Breakdown of major federal election issues, party-by-party

Still trying to figure out who to vote for in Monday’s federal election? News Talk has you covered.

We’ve broken down all the major issues and what each party’s stance is.

Childcare

Conservative Party:

Maintain Universal Child Care Benefit (UCCB) that provides monthly cheques up to nearly $2,000 per year for children under age six, and more than $700 per year for children aged six to 17.
Increase the Child Care Expense Deduction by $1,000 beginning this year.
Maximum amount parents can claim will increase $1,000 to $8,000 from $7,000 for children under age seven, $5,000 for children aged seven to 16, and $11,000 for children with disabilities.
Already increased UCCB to $160 a month for children under age six, up from $100, and added new monthly benefit of $60 for children aged six to 17.
Payments are costing taxpayers an estimated $4.4 billion annually and will have cost more than $23 billion by 2019-20.
18 months of job protection for new parents with option to stretch employment insurance parental benefits over 18 months.

Liberal Party:

Will cancel UCCB and instill new Canada Child Benefit which will be tax free and tied to parental income. The less money parents make the more they will get back.
Introduce more flexible parental benefits that will make it possible for parents to take a longer leave at a lower benefit level.

New Democratic Party:

$2.6-billion for expanded UCCB program.
$595-million for one million $15-a-day or less childcare spaces over eight years.
$500-million for low-income families through National Child Benefit Supplement and Working Income Tax Benefit.
$500 million a year to add five weeks leave for second parent, same sex couples and adoptive parents.
Double leave time for parents of multiples.
Ensure parents who are laid off after returning to work have quick access to employment insurance benefits.

Green Party:

Work with provinces, territories, indigenous communities to establish accessible, convenient, enriched and affordable child care.
Tax breaks to employers who create child care spaces.

Finances/Taxation

Conservative Party:

Balanced budget every year for the next four years.
Further lower small-business tax rate from 11 per cent to 9 per cent over the next four years.
Introduce “tax lock” legislation which prohibits increases to federal personal and business income taxes, sales taxes and “discretionary payroll taxes” such as CPP and EI.
Couples with children under 18 years old can split up to $50,000 of income for tax purposes, but cap non-refundable benefit at $2,000.
Boost tax free savings account annual contribution to $10,000 from $5,500.

Liberal Party:

$10-billion a year deficit over the next three years. Balance the books in 2019.
Introduce new tax rate of 33 per cent on incomes exceeding $200,000.
Cut income tax between $44,701 and $89,401 to 20.5 per cent from 22 per cent.
Cancel income splitting.

New Democratic Party:

Four years of budgetary surpluses, relying on corporate tax increases and ending tax breaks for people who are paid with stock options.
Cut small-business tax rate from 11 per cent to 9 per cent within two years.
Raise corporate tax rate from 15 per cent to 17 per cent.
Cancel income-splitting.
Reverse changes to tax-free savings account contributions

Green Party:

Increase corporate tax rate back to its 2009 level of 19 per cent.
$1.9 billion surplus this fiscal year, gradually climbing to $13.1-billion in four years.
Guaranteed Livable Income.
Commit $6.4 billion per year, one point of the GST, to municipal infrastructure.
Tax credits for homeowners to make their homes more energy efficient

Employment/Jobs

Conservative Party:

Create 1.3 million unspecified jobs by 2020.
Establish program to assist up to 2,000 young Canadians get job experience in skilled trade.
$65-million to post secondary institutions to help “better align curricula with the needs of employers.”
Cut EI premiums by 2017 to $1.49 per $100 earned.

Liberal Party:

Invest $300-million annually in a Youth Employment Strategy.
Offer 12-month break on Employment Insurance premiums to encourage companies to hire young Canadians in permanent positions.
Cut EI premiums from $1.88 per $100 earned to $1.65.
$500-million annually to provinces and territories for training programs, with additional $200-million for training workers who can’t get federal training and $50-million for aboriginal education.

