MOVING CANADA FORWARD: THE PAUL MARTIN PLAN FOR GETTING THINGS DONE PLATFORM BULLETINS

MOVING CANADA FORWARD PLATFORM BULLETINS

Table of Contents I – Strengthening Canada’s Social Foundations 1. Building a Sustainable Society 2. Improving Higher Education 3. Engaging Young Canadians 4. Our Society: A Celebration of Culture and Sport 5. Bilingualism 6. A Diverse and Multicultural Society 7. Creating Opportunity for New Canadians 8. Providing Shelter: Social and Affordable Housing 9. Respecting Our Obligations to Seniors, People with Disabilities and Family Caregivers 10. Safe Streets, Safe Communities 11. The Voluntary Sector and the Social Economy

II – Building a 21st Century Economy 1. Focus on the Automotive Sector 2. Skills and Training 3. Focus on Small and Medium-Sized Businesses 4. Securing Canada’s Energy Future 5. Supporting Canada’s Farmers 6. Supporting Canada’s Fisheries 7. A Northern Vision

III – Canada in the World: A Place of Pride and Influence

1. National Security Policy for the 21st Century 2. Focus on Trade and Investment 3. Supporting Canada’s Veterans

MOVING CANADA FORWARD This election campaign is defined by a fundamental question that will be answered by you and by all Canadians: what kind of Canada do you want?

We find ourselves at a fortunate moment, when many of the traditional barriers to getting important things done in this country have become less formidable. Thanks to the efforts of millions of Canadians, we have achieved a real economic turnaround. Old insecurities about the Canadian identity have been replaced by increasing confidence, pride and ambition. As a people, we know what we can do and we know how to do it. We just want to get on with it.

The past decade has been one of extraordinary achievement for Canada and for Canadians. Our economy has grown strongly, and more than two million immigrants have come to Canada over the past ten years – people who have freely chosen Canada over all other countries in the world. Canadians have achieved global success in the arts, in science, in sports and in business.

The time is right for meaningful changes and important reforms. You, and all Canadians, have been telling governments to get serious about dealing with issues such as health care, learning and the quality of life in our communities. In our main policy platform, we have outlined for you and for all Canadians how a Liberal government will respond to your top priorities – starting with Canada’s publicly-funded health care system.

Fixing Canada’s health care system for a generation will require a commitment from the federal and provincial/territorial governments. This is, and will remain, our top priority.

At the same time, other important initiatives to strengthen our social foundations, build a 21st century economy, and establish for Canada a place of pride and influence in the world will also move forward.

This document outlines the broader range of policies and priorities of a Liberal government. In many cases, they seek to build on successful first steps, to continue a Canadian tradition of focused improvements in key areas. In other cases, we have new initiatives that will be led by Canadians, with government playing only a supporting role. As circumstances warrant, these priorities will need to be balanced against our most pressing needs and our unwavering commitment to fiscal prudence.

We cannot deliver on the things we all care about without your vote. Meaningful changes require a strong mandate from voters. A determined, focused government, with a broad base of support among Canadians, can get important things done. The summaries that follow will, we hope, provide you with further details of our overall plan to move Canada forward. We believe this election is about choosing your vision for the future of Canada. We hope that, after reading this document, you will choose the plan for Canada we have put forward.

Paul Martin

STRENGTHENING CANADA’S SOCIAL FOUNDATIONS

What do we want? A Canada where no individual, no community, no region is denied the opportunity to fully participate in the building of an even greater nation.

Reply to the Speech from the Throne, February 3, 2004

Canada’s social programs – our belief that we have a collective responsibility to one another and especially to those who need help most – speak to our national values and character. They are part of what makes us Canadian.

Strengthening our social programs is a fundamental part of the Liberal government’s plan for Canada.

Our main platform highlights our intentions to fix health care for a generation, to bring early learning and child care to more Canadian families, to respect our obligations with respect to seniors, people with disabilities and their caregivers, and to securing the place of Aboriginal peoples in Canada.

A Liberal government will strengthen and enhance Canada’s social foundations. We will work with partners – other levels of government, the private sector, the voluntary sector and other stakeholders – to bring lasting, meaningful reforms to those social programs Canadians value and cherish.

Our emphasis on these major priority areas does not relieve the government of the responsibility to respond to other social policy challenges. Our plans with respect to these other issues follow.

BUILDING A SUSTAINABLE SOCIETY THE LIBERAL PERSPECTIVE The tide of global population growth and the imperatives of economic development for all countries make sustainable development a challenge of national and global magnitude and a priority for Liberals.

We are striving toward a truly sustainable society, where the goals of economic development, social progress, and environmental protection are integrated and pursued with equal vigour. Liberals see the balance of goals as vital to the future of our own country and the world. As stewards of a vast geography and abundant resources, Canadians must accept responsibility for meeting the environmental challenges of the 21st Century.

THE LIBERAL POLICY The Liberal government has already made significant progress, with the following initiatives and activities:

• Ratified the Kyoto Protocol on climate change, as well as the United Nations Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants; • Announced in 2003, a five-year, $2 billion initiative to address the climate change challenge. This includes $1.7 billion over five years to support partnership, innovation and targeted measures to promote energy efficiency, renewable energy, sustainable transportation and alternative energy sources; • Announced a 10-year, $3.5 billion program to clean up federal contaminated sites, augmented by a $500 million program for the remediation of certain other sites, notably the Sydney tar ponds; • Created the $250 million Green Municipal Funds Program which has already supported more than 60 water projects in municipalities across Canada and has leveraged $1 billion in total investment in environmental infrastructure; • Invested in new environmental technologies, to be further supported through the proceeds from the intended sale of the federal government’s stake in Petro-Canada. All told, the Government will invest at least $1 billion in environmental technologies over the next seven years; • Launched the $120 million Clean Air Action Plan, a 10-year regulatory road map promoting cleaner vehicles and fuels, reduction of smog-causing emissions from industrial sectors, and expanded public reporting by industry on pollutant releases; • Committed $210 million to further develop Canada’s leadership in hydrogen energy; • Implemented new regulations limiting the sulphur content of gasoline; • Removed federal taxes at the pump on ethanol and encouraged the commercialization of new ethanol fuel technologies; • Reached agreement with the United States on the Border Air Quality Strategy to jointly create pilot projects to improve air quality; • Created the Great Lakes Sustainability Fund, at a cost of $30 million, to restore and clean-up pollution hot spots in the Great Lakes Basin, and

• Announced a program to develop environmental and sustainable development indicators, in collaboration with Statistics Canada, so as to improve Canada’s ability to measure its progress on improving the environment.

These and other initiatives constitute significant achievements and contributions toward making Canada a sustainable society, but more needs to be done. One priority is to make Canada a world leader in wind energy utilization. We propose a three part plan:

• Encourage investment – A Liberal government will quadruple the objectives of the existing Wind Power Production Incentive (WPPI) from its current 1,000 megawatts (MW) target to a 4,000 MW target. • Develop the market – We will promote the benefits and cost-effectiveness of wind power to increase consumer demand through a public education program and support for the stated targets. • Promote R&D – We will increase support for R&D on clean energy sources generally, and particularly for wind power. We will create a Canadian National Wind Atlas, a crucially important data source for determining the optimal locations for wind farms.

IMPROVING HIGHER EDUCATION THE LIBERAL PERSPECTIVE Education is a key to ensuring Canadians succeed both in their lives and in the 21st century, knowledge-based economy. The majority of jobs and many of the best paying ones require some form of post- secondary education. It is estimated that by 2011, almost two-thirds of all jobs will be filled by people with higher education credentials.

Canada’s productivity also increasingly relies on the skills and knowledge people acquire through post-secondary education, from apprenticeships through to the pursuit of a university degree.

THE LIBERAL POLICY Liberals recognize that access to, and the quality of, higher education for low and middle income families is a major financial concern. Students from low-income families are only half as likely to participate in university as those from higher income households. This is due in part to the fact that education costs have been rising more quickly than increases in family incomes.

Liberal governments have undertaken a number of major initiatives in recent years to address the issues related to access to higher education, such as:

• The Canada Millennium Scholarships Foundation. Created with an original $2.5 billion endowment, scholarships are awarded to more than 100,000 students each year. This ten- year program is the single largest investment ever made by a federal government to support access to post-secondary education; • The Canada Education Savings Grant. The federal government has contributed $1.6 billion since 1998 to Registered Education Savings Plans (RESPs) to help parents save for their children’s education; • Grants of up to $3,000 a year for more than 25,000 full- and part-time students in financial need who have children or other dependants, and • The Canada Graduate Scholarships program supports 4,000 new scholarships annually for Masters and Doctoral students.

