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Day 29 Of The Election Campaign

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The federal party leaders entered the final week of the election campaign on Sunday.

Conservative leader Erin O’Toole announced plans to support parents experiencing a miscarriage, stillbirth, or loss of a child.

O’Toole says his party would extend EI parental leave for at least eight weeks after a child’s death, and provide parents with three days of paid bereavement in the event of a miscarriage.

“Canada’s Conservatives will end the stigma and ensure parents have access to the financial support and time they need to mourn,” O’Toole said in a news release.

NDP leader Jagmeet Singh repeated his commitment to close loopholes and crack down on big corporations avoiding their fair share of taxes.

The party pointed to figures from the Parliamentary Budget Office which shows Canada misses out on up to $25 billion a year in taxes.

Singh said he would invest in the Canada Revenue Agency to help with audits on large companies and the wealthy.

Liberal leader Justin Trudeau was in Quebec to highlight what his party would do for that province if re-elected.

Voters will head to the polls on Sept. 20.

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Federal Election Campaign: Day 23

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Workers were the main focus for Canada’s federal party leaders during their campaign stops on Labour Day.

Conservative leader Erin O’Toole pledged to double the Canada Workers Benefit to $2,800 for individuals and $5,000 for families.

It represents a $1 per hour raise for someone earning between $12,000 and $28,000 a year, according to the party.

The Conservatives also promised to double the disability supplement from $713 to $1,500.

Liberal leader Justin Trudeau said he would table legislation to ensure every business that requires proof of vaccination can do so without fear of a legal challenge.

During a campaign stop in Ontario, Trudeau also highlighted his election platform, such as extending the Canada Recovery Hiring Program through March and expanding the Canada Workers Benefit to support one million additional Canadians.

NDP leader Jagmeet Singh, also campaigning in Ontario, outlined his party’s plan to support workers, which includes $10 a day universal childcare, a $20 federal minimum wage, and 10 days of paid sick leave for workers in federally regulated workplaces.

Singh said his party would also fix the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit so more Canadians have access to paid leave when and how they need it.

Voters across the country will head to the polls on Sept. 20.

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Municipalities Unveil Federal Election Priorities

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The Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) has laid out its priorities for the upcoming federal election.

Members of the national organization representing more than 2,000 municipalities held a virtual news conference on Thursday.

President Joanne Vanderheyden said they want parties to work directly with communities to address major national challenges.

“After everything we’ve been through, Canadians deserve a recovery they can see and feel in their daily lives. As the government closest to Canadians, that is what local leaders do best,” said Vanderheyden.

FCM laid out its recommendations under four categories: building for the future; affordable places to live; digital inclusion for all Canadians; and governments working together.

Ray Orb, chair of the rural forum, said one of their priorities is to bring high-speed Internet to all Canadians.

“While millions of people in this country have gone online for work, school, and basic human interaction, too many rural Canadians still don’t have that option,” said Orb.

The federation also wants the next government to permanently double the Canada-Community Building Fund, formerly the Gas Tax Fund, which Orb said directly empowers local leaders to create jobs and build better lives.

Mike Savage, the mayor of Halifax and chair of the big city mayors’ caucus, said they have also put forward several solutions to address the housing crisis.

“We’re proposing constructive ways to end chronic homelessness and boost affordability across the housing spectrum, from scaling up the Rapid Housing Initiative to expanding affordable rental options in ways that work locally,” he said.

The full plan, called Frontline Solutions for Canada’s Recovery, can be viewed on FCM’s website.

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Day 11 Of The Federal Election Campaign

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Canada’s three main party leaders made announcements in Ontario on Day 11 of the election campaign on Wednesday.

The NDP released a plan to lower cell phones and internet bills and save the average family $1,000.

Leader Jagmeet Singh committed to working with the CRTC to force telecom giants to reduce prices on plans and cap fees.

“Most Canadians are paying hundreds of dollars a month for barebone cellular and internet plans — often with terrible service. That’s wrong,” said Singh.

“The pandemic showed us just how important affordable access to these services are for Canadians when it comes to work, school or even connecting with loved ones.”

Conservative leader Erin O’Toole unveiled his party’s mental health action plan, which includes more mental health funding for provinces.

O’Toole committed to helping an additional million Canadians to receive mental health treatment every year and creating a national three-digit suicide prevention hotline.

The Tories are also promising a tax credit for employers who add mental health coverage to the employee benefit plans or boost their coverage.

