment to rehabilitate critical infrastructure within Jasper National Park. He also revealed plans to eliminate GST for first-time homebuyers purchasing homes valued at $1 million or less.
March 18: Addressing national security, Carney stated intentions to broaden the Canadian Armed Forces’ presence in the Arctic, incorporating Australia’s over-the-horizon radar technology to counter threats posed by nations such as China and Russia. Alongside this, he pledged $253 million for Indigenous reconciliation efforts in Northern regions.
NDP
March 16: NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh announced that an NDP government would terminate Canada’s contracts for F-35s and instead focus on developing fighter jets domestically. He also committed to enhancing defence initiatives in the Arctic, proposing increased military funding, improved support for soldiers, and the construction of essential infrastructure for Northern communities.
March 20: In Hamilton, Singh outlined his vision for better employment insurance, job creation through infrastructure investments, and the need to diversify trade relationships beyond the U.S. market.
Source
globalnews.ca