Improved access to higher education has been complemented by a series of innovative measures to raise the quality of Canadian academic research to the top run internationally. For example, the Liberal government has:

• Allocated $3.7 billion to the Canada Foundation for Innovation; • Increased the budgets of the research granting councils to $1.4 billion in 2003-04, almost double the level six years earlier; • Provided almost $1 billion through 2005-06 for the indirect costs associated with federally sponsored research; • Created 2,000 world-class Canada Research Chairs at Canadian universities, and • Established the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and Genome Canada. These and other recent measures undertaken by the Liberal government are important steps along the road to improving access to, and quality of, higher education. Yet we are committed to doing even more as education costs continue to rise sharply and as post-secondary education continues to improve the employment prospects of our young people.

The Liberal government is:

• Establishing a Canada Learning Bond, to provide low-income families with a $500 grant for each child born after January 2003. This will be followed by annual $100 instalments to assist these parents save for their children’s education. For example, a parent saving just $5 per week, when combined with the Learning Bond support, would have $12,000 available toward the cost of a child’s education; • Accelerating the growth of RESPs for low-income families by doubling the Canada Education Savings Grant on RESPs—from 20 per cent to 40 per cent on the first $500 of contributions each year; • Establishing a new up-front grant of up to $3,000 to first-year students from low-income families who are eligible for Canada Student Loans; • Establishing a new up-front grant of up to $2,000 per year for students with disabilities; • Increasing support to full-time students through the Canada Student Loans program by raising the weekly loan limit from $165 to $210; • Broadening eligibility for Canada Student Loans and provide more assistance for those who already qualify by reducing the parental contribution expected from middle-income families. This measure will provide more access to student loans for 40,000 families; • Increasing the maximum amount of debt reduction from $20,000 to $26,000, under the Canada Student Loans program, for those in financial hardship; • Creating a new tax deduction for persons with disabilities. This will allow for deduction of disability supports expenses, when such costs are incurred for education or employment purposes, and • Providing an additional $125 million to the Aboriginal Human Resources Development Strategy to continue programs that help aboriginal communities meet the skills needs of aboriginal people.

ENGAGING YOUNG CANADIANS THE LIBERAL PERSPECTIVE The Liberal government wants to engage young Canadians through policies and initiatives that meet the needs of today’s young people.

Tomorrow’s leaders want to be involved and engaged, and we need to harness their potential. We know that young Canadians want to see the government and its institutions embrace their issues by providing tangible avenues for political expression and action.

THE LIBERAL POLICY Today’s young people are more international in their outlook, with broad social, environmental and economic concerns. The Liberal government has attached high priority to these ideas, as brought forward by the national Liberal Youth caucus. We are:

HIGHER EDUCATION • Established a Canada Learning Bond, to provide families with a $500 grant for each child born after January 2003. This will be followed by annual $100 instalments to assist lower- income parents save for their children’s education. For example, a parent saving just $5 per week, when combined with the Learning Bond support, would have $12,000 available toward the cost of a child’s education; • Accelerated the growth of RESPs for low-income families by doubling the Canada Education Savings Grant on RESPs—from 20 per cent to 40 per cent on the first $500 of contributions each year; • Established a new up-front grant of up to $3,000 to first-year students from low-income families who are eligible for Canada Student Loans; • Established a new up-front grant of up to $2,000 per year for students with disabilities; • Increased support to full-time students through the Canada Student Loans program by raising the weekly loan limit from $165 to $210; • Increased the maximum amount of debt reduction from $20,000 to $26,000, under the Canada Student Loans program, for those in financial hardship; • Created a new tax deduction for persons with disabilities. This will allow for deduction of disability supports expenses, when such costs are incurred for education or employment purposes; • Provided an additional $125 million to the Aboriginal Human Resources Development Strategy to continue programs that help aboriginal communities meet the skills needs of aboriginal people, and • Created the Canada Graduate Scholarships Program to support 2,000 master students and 2,000 doctoral students annually. The extra funding will increase the number of graduate students supported by the federal government by 70 per cent to almost 10,000.

ECONOMIC • Improved the Youth Employment Strategy (YES) to make it more responsive to the evolving needs of youth and employers. These programs help more than 100,000 youth each year with skills training and subsidized work placement to gain valuable career experience.

ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES • Ratified the Kyoto Protocol on climate change, as well as the United Nations Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants; • Launched a five-year, $2 billion initiative to address the climate change challenge. This includes $1.7 billion over five years to support partnership, innovation and targeted measures to promote energy efficiency, renewable energy, sustainable transportation and alternative energy sources; • Put major emphasis on renewable, environment-friendly energy resources, notably with substantial on-going support to develop hydrogen and biomass power, among others. We will encourage wind power in Canada by quadrupling the scale of the Wind Power Production Incentive, and • Committed $4 billion over the next ten years to clean-up contaminated sites across Canada, many in the north.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT • Created the Canada Corps to harness the expertise and idealism of Canadian civilians, with a special emphasis on harnessing the energy of qualified young Canadians to help fragile and failed states build the institutions of good government, rule of law and respect for human rights, and • Made a major commitment to fight infectious diseases in poor countries – particularly HIV/AIDS – by passing world-leading legislation to make drugs available, at low-cost, and by strongly supporting the anti HIV/AIDS strategy of the World Health Organization.

OUR SOCIETY: A CELEBRATION OF CULTURE AND SPORT THE LIBERAL PERSPECTIVE Canadians believe that measuring a country’s vitality goes beyond traditional economic yardsticks to include its culture, its heroes, its history and its stories.

In recent years, Canada’s reputation on the international stage has increased as our authors, filmmakers and musicians continue to project an image of a dynamic, creative, innovative and cosmopolitan nation. At the same time, we also know that sport builds community, and enhances our local and national pride – as it undoubtedly will this summer as our athletes compete at the Athens Olympics.

THE LIBERAL POLICY The Liberal government’s commitment to Canadian culture and sport has been demonstrated through our support of:

• Arts and Culture: The 2001 Tomorrow Starts Today cultural package secured the largest investment in arts and culture in 50 years - $738M over four years, helping to support 640,000 Canadian jobs and more than $20 billion annually in economic activity; • Film and television production: Since 1996, the Government has invested over $1.5 billion in film and television production in Canada. A reflection of the Liberal government’s commitment to quality Canadian television programming was the recent decision to restore the Canadian Television Fund’s annual budget to $100 million, and • Sports: Committed almost $420 million in support for the Vancouver-Whistler Winter Olympic and Paralympics Games in 2010. This includes $9 million for the Games bid, $310 million to ensure that sport and event venues are ready, and $100 million to support essential federal services like customs, security, and environmental protection.

Liberals recognize that Canada must strive for, and attain, cultural excellence. This will strengthen our national fabric at home and our reputation abroad, and will enhance the quality of Canadian life.

A Liberal government will:

• Ensure that the policies of key cultural institutions such as Telefilm, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation and the Canadian Television Fund are fully aligned with the objective of producing more successful Canadian programming of all genres; • Make investments to better protect Canada’s heritage sites and national archives; • Provide, through the Canada Council, increased support for Canada’s major arts organizations in order to more effectively enable the latter to export Canadian cultural excellence; • Play a leadership role in pursuing the ratification at UNESCO of the International Convention on Cultural Diversity. We will appoint a Special Envoy for cultural diversity to lead this effort. The government will ensure that Quebec has a voice at the UNESCO Cultural Diversity negotiations, and • Make amendments to the Copyright Act to ensure that the intellectual property of our artists and creators are protected in the digital age.

A Liberal government will focus on three kinds of initiatives in sport. We will:

• Provide targeted support for high-performance athletes and coaches to help them achieve consistent world-class results; • Provide funding to organizations like the Aboriginal Sport Circle, Canadian Paralympic Committee, Special Olympics, and the Canadian Association for the Advancement of Women and Sport to ensure that all Canadians, regardless of ability or circumstances, have the opportunity to participate in sport, and • Encourage greater participation in organized sport among the general population.

BILINGUALISM Linguistic duality is at the heart of our identity. It is our image in the world. It opens doors for us.

Speech from the Throne, February 2, 2004

THE LIBERAL PERSPECTIVE Bilingualism is a great defining characteristic of Canada. It is also one of our great accomplishments. Canada has never been as bilingual as it is today. In 2001 there were 5.2 million Canadians – 17.7 per cent of our population – capable of conversing in both official languages, the highest level in Canadian history. Today, more than one quarter of young Canadians between the ages of 15 and 19 are bilingual – twice the proportion in the previous generation. There are today 357,000 students in French immersion outside of the province of Quebec.

Equally encouraging is how francophone communities outside Quebec are being strengthened by the arrival of francophone immigrants. The number of francophones outside Quebec who are immigrants rose from 72,000 (7.4 per cent) in 1996 to 87,000 (8.9 per cent) in 2001. This increase of 15,000 accounts for more than 90 per cent of the population growth for francophones outside Quebec from 1996 to 2001.

THE LIBERAL POLICY The Liberal government is proud of its accomplishments in increasing the level of bilingualism in Canada. We have introduced a five-year Action Plan for Official Languages which laid out a comprehensive $750 million strategy to promote bilingualism with Canadians and develop linguistic minority communities across the country. It includes:

• $137 million for second language instruction to double the number of bilingual high school students in 2013; • An additional $24 million for the Summer Language Bursary Program to increase bursary amounts by 10 per cent and increase the number of recipients from 7,000 to 10,000, and • $39 million to support innovative community economic development projects in linguistic minority communities.

