In a context when the economy is the top priority for Stephen Harper’s Conservative Government, the Harper Government reaffirmed support for Canadian sealers and the sealing industry on Thursday.

By participating in ‘Seal Day on the Hill,’ the Harper Government expressed solidarity with the people who work in this industry.  It is clear that Canada’s seal industry remains a vital and important economic activity for many communities.

That’s why, now is not the time to undermine this industry — especially when there are no reasons from a conservation or commercial standpoint to end the hunt.  Our Conservative Government will continue its record of support for this vital industry.

On Thursday’s ‘Seal Day on the Hill,’ our Government’s Ministers, Senators, and Members of Parliament proudly wore seal pins as a sign of support.

Meanwhile, some Opposition members have been voicing their beliefs on the matter — stating their opinion that the seal hunt is dead.  In doing so, the Opposition is only serving the interests of those who oppose this traditional, sustainable and humane hunt, undermining the livelihoods of thousands of Canadian families.

Canadians can count on our Conservative Government to continue to defend our sealing industry and promote its products domestically and internationally.

On Thursday, Stephen Harper’s Conservative Government reiterated its support for seniors and the future of the Old Age Security (OAS) program — ensuring that seniors will maintain all the benefits they currently receive.

When necessary, any changes to the OAS program will be done with substantial notice, an adjustment period, and in a way that does not affect current retirees or those close to retirement.  Doing so will give Canadians plenty of time to adjust and plan for their retirement.

As for the long-term future of the OAS program, the facts are clear.  A Standard and Poor’s report stated that “…age-related costs — pensions, health care, unemployment insurance and long-term care — would push Canada’s net debt to grow by 260 per cent from 2030 to 2050.”

And a report from the Macdonald-Laurier Institute calculated that “…by 2040 Canada would face a $67 billion deficit (in today’s dollars) based on current policies and demographic change.”

If we do nothing, the OAS program will become too expensive and unsustainable for future generations.

That’s why our Conservative Government is taking action to review the measures now so that retirement income programs, and the seniors who rely on them, are protected in the long-term.

Meanwhile, the Opposition’s irresponsible, reckless, and dangerous approach to Canada’s finances would put the entire OAS program at risk.

Canadians can count on our Government to take a prudent, balanced and responsible approach to make sure OAS remains sustainable for future generations of Canadians.

As Parliament resumes, the Conservative Government will continue to be focused on creating jobs, economic growth and prosperity announced Government House Leader Peter Van Loan.

“While the NDP is focused on killing jobs and the Liberals have no plan to create jobs, our Conservative Government is focused on implementing our low-tax plan for jobs and growth,” said Minister Van Loan.   “As Parliament returns, we will continue to be focused on the priorities of Canadians – creating jobs, growth and prosperity – as we prepare for Economic Action Plan 2012.”

Over the past few months, the Prime Minister, Ministers and MPs have held hundreds of consultations with Canadians on the economy to listen to the best ways to create jobs and growth in Canada.  While the Conservative Government was focused on jobs and growth, the NDP continued to oppose major job-creating projects such as Keystone XL, which would create highly skilled, well paying, unionized jobs in Canada.

For example, just a few weeks ago, the NDP Environment critic, Megan Leslie, said the American decision regarding the Keystone XL pipeline was, “a good decision for a number of reasons.”

Even Buzz Hargrove, former President of the Canadian Auto Workers and a die-hard union activist, said “if we can get approval for [the Keystone XL] pipeline, I think that will be a big boost.” (CFMJ-AM, November 16, 2011).  Private sector unions are worried about the NDP’s anti-jobs agenda.  AFL-CIO advisor Christopher Smillie said “The NDP would be very bad for workers and the entire Canadian economy.” (Calgary Herald, October 1, 2011).

“The NDP is a threat to the Canadian economy,” said Minister Van Loan.  “The NDP’s anti-jobs agenda shows their true face and the danger they pose to job creation and economic growth.”

On the other hand, the Liberals have no plan to create jobs and strengthen the financial security of families.  The Liberal focus over the past weeks has been on discussing legalizing pot, opening the constitution and internal leadership selection processes.

The contrast could not be more clear.  The Harper Government continues to focus on its low-tax plan for jobs and growth while the Opposition either seeks to kill jobs or has no plan to create jobs.

On Thursday, Prime Minister Stephen Harper delivered the keynote speech at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland.

The Prime Minister highlighted Canada’s economic strengths and well as the choices our country will face as we work toward long-term prosperity for Canadians amid a difficult global environment.

Prime Minister Harper was clear — our number one priority is prosperity through job creation and economic growth.

The wealth of the Western world’s economies is based on good growth-oriented policies, tough choices, and hard work done in the past.  To build on this foundation in the Canadian context, our Conservative Government will make better economic choices now to sustain growth, job creation and prosperity, for the next generation.

We will continue to:

• keep tax rates low
• make necessary investments in science and technology to sustain a modern, competitive economy
• advance our trade relationships

We will make it a national priority to ensure Canada has the capacity to export our energy products beyond the United States, specifically to Asia.  We will also undertake significant reform of our immigration system, to ensure our economic and labour force needs are the central goal of our immigration efforts in the future.  In addition, because of Canada’s aging population, we will work to ensure the sustainability of our social programs and fiscal position over the next generation.

In finishing his speech, Prime Minister Harper stated that each nation has a choice to make: whether to create the conditions for growth and prosperity, or to risk long-term economic decline.

“Canada’s choice will be, with clarity and urgency, to seize and to master our future, to be a model of confidence, growth, and prosperity in the 21^st century,” said the Prime Minister.

On Tuesday, led by Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Conservative Ministers and Members of Parliament announced significant investments in Canada’s infrastructure.

Canadians gave our Conservative Government a strong mandate to stay focused on what matters most – job creation and economic growth.  That’s why, as the global economy remains fragile, we’re keeping the economic recovery our priority.

Through existing programs such as the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund, the Knowledge Infrastructure Program, the Green Infrastructure Fund, the Building Canada Fund and the Gas Tax Fund, our Government has helped create hundreds of thousands of jobs across Canada.

Tuesday’s announcements build on historic investments our Government has already made to public infrastructure across the country.  Prime Minister Harper visited Quebec to announce significant upgrades to the Port of Saguenay, while a number of Ministers and Members of Parliament visited other regions to announce additional bridge and dam investments.  Also, our Government announced upgrades to the Alaska Highway in British Columbia.

These investments will help create engineering, skilled trades and construction jobs in the short-term, while improving transportation, trade, safety, public access and economic performance in the long-term.

Our Conservative Government is continuing to put the creation of jobs and economic growth first.

On Thursday, Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced that our Government has successfully reached an agreement in principle under the National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy with both Irving Shipbuilding Inc. and Vancouver Shipyards Co. Ltd.

Canadians gave our Conservative Government a strong mandate to stay focused on what matters most – job creation and economic growth.  That’s why we created a made-in-Canada National Shipbuilding Strategy.

Thursday’s announcement provided details on this job-creating investment, which will improve the stability of Canada’s shipbuilding industry, and provide vital equipment for our hard-working men and women in uniform.

Additionally, industry analysts have estimated that these projects would contribute approximately 15,000 jobs and over $2 billion in annual economic benefit over the next 30 years.

Our Conservative Government is staying focused on the economy through the National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy to help create jobs and economic growth in communities across Canada.

 

 

On Wednesday, Stephen Harper’s Conservative Government added 30 new profiles of individuals to the “Wanted by the CBSA” list.  As well, the list was expanded to include additional categories for inadmissibility under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA).

Canadians gave our Government a strong mandate to help keep our streets and communities safe, while also working to maintain the integrity of our immigration system.

Wednesday’s announcement draws attention to updates to the “Wanted by the CBSA” list.  That list includes 30 new profiles of individuals who are inadmissible on security grounds or serious/organized criminality.

To date, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) has received over 225 tips.  Thanks to the public’s help, 14 apprehensions and seven removals have occurred.  These include cases where our traditional investigative efforts have not produced results.

Members of the public are reminded to not take action in the apprehension of individuals listed on the website.  Instead, any information should be reported to the CBSA’s Border Watch Line at 1-888-502-9060.

Our Conservative Government is taking action to identify wanted individuals and suspected criminals to stop their abuse of Canada’s generous immigration system and help keep our streets and communities safe.

On Friday, Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced the creation of the Helmets to Hardhats program.  As part of Canada’s Economic Action Plan, this initiative will help members of the Canadian Armed Forces transition to civilian life, by helping them find good jobs in the skilled trades.

Helmets to Hardhats will help veterans, reservists and transitioning members of the Canadian Armed Forces access jobs and training in the construction industry.  Through a partnership with TransCanada Corporation and Canada’s Building Trades Unions, they will gain access to jobs in the oil sands.

The economy is the top priority of Stephen Harper’s Conservative Government.