“As a country, we need to recognize that mental health is health,” said O’Toole. “We have tremendous work to do to end the stigma and build more integrated mental health care systems across the country.”

The Liberals are promising to raise taxes on the country’s largest banks and insurance companies.

Leader Justin Trudeau said his party would raise the corporate income tax from 15 to 18 per cent on earnings over $1 billion.

If re-elected, Trudeau said the Liberals would also establish what he called the “Canada Recovery Dividend.”

“Big banks and insurance companies have been doing very well over these past many months,” he said. “Because you sacrificed, because you saved, big banks got a windfall.”

Voters will head to the polls on Sept. 20.

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Conservatives Promise ‘GST Holiday’ If Elected

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The Conservatives are promising a “month-long GST holiday” this December if elected next month.

Leader Erin O’Toole unveiled the details Tuesday during an announcement at a Toronto hotel.

“December is the time of year where Canadian families hope to have a bit more time to spend, a bit more time and money to buy presents for the family. It’s a time that’s going to be harder than ever for many families this year,” O’Toole said Tuesday.

O’Toole said all purchases made this December will be tax-free. The five per cent discount, he said, would be applied at the checkout when the purchase is made.

He said the GST holiday will put $1.5 billion back into the pockets of Canadians and help small retailers get back on their feet.

“You won’t have to fill out any lengthy forms or applications to get this tax break,” said O’Toole. “Your five per cent discount will show up at the till at your favourite retailer.”

The initiative is part of the Conservative Party’s “recovery plan” released on Monday, the first full day of the campaign.

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Liberals Continue Push For $10 A Day Child Care

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The Liberals will keep pushing for $10 a day child care across the country if re-elected.

Leader Justin Trudeau made the commitment during a campaign stop Tuesday in Markham, Ont.

“If all provinces sign on to our plan as we expect they will, we will create 250,000 new quality child-care spaces across the country,” Trudeau told reporters.

The Liberals said those agreements would see early learning and child care fees reduced by 50 per cent by the end of next year and to $10 a day on average by no later than 2025-26.

Ottawa has yet to sign deals with three provinces and two territories, including New Brunswick and Ontario.

The Liberal leader also took aim Tuesday at the Conservative Party’s child care plan.

In their platform released a day earlier, the Conservatives said they plan to replace Liberal child-care funding deals with a refundable tax credit if elected.

“They’re promising backward Stephen Harper-era policies that won’t create a single child-care spot in Ontario or in any other province or improve the quality of child-care anywhere across the country,” said Trudeau. “Parents can’t afford to move backward.”

Trudeau was joined for the announcement by Chrystia Freeland, who reiterated the importance of affordable early learning and child care.

“I am hearing over and over from our businesses, from our small businesses, that they need workers, and so many mothers across our amazing country want to work,” said Freeland, “but they also want to know that their children are getting outstanding care and learning while their parents are working.”

Afghanistan situation

Trudeau said he took part in a Tuesday morning briefing with officials to get an update on the situation in Afghanistan.

He said Canadian officials are working with their counterparts in the United States to help more people escape the Taliban government.

Trudeau said Canada had had a total of nine flights leave the country in recent weeks.

“In the coming days, a number of the Afghan families that arrived weeks ago will be ending their COVID-19 quarantine and able to start their new lives across the country,” he said.

Canada has said that it plans to resettle as many as 20,000 Afghan refugees.

Trudeau said they will not recognize the Taliban as the government of Afghanistan

“They have taken over and replaced a duly-elected democratic government by force,” he said, adding that they are “a recognized terrorist organization under Canadian law.”

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Liberals Promise More Support For Businesses, Workers

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The Liberals are promising more emergency supports for businesses and workers if re-elected.

Justin Trudeau says his party would extend the Canada Recovery Hiring Program through the end of next March.

The program provides eligible employers with a subsidy of up to 50 per cent on the incremental remuneration paid to employees from June 6 to Nov. 20.

“For hard-hit businesses who get the workers they need to workers who get the jobs they need to support their families, this is a win-win,” Trudeau said during a stop in Quebec on Monday.

Trudeau said the Liberals would also provide the tourism industry with temporary wage and rent support of up to 75 per cent of their expenses to help them get through the winter.

They are also promising to launch a program that will match ticket sales for performing arts, live theatres, and other cultural venues to compensate for reduced capacity.

In addition, the Liberals said they would extend COVID-related insurance coverage for media production stoppages and implement a transitional support program to help bridge workers from the creative industry who continue to be impacted by the pandemic.