As stated by the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages, “Concrete action, notable progress and the beginning of a change in culture” has taken place with our bilingualism efforts. To build on that progress, we will ensure that the Action Plan for Official Languages will be fully implemented and its important goals achieved.

A DIVERSE AND MULTICULTURAL SOCIETY THE LIBERAL PERSPECTIVE Liberals cherish the rich history and promise of every one of Canada’s diverse racial, ethnic, and religious groups. We support the freedom of all Canadians to preserve, enhance, and share their heritage.

Canada is one of the most diverse societies in the world, and we are also deservedly known as an open society based on the principle of equality before the law.

Our diverse and multicultural society is an inspiration to other countries and a cornerstone of Canadian identity. Multiculturalism is a fundamental part of our history, the respect Canada enjoys internationally, and an invaluable resource as we shape our future together.

THE LIBERAL POLICY The Liberal government has long demonstrated its fundamental belief in the values of diversity and multiculturalism through initiatives aimed at ensuring our communities, large and small, are vibrant mosaics of racial, ethnic, and religious groups, and at the same time, ensuring that every Canadian regardless of origin and sexual orientation, has the respect and opportunity he or she deserves.

To demonstrate the value placed on a strong, multicultural society, we have:

• Promoted understanding and shared citizenship by funding community initiatives that target youth and cultural communities and academic research that supports informed public policy; • Provided researchers and policymakers with important information on the ethnic and cultural backgrounds of our people and on how those backgrounds relate to their lives today, by launching the Ethnic Diversity Survey of over 40,000 Canadians; • Addressed the needs and concerns of different racial and ethnic communities regarding policing by developing a national forum on Policing in a Multicultural Society. This led to the creation of the national Law Enforcement and Diversity (LEAD) network. This network, created together with the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police, helps police forces build partnerships and develop the tools they need to serve a diverse society with understanding and respect; • Increased penalties for hate crimes based on race, religion, sexual orientation or ethnicity, and • Celebrated the first ever Canadian Multiculturalism Day on June 27, 2003, in recognition of Canada’s commitment to openness, democracy, equality, and mutual respect.

The proportion of Canada’s population born outside the country has reached its highest level in 70 years, and the mix of countries from which new Canadians arrive has shifted dramatically over time. Building a strong multicultural Canada is an ongoing project, and the Liberal government will ensure a Canada where all individuals and communities feel included and where understanding between racial, ethnic and religious groups is the norm.

As its next step, the Liberal government will implement A Canada for All: Canada’s Action Plan Against Racism. The plan includes initiatives to:

• Help integrate new Canadians; • Remove race-related barriers in the workplace; • Consult racial and ethnic groups on the development of public policy; • Improve the capacity of police forces to serve diverse communities, and • Improve collection of data on hate crimes.

Respecting our diversity includes ensuring we respect basic human rights for all, including gays and lesbians. To that end, we have referred legislation outlining a progressive stance on same-sex marriage to the Supreme Court of Canada for its opinion on whether the proposed legislation respects the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. We will not invoke the “notwithstanding clause” of the Charter to deny equal rights, nor will we obligate religious institutions to conduct marriage ceremonies that contravene their own beliefs and practices.

CREATING OPPORTUNITY FOR NEW CANADIANS THE LIBERAL PERSPECTIVE Building on its Aboriginal heritage, Canada is also a nation of new arrivals, with millions of people choosing Canada as their new home. Canada has a longstanding commitment to opening its doors to refugees fleeing oppression from around the world. Every person, family, and group that settles in Canada contributes to the diversity that is such an integral part of our cultural and economic strength. And Canada responds by offering new Canadians the unparalleled democratic, social and economic opportunities that exist in our country.

THE LIBERAL POLICY The Liberal government has:

• Admitted more than 220,000 new immigrants in each of the last three years, representing one of the highest per capita rates of immigration in the developed world; • Passed the new Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, introducing a wide range of provisions to modernize Canada’s immigration policy, including tools to facilitate the entry of workers with flexible skills, while making it harder for people who threaten the safety and security of Canadians to enter the country; • Invested over $30 million annually to attract skilled immigrants and help them integrate into the Canadian job market; • Professionalized the appointment process for the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB), strengthened the selection criteria for IRB appointees, and increased parliamentary review of those appointments; • Committed $20 million a year to help recent immigrants master specialized workplace language skills through community-based training. Over the next five years, this program will expand to help about 20,000 newcomers enter the work force more quickly every year, and • Provided further support for sector councils, which help assess and recognize the credentials of workers trained in other countries.

A Liberal government will:

• Speed up the immigration process so that decisions are communicated faster to people who want to come to Canada; • Sharply reduce the backlog of applications that exist today, with a view to its eventual elimination; • Continue to work with the provinces and territories on integrating immigrants into Canadian society with support systems such as language training and credentials recognition. In that context, we will support a program to provide top-up training for 1,000 foreign-trained medical professionals to provide first-class primary care physicians right across the country; • Provide better information to immigrants before they arrive, so they have a better idea of where their skills are needed and how their credentials will get recognized, and • Continue to reform and streamline the refugee determination system.

PROVIDING SHELTER: SOCIAL AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING THE LIBERAL PERSPECTIVE Shelter is a basic human need and the foundation upon which healthy, secure, socially inclusive communities are built. Adequate housing also fosters stability in all aspects of life, particularly in school and work performance. It is also critical to the successful settlement of new Canadians and to ensure supportive environments for Aboriginal people.

A Liberal government will continue to contribute to solutions for housing in Canada, building on our existing $1 billion contribution to stimulate affordable rental housing; by funding for services to the homeless through the Supporting Community Partnership Initiative (SCPI); and by providing support to keep housing in decent repair for those on low-income through the Residential Rehabilitation Assistance Program (RRAP). These programs, together with other CMHC support for assisted housing, total $2 billion of annual federal funding for social and affordable housing.

THE LIBERAL POLICY The Liberal government, in partnership with provincial/territorial governments and communities, has introduced significant initiatives to provide housing for those most in need at rents that are affordable over the long term, including:

• Efforts to stimulate housing supply. Agreements have been signed with all provinces and territories on a $1 billion Affordable Housing Initiative. The total investment under these agreements will be $2 billion or more when combined with investments from the provinces; • The National Homelessness Initiative, a $665 million investment of which a key element is the Supporting Communities Partnership Initiative (SCPI), which provides capital funding on a cost-sharing basis for local community groups to offer supportive services and facilities for the homeless, and • Housing renovation programs, including the Residential Rehabilitation Assistance Program (RRAP), Home Adaptations for Seniors Independence, Emergency Repair Program, and Shelter Enhancement Program. The more than $500 million invested in these programs supports the renovation and renewal of the existing stock of affordable housing and help low-income persons with critical housing repair needs.

Most Canadians are fortunate enough to live in housing that suits their needs. But too many Canadians do not have access to adequate shelter or end up spending well over 30 per cent of their disposable income on shelter.

The Liberal government is committed to increasing its support for social and affordable housing and for initiatives to address homelessness. To this end, we will contribute up to $1.5 billion over the next five years – in addition to the $2 billion in current annual federal funding – to:

• Extend and enhance existing vehicles, including the Affordable Housing Initiative, the Supporting Communities Partnership Initiative, the Residential Rehabilitation Assistance Program and Aboriginal housing on and off-reserve, and • Support innovative initiatives developed in consultation with provinces, territories and municipalities and stakeholder group, which could include a special purpose foundation to leverage contributions for new affordable housing units from various levels of government, community groups and the private sector.

RESPECTING OUR OBLIGATIONS THE PAUL MARTIN PLAN FOR SENIORS, PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND FAMILY CAREGIVERS We want a Canada with strong social foundations, where people are treated with dignity, where they are given a hand when needed, where no one is left behind.

Speech from the Throne, February 2, 2004

Our commitment to seniors, people with disabilities and family caregivers reflects a core Liberal commitment: we believe society has an obligation toward the least-privileged, including those made vulnerable by aging or by a disability.

Liberal governments have worked continually to improve the quality of life for older Canadians and for Canadians with disabilities. Liberals have a long and proud track record of support for both groups: we have instituted important programs for seniors such as the Canada Pension Plan/Quebec Pension Plan, Old Age Security, and the Guaranteed Income Supplement. For people with disabilities, the federal government has increased its contribution to $223 million per year from the $193 million under the Employability Assistance for Persons with Disabilities Program, and we have doubled tax relief for persons with disabilities or above-average medical expenses, from $600 million to more than $1.2 billion annually.

Some 3.6 million Canadians – one in ten - have a disability. The Liberal government believes in equality of opportunity for all Canadians. Canadians with disabilities are eager to participate in Canada’s economy and society. Unfortunately, they face barriers such as finding and maintaining jobs or supportive workplaces, and meeting the additional cost of their disability.