New Democratic Party:

Reinstate federal minimum wage and increase it to $15 an hour.
Up to $200-million over four years for partnerships with private sector and NGOs to create jobs for youth.
Freeze EI premiums for four years and phase out interest on federal student loans.
Repeal anti-union legislation.

Green Party:

Establish Canadian Sustainable Generations Fund to invest in trades, apprenticeships and education.
Re-introduce home renovation tax to spur job growth in green infrastructure sector.
$1 billion per year in Green Technology Commercialization Grants.
Establish “Think Small First” legislation to ensure new federal laws and regulations enhance economic environment where local businesses and entrepreneurs can thrive.
New jobs in the petroleum industry created by refining product in Canada.

Health

Conservative Party:

Health transfers will be tied to Canada’s economic growth after 2016-17 with a minimum three per cent increase.
No universal prescription drug coverage.
31.5-million plan on dementia in partnership with private and public-sector groups.
Intend to study the Supreme Court’s ruling on physician-assisted death

Liberal Party:

Negotiate the Canada Health Transfer and a new health accord with provincial and territorial governments.
Negotiate lower costs for prescription drugs.
$3-billion over four years to improve service for home-care patients.
$190-million for paid time off for Canadians who look after seriously ill family members.
Set up an all-party committee to come up with recommendations for legislation on physician-assisted death

New Democratic Party:

Preserve six per cent annual increase in provincial health-care transfers.
$2.6-billion over four years for a universal drug-coverage plan, in collaboration with provinces.
$300-million over four years to construct or expand 200 health-care clinics across Canada.
$200-million for recruitment grants for doctors and nurses.
$1.8-billion to improve seniors care, including expanded home care and improved palliative care.
$40-million over four years to develop an Alzheimer’s and dementia strategy.
Free vote in Parliament on physician-assisted death.

Green Party:

National Pharmacare Plan for prescription drug coverage.
Public dental coverage for low income minors.
Work with provinces to develop preventative health care guidelines.
National Conference on Lyme Disease.
Stricter regulations to prohibit cancer-causing chemicals.
National Dementia Strategy

Energy/Environment

Conservative Party:

Cut Canada’s greenhouse-gas emissions by 30 per cent from 2005 levels before 2030.
No plan for additional regulations for oil-sands development.
Advocate for new energy pipelines to bring Alberta crude to global markets.

Liberal Party:

National targets to curb greenhouse-gas emissions, but allow provinces to design their own emissions-reduction systems.
Supports the Keystone XL pipeline.
$20-billion over 10 years on “greener infrastructure.”
Green Bonds to fund environmentally friendly energy projects.
$2-billion for the Low Carbon Economy Trust

New Democratic Party:

Oppose the Keystone XL pipeline.
Other pipeline projects such as Energy East should be approved only if they are “consistent” with Canada’s emissions-reduction targets.
National cap-and-trade program.
$100-million for renewable energy development in northern and remote communities.

Green Party:

Oppose the Keystone XL pipeline.
Partner with First Nations for sustainable resource development that is in the long-term public interest.
Canadian Climate and Energy Strategy.
Carbon Fee and Dividend system to put a $50 per tonne price on carbon.
Reduce Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions reduced by at least 40 per cent below 2005 levels by 2025 and by 80 per cent below 1990 levels by 2050.
$500 million a year to a “Green Climate Fund” that would assist developing nations in addressing climate change.
$180 million a year in clean energy research and development.
Rapid phase-out of coal-fired generation plants in Canada.
$1 billion a year for a “Green Technology Commercialization Grants.”

Old Age Security

Conservative Party:

They increased Old Age Security to 67 from 65.
They’ll examine ways for Canadians to voluntarily contribute more to the Canada Pension Plan.

Liberal Party:

Repeal the decision to increase OAS eligibility age to 67.
Increase contributions and benefits for the Canada Pension Plan.

New Democratic Party:

Return OAS eligibility age to 65 from 67.
Invest an additional $400 million in the guaranteed income supplement for the poorest seniors.
Modestly increase Canada Pension Plan contributions and benefits

Green Party: