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Week 2 of the federal election campaign is almost over. So where do the Conservatives, NDP and Liberals stand? Here is a summary of the major promises made to date:
Conservatives
Allowing families with children to split up to $50,000 in income to pay less tax, but only once the federal books are balanced -- likely not until 2015. Tories say it will cost $2.5 billion annually and save 1.8 million families an average of $1,300 a year.
A one-year small-business tax credit to encourage hiring of up to $1,000 when employment insurance costs go up. The Tories say it would be available to 525,000 employers and save them $165 million.
Financial support for the Lower Churchill hydro project in Labrador.
Extend six initiatives under the Here for Workers plan, including a job-sharing program. Continue scheme to help older workers in hard-hit communities, extend employment-insurance pilot programs, eliminate mandatory retirement for workers in federally regulated workplaces.
Cut per-vote subsidies to political parties over a three-year period.
Once budget is balanced in 2015, spend $145 million a year to double the fitness tax credit for children to $1,000, and introduce a new $500 fitness tax credit for adults at an annual cost of $275 million.
End the long-gun registry.
Forgive a portion of Canada Student Loans for new family doctors and nurses who will work in rural areas.
A $3,000 tax credit for volunteer firefighters.
Bridge loans worth $6 million a year to help recent immigrants pay for skills training or education to ensure credentials are recognized in Canada.
Once budget is balanced in 2015, double the amount of money individuals can be contribute each year to a Tax Free Savings Account to $10,000 from $5,000.
Balance the books by 2014-15, earlier than previously announced.
Compensation of $2.2 billion over two years to Quebec for collecting GST on behalf of federal government, after a deal is reached with the province.
Create office of religious freedom within Foreign Affairs, costing $20 million over four years, to monitor and promote religious freedom.
Liberals
Student-aid grants to post-secondary students of $1,000 a year for four years, $1,500 a year for students from lower-income families, using the existing RESP system. Liberals say the program would cost $1 billion a year.
Expand Canada Pension Plan benefits with the help of the provinces, allow people to voluntarily save an additional five to 10 per cent of their income in a CPP-backed fund and boost the Guaranteed Income Supplement by $700 million a year.
Start fund to create early-learning and child-care spaces, with initial $500-million investment, rising to $1 billion by fourth year. Would not replace $100-a-month Universal Childcare Benefit.
A $1-billion Family Care Plan to let people take time off work to care for seriously ill or aging relatives, and help with cost of care giving. Includes six-month Family Care Employment Insurance Benefit, similar to the EI parental leave benefit, and a new tax benefit of up to $1,350 a year.
Return corporate tax rates to 2010 levels, cap oilsands tax breaks and cap stock option deductions for more than $9 billion in additional revenue to finance promises over first two years of a Liberal mandate.
Introduce a $13,500 Green Renovation Tax Credit for retrofitting homes to make them more energy-efficient.
Four years of government-paid education or technical training for new veterans, grandfathered for those who served in Afghanistan, at an annual cost of about $60 million.
Support loan guarantees for Labrador's massive hydroelectric project on the Lower Churchill, a commitment also made by the Conservatives.
Maintain annual health-care increases of six per cent, or about $2 billion a year, after current deal with provinces expires in 2014.
New Democrats
Cap credit card interest rates at five percentage points above prime and limit transaction fees retailers are forced to pay credit card firms. The NDP says it would save a typical cardholder $60 a month.
Cut small-business taxes to nine per cent from 11, set up a job-creation tax credit for businesses worth up to $4,500 for each new hire and extend the accelerated capital cost allowance for four more years. The NDP estimates cost at $2.3 billion a year, financed by cancelling Conservative cuts to corporate taxes.
Cut $2 billion in subsidies for oilsands and put it toward clean energy.
Invest $165 million to train and recruit 1,200 doctors and 6,000 nurses over the next 10 years.
Spend $103 million a year on improved benefits for disabled and retired veterans, including ending government clawbacks and restoring the Service Income Security Insurance Plan.
Gradual doubling of CPP and QPP benefits, in conjunction with the provinces, with rise in payroll deductions of as much as 2.5 per cent. Add $700 million to the Guaranteed Income Supplement.
A program to help finance home retrofits to accommodate elderly parents, providing forgivable loans to a maximum of $35,000.
Expand the compassionate care provisions under employment insurance by extending leaves to six months from six weeks.
Introduce a caregiver benefit worth $1,500 a year to assist middle- and low-income households with caring for family members.
A national home-care program worth $250 million a year, increasing to $1 billion after four years, plus an additional $250 million a year for the provinces to increase the number of long-term care beds.
A crime-prevention strategy worth $250 million a year that would put an additional 2,500 police officers on the streets and double funding for programs that try to keep children from joining gangs.
Build all navy replacement ships in Canada; review of F-35 jet fighter purchase with a view to re-tendering.
Week 2 of the federal election campaign is almost over. So where do the Conservatives, NDP and Liberals stand? Here is a summary of the major promises made to date:
Conservatives
Allowing families with children to split up to $50,000 in income to pay less tax, but only once the federal books are balanced -- likely not until 2015. Tories say it will cost $2.5 billion annually and save 1.8 million families an average of $1,300 a year.
A one-year small-business tax credit to encourage hiring of up to $1,000 when employment insurance costs go up. The Tories say it would be available to 525,000 employers and save them $165 million.
Financial support for the Lower Churchill hydro project in Labrador.
Extend six initiatives under the Here for Workers plan, including a job-sharing program. Continue scheme to help older workers in hard-hit communities, extend employment-insurance pilot programs, eliminate mandatory retirement for workers in federally regulated workplaces.
Cut per-vote subsidies to political parties over a three-year period.
Once budget is balanced in 2015, spend $145 million a year to double the fitness tax credit for children to $1,000, and introduce a new $500 fitness tax credit for adults at an annual cost of $275 million.
End the long-gun registry.
Forgive a portion of Canada Student Loans for new family doctors and nurses who will work in rural areas.
A $3,000 tax credit for volunteer firefighters.
Bridge loans worth $6 million a year to help recent immigrants pay for skills training or education to ensure credentials are recognized in Canada.
Once budget is balanced in 2015, double the amount of money individuals can be contribute each year to a Tax Free Savings Account to $10,000 from $5,000.
Balance the books by 2014-15, earlier than previously announced.
Compensation of $2.2 billion over two years to Quebec for collecting GST on behalf of federal government, after a deal is reached with the province.
Create office of religious freedom within Foreign Affairs, costing $20 million over four years, to monitor and promote religious freedom.
Liberals
Student-aid grants to post-secondary students of $1,000 a year for four years, $1,500 a year for students from lower-income families, using the existing RESP system. Liberals say the program would cost $1 billion a year.
Expand Canada Pension Plan benefits with the help of the provinces, allow people to voluntarily save an additional five to 10 per cent of their income in a CPP-backed fund and boost the Guaranteed Income Supplement by $700 million a year.
Start fund to create early-learning and child-care spaces, with initial $500-million investment, rising to $1 billion by fourth year. Would not replace $100-a-month Universal Childcare Benefit.
A $1-billion Family Care Plan to let people take time off work to care for seriously ill or aging relatives, and help with cost of care giving. Includes six-month Family Care Employment Insurance Benefit, similar to the EI parental leave benefit, and a new tax benefit of up to $1,350 a year.
Return corporate tax rates to 2010 levels, cap oilsands tax breaks and cap stock option deductions for more than $9 billion in additional revenue to finance promises over first two years of a Liberal mandate.
Introduce a $13,500 Green Renovation Tax Credit for retrofitting homes to make them more energy-efficient.
Four years of government-paid education or technical training for new veterans, grandfathered for those who served in Afghanistan, at an annual cost of about $60 million.
Support loan guarantees for Labrador's massive hydroelectric project on the Lower Churchill, a commitment also made by the Conservatives.
Maintain annual health-care increases of six per cent, or about $2 billion a year, after current deal with provinces expires in 2014.
New Democrats
Cap credit card interest rates at five percentage points above prime and limit transaction fees retailers are forced to pay credit card firms. The NDP says it would save a typical cardholder $60 a month.
Cut small-business taxes to nine per cent from 11, set up a job-creation tax credit for businesses worth up to $4,500 for each new hire and extend the accelerated capital cost allowance for four more years. The NDP estimates cost at $2.3 billion a year, financed by cancelling Conservative cuts to corporate taxes.
Cut $2 billion in subsidies for oilsands and put it toward clean energy.
Invest $165 million to train and recruit 1,200 doctors and 6,000 nurses over the next 10 years.
Spend $103 million a year on improved benefits for disabled and retired veterans, including ending government clawbacks and restoring the Service Income Security Insurance Plan.
Gradual doubling of CPP and QPP benefits, in conjunction with the provinces, with rise in payroll deductions of as much as 2.5 per cent. Add $700 million to the Guaranteed Income Supplement.
A program to help finance home retrofits to accommodate elderly parents, providing forgivable loans to a maximum of $35,000.
Expand the compassionate care provisions under employment insurance by extending leaves to six months from six weeks.
Introduce a caregiver benefit worth $1,500 a year to assist middle- and low-income households with caring for family members.
A national home-care program worth $250 million a year, increasing to $1 billion after four years, plus an additional $250 million a year for the provinces to increase the number of long-term care beds.
A crime-prevention strategy worth $250 million a year that would put an additional 2,500 police officers on the streets and double funding for programs that try to keep children from joining gangs.
Build all navy replacement ships in Canada; review of F-35 jet fighter purchase with a view to re-tendering.