Today’s Canadian seniors have one of the lowest poverty rates of any group in Canadian society. Indeed, the incidence of low income among Canada's seniors has dropped from almost 11% of those over 65 in 1993 to 7.3% by 2001, among the lowest rates in the world. This increase in the average standard of living among seniors has occurred even as the size of the senior cohort increases during one of the biggest demographic shifts in this country in history. This shift will continue, according to Statistics Canada, with those Canadians 65 and older representing 20 per cent of the population in 2021, up from 13 per cent in 2001.

Nevertheless, there is a concern that the standard of living for the lowest-income group of seniors has not kept pace with the Canadian average. At the same time, the Liberal government sees greater inclusion of Canadians with disabilities as part of the fundamental obligations of government.

THE LIBERAL RECORD ON SENIORS’ ISSUES The Liberal government has taken a number of concrete steps to improve the quality of life for Canadian seniors. We have: • Worked with the provinces to restore the Canada Pension Plan/Quebec Pension Plan to sound financial footing, ensuring this crucial program is now sustainable for at least 75 years so that seniors know their public pension will be there when they need it. • Introduced a new tax credit in the 2004 budget allowing family caregivers to claim up to $5,000 of medical and disability-related expenses incurred on behalf of a low-income dependent relative. • Set up the Task Force on Active Living and Dignity for Seniors to examine current programming and community-based approaches. • Launched a New Horizons for Seniors Program, which funds local projects that help seniors have active and social lives and make a contribution to their communities. The 2004 Budget reinitiated this program with $8 million in this fiscal year and $10 million annually from 2005-2006. Based on the recommendations of the recent task force, a Liberal government will consider a substantial increase in the budget for this program in future years.

Chaired by Member of Parliament Tony Ianno, the Task Force reported to the Prime Minister with recommendations on the policy changes required to improve the quality of life of seniors. Among these was a recommendation for further assistance for the Guaranteed Income Supplement.

The Guaranteed Income Supplement program provides financial assistance to almost 1.5 million Canadian seniors every month, with a total program cost of $5.9 billion per year. The GIS is adjusted every quarter to reflect inflation rates.

Old Age Security January to March 2004 October 2003

Number of Type of Benefit Maximum Income Level Amount Paid Beneficiaries Rate Cut-off $Millions (‘000s)

Old Age Security Pension $462.47 N/A 4,024 $1,777

Guaranteed Income Supplement · Single $549.63 $13,200 910 $341 Spouse/Common-law partner of: · Non-Pensioner $549.63 $31,968 76 $28.5 · Pensioner $358.01 $17,232 417 $94 · Allowance Recipient $358.01 $31,968 62 $18 Total Guaranteed N/A N/A 1,465 $481.5 Income Supplement

To assist lower-income seniors, a Liberal government will:

• Increase the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS). The GIS supplements the incomes of Canada’s low-income seniors. The recent Liberal task force on seniors recommended the base payment of the GIS be increased to reflect the fact that GIS payments have not kept pace with increases in Canadians’ overall standard of living. To correct this, a Liberal government will implement the task force’s recommended increase of up to $433 a year for a single GIS recipient and by up to $700 for an elderly couple who are both receiving the GIS. These increases, which are approximately 7 per cent above current levels, will be phased in as quickly as possible. They are in addition to regular quarterly cost-of-living adjustments. The cost is estimated to be $1.5 billion over five years. • Create a Secretariat for Seniors. This Secretariat will provide a focused voice for seniors and a cross-government coordinating role on the policies and issues that affect them.

THE LIBERAL RECORD ON PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES Throughout his term as Finance Minister, Paul Martin consistently delivered new measures for people with disabilities, including:

• Concluded, with the provinces and territories, the Multilateral Framework for Labour Market Agreements for Persons with Disabilities. The federal government has increased its contribution to $223 million per year from the $193 million under the Employability Assistance for Persons with Disabilities Program; • An Opportunities Fund for Persons With Disabilities – Created in 1997, the Opportunities Fund helps persons with disabilities prepare for, find and keep jobs. • Enhanced Tax Assistance for Persons With Disabilities – the federal government modified the tax system to help persons with disabilities meet expenses and participate as fully as possible in Canadian life by: • Doubling tax relief for persons with disabilities or above-average medical expenses, from $600 million to more than $1.2 billion annually; • Setting aside $80 million annually to improve tax fairness for people with disabilities and their families; • Allowing people caring for dependent relatives to claim more of the cost of their care. Beginning in the 2004 taxation year, caregivers can claim up to $5,000 in medical or disability-related expenses for dependent relatives.

A PLAN FOR SENIORS AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES Seniors and people with disabilities share common concerns related to housing, home care and support for caregivers. The Liberal plan responds to all of these needs.

A Liberal government will reduce the financial pressures on low-income seniors and on Canadians with disabilities and their family caregivers. We will work to provide better and more accessible health care, including a home care program. We will also work to bring more choice for both seniors and people with disabilities in their living arrangements.

ENABLING CHOICE IN LIVING ARRANGEMENTS Living arrangements for seniors and people with disabilities range from full independence to facility care, and requires a range of support systems to suit their needs. Clearly, the emphasis should be on providing the greatest opportunity possible for seniors and people with disabilities to retain their independence and continue to live in their own homes. This means dealing with a complex web of issues, including income support, housing, and home care – by professionals, volunteers and family members.

The Liberal government will increase funding for the Residential Rehabilitation Assistance Program through the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, which – in combination with the Home Adaptation for Seniors Independence program – helps ensure people with disabilities and seniors can live independently in their own home or in an adapted residence.

BETTER HOME CARE A Liberal government’s goal will be to ensure that seniors and people with disabilities can retain the maximum possible amount of independence by delivering needed services to their homes.

The Liberal Health Plan – A Fix for a Generation – committed to a Home Care Program. More and more Canadians are seeking to shorten hospital stays and receive care in their homes. This type of service is demonstrably better for individuals, and it takes some of the strain off the finite resources of hospitals. It is sound management to expand the use of home care. It is also the right thing to do – especially for those who are rightfully determined to stay in their home settings to the greatest degree possible.

Currently, there is a patchwork of home care services across the country. Provinces and territories provide widely varying levels of coverage and service. Liberals believe that the home care sector must be developed to maturity and brought into the centre of the publicly-funded health system over the next 10 years. Working with our provincial partners, a Liberal government will introduce a Home Care Program to provide an agreed-upon, minimum basket of services across Canada.

HOME CARE PROGRAM The program will begin with services in the following areas:

• Home care services for patients returning home from hospital, including coverage for medication and rehabilitation services. • Home mental health case management and intervention services. • Palliative home care services to support people at the end of life.

The federal government will create a new Home Care Fund – totaling $2 billion over five years – to encourage the needed reforms. This money will be allocated on a per capita basis to provinces and territories that commit to provide an agreed-upon, minimum basket of home care services.

A HEALTH CARE SYSTEM SENIORS CAN COUNT ON A Fix for a Generation: The Paul Martin Plan for Better Health Care sets out the specific measures that will be taken to reform medicare and ensure that it will be there for all Canadians when they need it. The Plan includes six key initiatives that will ensure the quality and sustainability of our health system:

• A National Waiting Times Reduction Strategy, including the “Five in Five” Plan for bringing waiting times down to acceptable levels in five years in five key areas: cancer care, cardiac care, diagnostic imaging, joint replacements and sight restoration; • Primary care reform to ensure all Canadians have access to an appropriate health care provider 24 hours a day, seven days a week; • The Home Care Program; • A pharmaceuticals strategy; • Enforcement of the Canada Health Act, and • Stable, predictable long-term funding for health care.

RECOGNIZING THE GROWING ROLE OF FAMILY CAREGIVERS

With more and more Canadians being treated at home rather than in other care centres, the burden on informal caregivers has grown significantly. Our health care system simply could not function without the thousands of parents, loved ones, family and friends that provide direct support in the home.

Final Report, Commission on the Future of Health Care, November 28, 2002

We need to give appropriate recognition to the contribution of family caregivers For example, more than 170,000 elderly sufferers of Alzheimer’s disease are being cared for at home by unpaid family members and friends.

What do family caregivers need? They need respite – temporary breaks from the emotional and physical exhaustion of round-the-clock responsibility. They need information and training with respect to the needs of their family member. They need counseling and peer support.

More can and should be done through the tax system to assist caregivers, but there are limits. The qualifying rules are often complex and caregivers may not have sufficient taxable income to take full advantage of the credits.

A broader approach is needed. In light of the situation identified in the Romanow report, the federal and provincial governments share common objectives in supporting family caregivers. A Liberal government will work with and support the provinces and territories to develop a comprehensive strategy to increase support for “informal” caregivers - spouses, children and close relatives.

