PRUDENT FISCAL MANAGEMENT OTHER PUBLICATIONS IN A CHANGING WORLD AVAILABLE ON REQUEST I believe that the federal government can be proud of its ability to handle VOLUME 9 unexpected emergencies. 17 How Does the Government of

Spend its Money? After the problems of 2003, SARS, the 16 Where Does the Government of fires in British Columbia, the blackout in Canada Get Its Money? Eastern Canada last August and the 15 Urban Issues: Major Challenges for single case of mad cow disease which Volume 9 had such disastrous results, the fact 14 National Identity Cards for Canadian Issue 18 that the federal government will still be Citizens running a surplus is a good sign of the 13 Canada’s Role in International Education sound footing of Canada’s finances. This 12 Crime Prevention Hon. John McKay, PC, MP. should be an indication to us all of 11 Affordable Housing st Member of Parliament Canada’s potential in the 21 century 10 Same Sex Marriage economy. Scarborough East 9 Urban Issues on the National Agenda If Canada is to remain competitive, we 8 The World Trade Organization Parliamentary Secretary to need to maintain our prudent fiscal 7 Sri Lanka and the Quest for Peace the Minister of Justice management and careful spending. 6 Funding Transfers between the Federal Government and LOOKING TO THE FUTURE THE HON. JOHN MCKAY When the redistribution of federal electoral boundaries is made law and an CONSTITUENCY OFFICE election is called, the area where you 4630 Kingston Road, Unit 12 live will be part of a new riding called Toronto, ON M1E 4Z4 DEVELOPING A Scarborough Bluffs. I intend to stand Tel: 416-283-1226 TWENTY-FIRST for nomination as your Liberal candidate Fax: 416-283-7935 in that election, and would like to begin Email: [email protected] CENTURY to know you. One of my responsibilities is to keep THE HON. JOHN MCKAY ECONOMY Canadians informed about issues LEGISLATIVE OFFICE affecting us all, so with the agreement 549-D Centre Block, House of Commons, of your present Member of Parliament, Ottawa, ON K1A 0A6 John Cannis, I will send you information Tel: 613-992-1447 from time to time about matters on Fax: 613-992-8968 which the Government of Canada is Email: [email protected] currently working. Website: www.johnmckaymp.on.ca

MAKING HISTORY for Canada. Building an economy for the 21st is giving small- and medium-sized businesses On November 14, 2003, before becoming century includes lowering our national debt ratio, the tools and support they need. This means Prime Minister, gave his bold continuing to lower taxes, and leaving flexibility assisting across all areas, from research to policy statement, Making History, which to respond to an unpredictable international commercialization, from protecting their outlined his vision and ambitions for Canada economy. intellectual property to helping with under his leadership. The Prime Minister financing. WE HAVE DONE WELL; WE MUST DO BETTER laid out three broad categories on which the Access to capital is another component in Although Canada has made great fiscal progress federal government will focus in the coming fostering innovation and ingenuity. Just as relative to where we were in 1993, we cannot months. financing is the oxygen of university afford to rest on our laurels. We have reduced research, it’s also the oxygen of SOCIAL FOUNDATIONS the debt-to-GDP ratio from 71 %, where it was entrepreneurship. Canada’s entrepreneurs The first is securing the social in 1997, to around 40 % today. We must move must have access to resources, if they are to foundations that Canadians rely on, towards the 25 % levels we had in the 1960s. lead the way. such as a universal and high quality The federal government has made a great deal health care system, enabling life long of progress in lowering taxes. In 2000, the MAINTAINING A STRONG SOCIAL FABRIC learning, ensuring the dignity of seniors and federal government announced a five-year, $100 As a caring, compassionate society, we must other pressing national problems, such as billion tax reduction plan that lowered corporate remember those in need, realizing that homelessness. tax rates, reduced personal income tax rates only with strong social

CANADA’S PLACE IN THE WORLD and eliminated the deficit reduction surtax. foundations will we create The Prime Minister has also said that Personal income tax reductions are expected to an innovative society. Early another area of focus will be to ensure total $22.4 billion in 2004 - a lot of money back childhood development, in Canadians’ pockets! lifelong learning, a Canada’s place in the world as one of progressive immigration influence and pride. CREATING THE CONDITIONS FOR GROWTH policy, and a health care An innovative economy is about A TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY ECONOMY system that is the envy of the harnessing all of our collective A third category of objectives of Canada’s world – these are the pillars of a strong st potential. It’s about creating the new leadership is about developing a 21 social fabric. When they are strong, our st conditions for long-term sustainable century economy. A 21 century economy is economy thrives. the economy of a world without borders. economic growth. This calls for a It’s an economy able to cope with a world renewed focus on innovation and WE HAVE ALL THE INGREDIENTS FOR GREATNESS that is witnessing great change in terms of ingenuity; for example, university economic power. One needs to only look at research. Since 1998, the Canadian Today, Canada has all the ingredients the rise of China or India, at the same time government has announced enormous necessary to achieve profound greatness. By as other major industrialized economies are investments of more than $11 billion for focusing on a 21st century economy, we can research and innovation. These investments ensure that Canada remains at the fore of stagnating.

must be maintained. the global knowledge-based

A TIME OF ENORMOUS POTENTIAL economy – and that we all move SUPPORTING SMALL AND MEDIUM BUSINESSES This means an uncertain time for some ahead together to create an Equally important in building a dynamic economy countries, but a time of enormous potential unsurpassed quality of life.