Above (L-R): Conservative Leader Stephen Harper, Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau and NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair
There's less than a week to go for #elxn42. The federal election happens on October 19 and if you're like many other Canadians, you have no idea who you're going to vote for.
And I can't tell you. What I can tell you is what each major party is promising us Canadians and maybe that'll help you make a decision. Each party released a multi-page document that outlines their plans for security, the environment and the ever-elusive middle-class. Each party's platform is a long read but if you're willing to slog through them, they might help you decide who to vote for on October 19.
Let's take a look at a few of the things they're promising us.
The Conservative Party
Harping on face coverings aside, the conservative party is promising more jobs for young people. This includes creating a new $400million job program spread over four years to help approximately 2,000 young people get work experience in skilled trades.
They will also make Canada Student Grants available to low- to middle-income vocational students.
They will also:
- Balance the budget each year
- Prevent hikes in federal personal, business income taxes and sale tax rates
- Lower the business taxes to 9 per cent
- Increase the military reserve
- Spend more on defence. They're sayin $11.8 billion to the Department of National Defence over ten years.
The Liberal Party
They were the first party to release their platform catering to "a strong middle class." This includes lowering taxes on the middle class and raising them on the upper class. They will also create a new tax for people who make more than $200,000 that would see them pay 33 per cent. The Liberals have also said they might have to run deficits in the first few years because they plan on investing in infrastructure.
They're also promising:
- To repeal parts of anti-terror bill C-51
- Extensive democratic reform including the Senate
- Shift from a military to a peacekeeping mindset
- Decriminalize small amounts of marijuana
The National Democratic Party
The NDP is focusing on ending wage inequality. Their platform includes closing loopholes that allow CEOS to take advantage, improving the rights and healthcare of women, increased access to shelters and ending pay inequity.
They're will also:
- Provide safe, accessible abortion services across Canada
- Create a national drug plan
- Decriminalize small amounts of marijuana
- Get rid of the anti-terror bill, C-51
- Pull out of current military actions in Syria and Iraq
- Raise corporate taxes to 17 per cent