A Liberal government will:

• Undertake a significant new investment of $1 billion over the next five years to help family caregivers of seniors and people with disabilities. The federal government will work to support the provinces and territories in developing effective mechanisms for delivering this support across the country.

At the same time, a Liberal federal government is committed to improving tax fairness for persons with disabilities and those who care for them. In recent years, a number of tax measures have been enhanced to recognize that persons with disabilities and those who care for them face extra non- discretionary costs.

A Liberal government will:

• Double the amount for medical and disability-related expenses a family caregiver can claim to $10,000.

To ensure that visually-impaired Canadians have better access to Canada’s written culture, the government will:

• Support the Canadian National Institute for the Blind Library, which aims to digitally encode books so that they can be synthesized as speech via computer.

SAFE STREETS, SAFE COMMUNITIES THE LIBERAL PERSPECTIVE Over the last decade, crime rates have been falling steadily in Canada, but every crime is one too many. We believe that safe streets require effective policing, focused efforts to prevent and punish violent crimes, and effective rehabilitation of offenders. Improving community safety also means keeping guns off our streets. Dealing with crime also means dealing with the circumstances that cause it – such as poverty, inequality, and family violence.

THE LIBERAL POLICY The Liberal government has taken practical action to make our streets safe and our communities vibrant. We have:

• Created the National Crime Prevention Strategy to support community-based approaches to crime prevention through social development to improve the circumstances of the most vulnerable in our society. The Strategy has supported over 4,000 projects in 800 communities; • Introduced significant new measures to protect our children: • Passed legislation to establish a National Sex Offender Registry; • Toughened laws on child prostitution and child sex tourism; • Passed legislation criminalizing the luring of children over the Internet, and toughened measures against child pornograph. • Launched a renewed Drug Strategy, and funded drug treatment courts; • Introduced new measures to combat alcohol and drug-impaired driving, including increasing the maximum penalty for impaired driving causing death from 14 years to life imprisonment. • Passed the new Youth Criminal Justice Act, and launched the Youth Justice Renewal Initiative, to build a more effective youth justice system - rehabilitating those that commit offences; ensuring they are subject to meaningful consequences; and preventing young people from committing offences; • Passed firearms legislation and developed a new Firearms Program with new and rigorous cost-controls to enhance public safety and help police respond to gun-related crime; • Established the National Weapons Enforcement Support Team in the RCMP to assist police across the country with gun crime investigations; • Passed strict sentencing for gun crimes, including a minimum four-year sentence for using a firearm in the commission of certain serious offences (such as robbery or sexual assault), and • Introduced aggressive new measures to fight organized crime and money laundering to combat organized crime and gang activity.

Building on these actions, a Liberal government will:

• Work with municipalities, police, the provinces and territories to develop responses to specific patterns of crime facing our communities, such as hate crime, organized crime and gun crime; • Combat sexual exploitation of children on the Internet by providing increased resources for the RCMP, setting up a national Internet tip line and heightening public awareness; • Create a new specific offence in the Criminal Code to better target and combat trafficking in humans; • Control the cost of the firearms registry by capping the annual cost of the registry at $25 million per year; • Reduce compliance requirements for firearms owners, and irritants identified by firearms owners and firearms-related businesses, and eliminate fees for registration and transfer of firearms, and • Implement tougher sentencing for gun crimes and trafficking and enhanced support for law enforcement across the country;

THE VOLUNTARY SECTOR AND THE SOCIAL ECONOMY THE LIBERAL PERSPECTIVE The voluntary sector and the social economy reflect fundamental Liberal values. These include equal opportunity for all, inclusion of disadvantaged people, and grassroots community involvement.

The Liberal government clearly recognizes the contribution the voluntary sector makes to Canada’s quality of life and its impact on Canadians. The sector employs more than 1.3 million people in 180,000 organizations that mobilize 6.5 million volunteers.

Complementing the voluntary sector is the social economy, which includes community economic development, worker and consumer cooperatives, community and civil society organizations and Aboriginal community development.

THE LIBERAL POLICY The Liberal government has strongly supported the voluntary sector and the social economy with a number of initiatives. We have:

• Invested $47 million in community economic development pilot programs; • Launched a joint $95 million Voluntary Sector Initiative with the voluntary sector to build increased capacity to serve Canadians, and • Invested $12 million a year in the Joint Regulatory Table to help enhance public trust in the work of charities, uphold the integrity of the tax rules that govern charities and ensure fair application of the law and transparency in the regulatory decision making process.

The Liberal government recognizes the voluntary sector is facing considerable challenges, including an ageing volunteer base and decline in the number of volunteers. The Liberal government is committed to helping the voluntary sector and will:

• Increase funding to the Voluntary Sector Initiative by $6 million over the next two years. This will strengthen the capacity of Canada’s volunteers to collaborate and innovate, as well as support a stronger voice for philanthropic and charitable organizations in public policy dialogues, and • Create a new Not-for-Profit Corporations Act that will, for example, reduce the regulatory burden on the not-for-profit sector; clarify roles and responsibilities of directors and officers, and enhance and protect the rights of members.

A Liberal government has undertaken to provide significant support for the social economy, building on measures from the 2004 budget. We will:

• Provide $100 million over five years to support financing of social economy enterprises, including investments in up to four regional “patient capital funds,” and to increased lending to social economy enterprises; • Provide the social economy sector with access to a wide range of federal government services that are currently offered to small business, including financing programs; • Provide $17 million for a pilot program in support of strategic planning and capacity building of community economic development organizations, and • Provide $3 million to the Community-University Research Alliance program to support community-based research on the social economy.

BUILDING A 21ST CENTURY ECONOMY In recent years, Canada’s economy has performed exceptionally well. Job growth has been brisk. Productivity has been improving steadily, boosting the competitiveness of Canadian businesses. The trade surplus has remained healthy even though the Canadian dollar has grown much stronger. Low interest rates have encouraged investment and made homes and other big-ticket items more affordable for Canadians.

A decade ago, when the Liberal government took office with Jean Chrétien as Prime Minister, the economic picture was very different. The annual federal deficit had ballooned to $40 billion. Canada’s economy was increasingly hindered by mounting public debt.

Beginning in 1995, the government unveiled a series of transformative budgets that pulled Canada back from the financial brink and ushered in a new era of fiscal stability. While every other G-7 country has returned to deficit, Canada is remaining prudent and spending within its means. This historic fiscal turnaround, in combination with other Liberal economic policies over the past decade, has played a key role in Canada’s economic revival.

These have been hard-won gains that no Liberal government will squander or take for granted. At the core of our economic policy, therefore, is a commitment to keep Canada on a prudent fiscal track. That is why a Liberal government will:

• Continue to balance the budget while maintaining a $3 billion Contingency Reserve which, if not needed to deal with unforeseen circumstances, will go each year to reduce the debt; • Reduce the ratio of federal debt to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to 25 per cent within 10 years to ensure that our children are not burdened by public debt, and • Invest in the fundamental drivers of economic performance – human skills, research and its commercial application, public infrastructure, and competitive taxes.

Looking forward, Canada’s 21st century economy will be driven by ideas. Jobs and prosperity will come from turning those ideas into goods and services valued in Canada and around the world. The economic strategy of a Liberal government will therefore be focused on things that help to generate new ideas and their innovative application.

Over the past decade, the Liberal government rebuilt the foundations of Canada’s innovation capacity, investing $13 billion to elevate the nation’s university and hospital research capability to world-class standard and to build up Canada’s innovation system. Among the highlights:

• Boosted funding for the research Granting Councils by 90% since 1997-98. Annual funding for the Canadian Institutes for Health Research ($615 million); the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council ($615 million); and Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council ($180 million) now totals $1.4 billion. Canada leads the G-7 in publicly-funded research as a percentage of GDP;

• Established the Canada Foundation for Innovation with funding of $3.15 billion to strengthen the capacity of Canadian universities, colleges and research hospitals in world-leading research and technology development; • Created the Canada Research Chairs to increase the ability of our universities to attract and retain world-class researchers – with funding of $1.2 billion projected through 2005-06; • Created Genome Canada and invested $400 million to undertake large-scale research projects relating to genomics and proteomics; • Established Sustainable Development Technology Canada with $550 million in funding to evaluate and invest in the advancement and commercialization of sustainable development technologies, and • Invested $2.4 billion through Technology Partnerships Canada which has leveraged further substantial investment from the private sector.

Now we must do more to convert our knowledge-based investments into commercial successes. To ensure Canadians are among the world’s leaders in knowledge-based innovation, the Liberal government will complement continuing investment in knowledge-generation with greatly increased emphasis on commercialization – for example:

• Boosting support for venture capital, particularly for start-up companies; • Supporting development of environmental technologies with $1 billion from proceeds of the intended sale of the government’s PetroCanada stake, and • Developing a network of National Research Council Commercialization Centres across Canada.

No industry today can afford to fall behind the leading edge of technology and innovation. In fact, many of Canada’s traditional industries, whether in the resource or manufacturing sectors, are just as technologically sophisticated as those in sectors we usually refer to as “high tech”.

That is why the Liberal strategy to promote economic development in Canada’s regions will emphasize the “new economy” fundamentals – skills upgrading; support for R&D; building research capacity in regional universities; modern infrastructure (e.g. broadband communications); all complemented by a competitive air, sea, rail and highway transportation infrastructure. This is the approach advocated in the comprehensive development plan for the Atlantic region, entitled The Rising Tide, prepared by Liberal Members of Parliament from Atlantic Canada. It outlines an approach that can be applied to regional development to share prosperity right across Canada.

Canada’s mining and forestry industries are pillars of the national economy. They have become models of the application of cutting-edge technology to create value-added products. Sophisticated technology has also enabled our mining and forest products companies to cut costs continuously, thus maintaining Canada’s leading position in export markets. Staying at the leading edge of technology and innovation, and helped by sound government economic policies, our mining and forestry industries will continue to sustain jobs and prosperity in many of Canada’s regions.

Manufacturing is a critical component of Canada’s economy accounting for a higher share of GDP than any other sector. Today, half a million more Canadians work in manufacturing than a decade ago. This is due primarily to the success of the sector in meeting the challenges of the global economy. The sound fiscal and economic policies of the Liberal government – and more recently our “Smart Border” initiative with the US – have played a key role in setting the right conditions for a healthy manufacturing sector.

The automobile industry is the largest component of Canada’s manufacturing industry. It accounts for 23% of Canada’s exports and employs over 150,000 people. A Liberal government will ensure that the automobile industry continues to be a leading contributor to Canada’s economic growth. To that end we will create a National Strategic Framework for the auto sector in consultation with industry, labour and Members of Parliament. This will include a review of existing government programs (including R&D tax credits) to ensure that they are accessible to the auto industry. It will also address issues facing the industry related to climate change, infrastructure, skills development, regulation and research and innovation.

The aerospace sector is also a pillar of Canadian manufacturing. Canada boasts the world’s third largest aerospace industry, employing 80,000 people in 400 different corporations, based all over the country. The industry has been deeply affected by the September 11 terrorist attack. Given its strategic role in many parts of Canada, and particularly its critical importance to the economy of the greater Montreal area, the Liberal government is committed to support its future growth and development. We will maintain the Technology Partnership Canada program, which has played an important role in supporting many innovative aerospace projects.

Our emphasis on these major priority areas does not relieve the government of the responsibility to respond to other economic policy challenges. Our plans with respect to these priority areas follow.

FOCUS ON THE AUTOMOTIVE SECTOR THE LIBERAL PERSPECTIVE The automobile industry is the largest component of Canada’s manufacturing sector accounting for 12 per cent of manufacturing GDP and 23 per cent of merchandise trade. It employs over 150,000 people, and in 2003 the industry created more than 4,500 new jobs.

The Liberal government has worked hard to increase Canada’s edge as a highly competitive environment in which the automotive industry can continue to grow, create stable jobs and provide economic security.

The automotive industry has produced some impressive results. Its growth at 7.9 per cent is more than double the national average, and industry players have invested more than $4.1 billion in Canada in plant expansions, upgrades and new vehicle lines.

Canada sets the benchmark for North American vehicle assembly productivity inside the global auto industry. Vehicle production in Canada has increased in the past decade, while, in that same time period, vehicle production in the U.S. has declined.

THE LIBERAL POLICY The Liberal government has recognized the importance of the automotive industry to Canada with major initiatives such as:

• A $150 million investment in the border crossing at Windsor to ensure the uninterrupted flow of auto products across the border; • The creation of the Canadian Automotive Partnership Council composed of senior executives from industry (assembly, parts manufacturers, distributors and dealers), labour and academia. The mandate of the Council is to identify actions to strengthen the Canadian automotive industry in the short and long term; • The creation of AUTO21, a network of Centres of Excellence involving over 30 Canadian universities and colleges conducting innovative research projects to shape the 21st century vehicle; • Support for a new initiative to identify and address human resource issues in the automotive industry; • The creation of the Free and Secure Trade (FAST) Program to allow for the pre-clearance of goods at the border; • Investments in strategic R&D initiatives and next-generation automobile development through Technology Partnerships Canada, and • Investments in advanced science and technology to support innovative work on the next generation of smart, fuel-efficient and hybrid vehicles and renewable fuels. A Liberal government wants to ensure that the automobile industry remains a leading contributor to Canada’s economic growth. Toward that end, we will prepare a new National Strategic Framework for the auto sector in consultation with industry, labour and Members of Parliament, to ensure the strength of this critical industry in the 21st Century.

This framework will include a review of existing government programs (including R&D tax credits) to ensure that they are accessible to the auto industry. It will also address issues facing the industry related to climate change, infrastructure, skills development, regulation and research and innovation.

SKILLS AND TRAINING THE LIBERAL PERSPECTIVE To meet the challenges of the new economy, Canada’s workers must have the opportunity to embark on a path of lifelong learning - to upgrade their skills, to improve their literacy, to learn on the job.

A workforce trained for the 21st century economy means Canadians will have the tools to find and keep good quality, high-paying jobs, while a resilient workforce helps to foster innovation and enhances Canadian competitiveness in the global economy. Governments at all levels, employers and unions, need to develop a more coherent and integrated approach to improving the skills of Canadians, emphasizing long-term employability. We must also put greater emphasis on the skilled trades and the opportunities for our young people in these jobs.

THE LIBERAL POLICY The Liberal government has made some major strides in the effort to foster a more skilled workforce, such as:

• Implementation of Labour Market Development Agreements (LMDAs) with most provinces and territories to help return the unemployed to work. Federal labour market programming is supported by $2.7 billion annually to provide job training and work experience to over 600,000 unemployed Canadians; • $50 million per year in direct support (growing to $60 million in 2006-07) to 29 sector councils. These are industry-wide partnerships that bring together employers, unions, workers and educators to assess future employment patterns, skills requirements and training practices, and to develop measures to help employers and workers meet and adapt to the changing needs of each sector; • $30 million per year to assist workplace integration of persons with disabilities, and • Strategic initiatives such as the Youth Employment Strategy (YES); the Aboriginal Human Resources Development Strategy; and programs to help immigrants acquire needed workplace language skills and credentials recognition.

While these initiatives are good steps along the road toward a more skilled workforce and a culture of life-long learning, Liberals know that Canada faces a growing skills shortage. This must be acknowledged and resolved.

Skill shortages are becoming increasingly evident in key sectors and regions. A more integrated and co-ordinated skills development effort, involving all partners, must be pursued. That is why a Liberal government will:

• Develop a Workplace Skills Strategy, in co-operation with provinces, labour unions, employers, educational institutions and sector councils. The objective of this strategy is to better understand the requirements of workers and employers and to identify how each of them can best play their parts in responding to changing labour market needs. These insights will inform up-dated LMDAs with provinces and territories; • Provide $15 million over two years to establish a Training Centre Infrastructure Fund, which will address a growing need for union training centres to replace aging equipment and simulators that are not up to current industry standards. The fund will focus on trades that have undergone significant technological change, and • Develop a plan, in cooperation with provinces and territories, regulatory bodies and employers, to accelerate foreign credential recognition, beginning in targeted occupations where Canada lacks skilled workers, such as engineers, physicians, nurses and teachers. In particular, we will provide $75 million to provide top-up training for 1,000 foreign- trained medical professionals.

FOCUS ON SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED BUSINESSES THE LIBERAL PERSPECTIVE Small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) are the engine of Canada’s economy. SMEs account for the vast majority of individual businesses and for more than half of all private-sector employment. They are a hotbed of entrepreneurship, innovation and wealth generation.

Over the years, the Liberal government has placed SMEs front-and-centre in its economic policies by creating an environment where small businesses can prosper. This focus has paid dividends. For example, independent studies by the Economist Intelligence Unit, and KPMG’s Competitive Alternatives Study indicate that Canada is now the lowest cost country of the G-7 in which to do business and predict that we will be the world’s best country in which to do business for at least the next several years.

THE LIBERAL POLICY The Liberal government has put in place a number of initiatives to ensure that Canada’s SMEs flourish. For example, we have:

• Accelerated the phase-in of the new $300,000 income threshold qualifying for the 12% small business tax rate. It goes into effect next year; • Effective this year, eliminated the capital tax for smaller businesses; • Increased the capital cost allowance rate for computer equipment to 45 per cent from 30 percent, and increased the rate for broadband, internet and other data network infrastructure equipment to 30 percent from 20 per cent; • Enhanced access to the R&D refundable tax credit; • Enhanced the Industrial Research Assistance Program (IRAP) by investing over $150 million per year to help SMEs to develop, use and commercialize new innovative technologies and processes. With its strong national network of Industrial Technology Advisors in 90 communities, IRAP brings its extensive experience and reach to over 12,000 SMEs; • Provided over $270 million to assist Aboriginal-owned SMEs through Aboriginal Business Canada. This has leveraged significant additional investment from the private sector to support some 8,300 projects, and • Created Exportsource.ca, an innovative and comprehensive on-line source providing a single access point for export-related information – an invaluable tool for SMEs.

Liberals see SMEs as key drivers of growth and job creation in the future. Much of the innovative spark in the economy comes from small business entrepreneurs. Going forward, we will:

• Invest $270 million in venture capital through the Business Development Bank’s venture capital group, placing particular emphasis on early-stage venture financing; • Enhance business centres to provide women entrepreneurs with the tools and sources of financing to start, operate and grow their own businesses, and • Work with small business groups to determine practical ways to reduce the paper burden on SMEs and to develop agreed measures of the burden so that progress can be tracked. We will also act on the imminent recommendations of the External Advisory Committee on Smart Regulations to improve the overall regulatory environment without compromising its policy objectives.

SECURING CANADA’S ENERGY FUTURE THE LIBERAL PERSPECTIVE Liberals recognize the importance of Canada’s energy industries as key generators for economic and community development. From oil and natural gas in Western, Northern and Atlantic Canada; to hydro-electric facilities in British Columbia, Quebec and Manitoba; to refining and petrochemicals in Alberta and Ontario; to coal in western Canada; to uranium mines in northern Saskatchewan; and to the growing renewable energy sector across the country – the challenge is to put in place cooperative federal-provincial energy frameworks that capitalize on our abundant resources in sustainable and efficient ways.

By reason of climate and vast geography, Canadians live in an energy-intensive country. We depend on our energy supply to be secure, reliable, and reasonably priced. Canadians also want to be world leaders in clean and efficient energy use. We want to realize the economic benefits from the responsible development of our rich resources, and want Canada to be prepared for the energy challenges and opportunities of tomorrow, including the long-term challenge of climate change.

THE LIBERAL POLICY Over the past decade, the Liberal government has worked to develop alternative sources of energy and to improve energy efficiency. Our government has been working to secure the low-cost and reliable long-term supply Canadians need. We have:

• Implemented a framework for responsible oil sands development, which has led to an anticipated investment of more than $70 billion from 2002 through 2012; • Developed a cooperative framework for Atlantic Canada offshore development, which has led to dramatic economic benefits in the region; • Recognized the importance of developing new natural gas supplies, such as those from the MacKenzie Delta, and restructured government programs and processes to ensure that northern residents and aboriginal Canadians can participate beneficially in those developments; • Invested heavily to support a range of renewable and non-polluting energy sources – for example: • Established the Wind Power Production Incentive Program; • Committed $550 million to Sustainable Development Technology Canada; • Committed $210 million to further develop our leadership in hydrogen energy, including support for Canada’s world-leading development of fuel cell technology for vehicles and stationary power generation; • Removed federal taxes at the pump on ethanol and encouraged the commercialization of new ethanol technologies, and • Established demonstration programs for solar, geothermal and other new technologies. • Established programs to help home owners, building owners, drivers and industry to reduce their energy costs.

A Liberal government will work with stakeholders in the energy sector to advance the responsible development of secure energy sources. We will take steps to improve energy efficiency in Canada, as well as help in the development of alternative sources of energy. For example, reflecting the anticipated sale of the government’s shares in PetroCanada announced in the March budget, the government intends to increase by $1 billion its investment in support of new environmental technologies, many of which will benefit the energy sector – e.g. clean coal; sequestration of CO2.

A priority of the Liberal government will be to make Canada a world leader in wind energy utilization which is now widely regarded as the leading new source of environmentally friendly, renewable power. We propose a three part plan:

• Encourage investment – A Liberal government will quadruple the objectives of the existing Wind Power Production Incentive (WPPI) from its current 1,000 megawatts (MW) target to a 4,000 MW target. • Develop the market – A Liberal government will promote the benefits and cost- effectiveness of wind power to increase consumer demand through a public education program and support for the stated targets. • Promote R&D – A Liberal government will increase support for R&D on clean energy sources generally, and particularly for wind power. We will create a Canadian National Wind Atlas, a crucially important data source for determining the optimal locations for wind farms. SUPPORTING CANADA’S FARMERS THE LIBERAL PERSPECTIVE The Liberal government prides itself on working with Canada’s farmers to ensure agriculture has a prosperous future in Canada. More than 190,000 farm families are at the heart of our agricultural sector, which generates $30 billion in annual revenues. Canada has one of the world’s most efficient farm sectors, making us a world leader in agricultural and agri-food exports.

THE LIBERAL POLICY The Liberal government recognizes that this past year, like no other in recent times, has been one of crisis for the farming community. The cattle and poultry industries have been devastated by BSE and avian influenza. The government acted swiftly to work with producers and the provinces in response to these crises. This was in addition to the government’s ongoing agricultural initiatives including:

• Development with the provinces and territories of the five-year, $5.5 billion Agricultural Policy Framework (APF) Canada’s first-ever comprehensive national policy for the agriculture and agri-food sector. The APF aligns our income support programs, trade policy and marketing with science, regulation and testing that must be embraced to ensure the protection of consumers both at home and in our export markets, and • Provision of significant and increased funding for the farm sector, including almost $1 billion in new one-time funding in Budget 2004 for cattle producers (devastated by the BSE aftermath) and other farmers to help their transition to the APF.

The Liberal government is committed to an agricultural policy that has producers as its central focus. And we recognize that the future success of Canada’s agriculture and agri-food sector requires that Canada be at the forefront across the entire production chain to meet the increasing demands of the global marketplace.

To fulfill the potential of Canadian agriculture, a Liberal government will:

• Position the agriculture and agri-food sector as an integral part of the knowledge-based economy. We will facilitate the investments needed to develop value-added agri-food products. To this end, we are committed to address, in the next budget, the capital requirements of rural and agricultural co-operatives. And we will work with farmer organizations and through the Farm Credit Corporation (FCC Ventures) to develop appropriate equity capital tools so that farmers benefit from new value-added products and not just as suppliers of commodity inputs; • Fight for the rights and interests of Canadian farmers in the international arena, by working to eliminate export subsidies and non-tariff barriers and by promoting effective multilateral trade rules and remedies; • Vigorously pursue the speedy and full restoration of North American and global trade in Canadian cattle and beef products. Looking forward, we will propose enforceable means by which borders, initially closed for emergency reasons, can be re-opened in a timely manner on the basis of sound science; • Defend orderly marketing systems, including supply management systems for dairy, poultry and eggs, and our single-desk selling system for wheat and barley; • Promote water and soil conservation, particularly on prairie farmland and through enhanced support for the Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration (PFRA), the success of which can be a model to be extended nationally, and • Work with the Farmer Rail Car Coalition to secure a viable future for the government’s grain hopper car fleet.

SUPPORTING CANADA’S FISHERIES THE LIBERAL PERSPECTIVE Canadians recognize the significant economic contribution of the fishing industry to our coastal communities, and the great national importance of this renewable resource.

The Liberal government is committed to viable, sustainable, conservation-based fisheries. And we understand that sound Canadian practices need to be supported by tough controls on foreign over- fishing and careful stewardship of fish habitat.

THE LIBERAL POLICY To protect the future of Canada’s fisheries and coastal environment, the Liberal government has recently embarked on a series of initiatives. These include:

• Combating foreign over-fishing through investment of $32.5 million to expand patrol activity together with a further $51 million over the next five years for aerial surveillance and increased diplomatic efforts through the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO), the United Nations Fisheries Agreement (UNFA) and other multilateral organizations; • Stronger laws to more effectively prosecute marine polluters; • Scientifically-based fisheries management plans that promote conservation, economic sustainability and greater cooperation among all levels of government; • Implementing the Atlantic Fisheries Policy Review Framework, including the extension of current share arrangements in Atlantic fisheries as part of the government’s renewed governance arrangements; • $100 million over five years for Small Craft Harbours; • $70 million over the next 10 years as part of the Oceans Action Plan to map Canada’s continental shelf. This will allow Canada to defend its interests internationally and stake its proper claim to a territory rich in resource potential and marine habitat that is nearly one third the size of Canada’s land mass, and • Integration of commercial, recreational, and Aboriginal sectors in fisheries across Canada.

The ocean environment worldwide remains under enormous environmental pressure. To ensure a healthy future for both recreational and commercial fisheries in Canada, and for the communities that depend on this indefinitely renewable resource, the Liberal government will:

• End the pillage of our ocean resources by enforcing compliance with conservation measures inside and outside the 200 mile limit. This will include publication of lists of non-compliant vessels and increased surveillance, enforcement and boarding of vessels; • Introduce a modern regulatory regime which promotes a conservation ethic where penalties are proportionate to violations; • Modernize the Fisheries Act to create greater certainty in fisheries management and increased involvement of stakeholders, and • Make Canada’s Oceans Action Plan a priority. It will be built around four pillars: International leadership, sovereignty and security; Health of the oceans; Integrated management to ensure sustainable development; and Oceans innovation technology.

A NORTHERN VISION THE LIBERAL PERSPECTIVE The northern part of Canada that makes up half our country’s landmass is an integral part of our national identity with enormous economic potential. For example, the private sector has invested more than $2.5 billion in northern mineral development in the past decade. This investment is expected to generate $28 billion in GDP over 20 years, along with 125,000 person years of employment.

Canada is now the third largest producer of diamonds by value in the world as a result of investments in the North. Oil and gas exploration companies alone have committed to invest more than $1.5 billion over the next seven years in Canada’s north.

These are very positive developments. But there are challenges. Water and air pollutants, often generated half a world away, threaten the livelihood and health of Canadian northerners and their counterparts in other polar countries. Global warming is changing the arctic landscape with melting icecaps, rising water levels and wildlife habitat disruption. These climate trends could eventually open traditionally ice-covered ocean passageways, making our capacity to act in support of Canada’s northern sovereignty even more vital.

THE LIBERAL POLICY In response to these opportunities and challenges, the Liberal government has placed an increasing emphasis on the North. We have:

• Created the new territory of Nunavut and settled contentious land claims in the Yukon and throughout the North. We have also continued to negotiate self-government agreements with Aboriginal peoples; • Transferred substantial autonomy to the Territorial governments, supported by federal assistance of $1.8 billion this year under the Territorial Formula Financing Agreement to assist delivery of quality health and other public services; • Ratified a number of international environmental agreements, such as the Kyoto Protocol, the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and the United Nations Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, implementation of which should have significant benefits for the North; • Recognized the importance of developing new natural gas supplies, such as those from the MacKenzie Delta, and restructured government programs and processes to ensure that northern residents and aboriginal Canadians can participate beneficially in those developments; • Provided nearly $350 million in major infrastructure support to the North. This includes investments in the Yukon-Alaska Highway expansion, North West Territories Corridors for Canada Highway project and Nunavut water, sewer and social housing projects; • Provided $10 million to a Targeted Geoscience Initiative and committed $70 million over the next 10 years through the Oceans Action Plan to map Canada’s arctic and Atlantic continental shelf. This is an essential precondition to establish Canada’s rights to seabed resources, and

• Committed $3.5 billion over the next 10 years to clean up contaminated sites, some 60% of which are in the north. This will be of great benefit to the affected communities and a significant source of employment for northerners.

Northern issues - sovereignty, devolution, environmental protection and economic development – remain a deep concern for Liberals. These issues require a concerted and integrated approach involving the federal and territorial governments, and Aboriginal leadership.

Going forward, we will invest $90 million in a Northern Development Strategy to ensure that economic development related to energy and mining is brought on stream in partnership with Northern Canadians, based on stewardship of our most fragile northern ecosystems.

We will also provide $75 million to increase federal and regional environmental assessment capacity and streamline the regulatory process as a commitment to responsible energy development in the North. These funds will be used to conduct scientific research on environmental challenges associated with development in the Mackenzie Valley, Mackenzie Delta and the Beaufort Sea.

CANADA IN THE WORLD: A PLACE OF PRIDE AND INFLUENCE Canadians are uniquely positioned for the new global realities - open to the world, comfortable with the interdependence of nations, aware of our global responsibilities.

Speech from the Throne, February 2, 2004

A Liberal government led by Paul Martin will raise Canada’s proud voice in the world, so that our belief in democracy, our spirit of generosity and our dedication to multilateral solutions are heard and recognized across the globe.

Canada was one of the first modern countries to reject explicitly the notion that a state consists of one ethno-cultural group with a single language and culture. We are a nation that has succeeded in binding two founding linguistic groups into one political community. Over the years, we have added a rich tapestry of other languages, cultural traditions and religions, and have endeavoured to address the concerns of our Aboriginal peoples.

Today, the world needs more Canada. We need to share our values of tolerance, compassion and respect – as we received them from those who formed and shaped this nation – with a world too often weighted down by despair and desperation.

The Liberal government recently launched a wide-ranging International Policy Review – integrating diplomacy, defence, development and trade – the first such review in a decade during which many fundamental changes have taken place in our increasingly interconnected world.

Our goal for that review is to ensure that our unique Canadians values grow in influence on the global stage.

Our priority, as outlined in our main platform, is to launch a Peace and Nation Building Initiative directed to the increasing number of fragile states where poverty and weak governance combine to produce despair and desperation. Our initiative will strengthen our Armed Forces and reserves, deploy the Canada Corps, contribute to the halt of world pandemics such as HIV/AIDS, and reduce or forgive debts owed by poor and deserving countries.

Our emphasis on these major priority areas does not relieve the government of the responsibility to respond to other challenges.

Our plans with respect to these other international policy issues follow.

NATIONAL SECURITY POLICY FOR THE 21ST CENTURY THE LIBERAL PERSPECTIVE There is no more important responsibility for the federal government than the protection and safety of Canadians, as best reflected in the constitutional responsibility of the Government of Canada to provide for “Peace, Order and Good Government.”

The events of 9/11 reminded us that any complacency with respect to Canadian national security is misplaced. It is now clear to all of us that North America is not immune to the violence and destruction wrought by terrorism, even though its origins are often continents away and seemingly beyond our control. It is these challenges which an updated national security policy must address.

Our national security approach has also been designed to deal with natural and man-made disasters. Canadians expect, from their federal government, constant vigilance on national security matters from terrorism to health pandemics, devastating forest fires, other natural disasters and blackouts. The Liberal government will enhance the security and safety of Canadians as outlined in Canada’s first-ever comprehensive national security strategy, Securing an Open Society: Canada’s National Security Policy.

Introduced in April 2004, the policy is a long-term strategic framework focused on three core national security objectives:

• Protecting Canada and Canadians at home and abroad; • Ensuring Canada is not a base for threats to our allies, and • Contributing to international security.

The Liberal government has taken many important steps to improve Canada’s national security, immediately after 9/11 and more recently, such as:

• An investment of $8.3 billion to improve our national security structures to protect Canadians; • The creation of a new department of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness that integrates key intelligence, policing, border and emergency preparedness functions; • The establishment of a Cabinet Committee on Security, Public Health and Emergencies to improve the government’s capacity to prevent and respond to events; • The creation of the Strategic Border Infrastructure initiative to ensure a coordinated approach towards border infrastructure. Projects supported by the program include: • new or improved highway access for border crossings; • processing centres for commercial vehicles to speed up clearance times, and • “soft infrastructure” such as intelligent transportation systems, which facilitate the electronic exchange of information between government agencies and trucks and trains crossing the border. • An improved Security Review process at the border, providing faster review of immigrant, refugee, and visitor applicants who may pose a national security risk;

• The establishment of a Bi-National Planning Group that has Canada and the U.S. working together on contingency plans for defending against, and responding to, possible threats in Canada and the U.S., including natural disasters and potential terrorist attacks, and • The creation of a Canadian Public Health Agency to ensure Canada’s health system can anticipate and respond effectively to public health threats. The Agency and the Chief Public Health Officer will provide a clear focal point for federal leadership and accountability in managing public health emergencies.

The National Security Policy assesses the threats to Canadians, outlines our national security interests and provides an integrated management framework for national security issues. It is a blueprint for action in six key areas – intelligence, emergency management, public health, transportation, border security and international security.

THE LIBERAL POLICY Canada’s National Security Policy outlines new structures and strategies which will enable the government of Canada to better anticipate and effectively manage threats. New investments include measures to:

• Strengthen marine security, including measures to improve co-ordination, enhance capacity and develop greater marine security co-operation with the United States; • Create Health Emergency Response Teams made up of health professionals increases Canada’s ability to respond to health emergencies; • Develop the Critical Infrastructure Protection Strategy for Canada, including protection for critical government information systems, through partnerships with the provinces, territories and the private sector; • Implement the RCMP Real Time Identification Project and dramatically improve the national fingerprint system; • Implement the Passport Security Strategy, including facial recognition biometric technology on the Canadian Passport, in line with international standards; • Create the Integrated Threat Assessment Centre, and improve sharing and dissemination of threat information through the Government Operations Centre to better co-ordinate responses, and • Create a high-level national cyber-security task force with public and private representation to develop a National Cyber-Security Strategy.

The government of Canada will engage our North American partners to deepen and broaden the successful Canada-U.S. Smart Borders Action Plan to include new areas such as biosecurity, food safety, cybersecurity, public health, marine and transportation security.

The National Security Policy protects our collective security interests in a way that reflects core Canadian values of tolerance, openness, pluralism and respect for fundamental rights and freedoms. FOCUS ON TRADE AND INVESTMENT THE LIBERAL PERSPECTIVE Canadians have recognized for decades the benefits of being open to international trade and investment. Open trade and investment supports jobs at home, and brings leading-edge technology, capital, ideas, and highly skilled people to Canada.

Canada’s economy is one of the most open in the world. In 2003, Canada’s total trade, both imports and exports, had a value of $2.4 billion per day and exports accounted for 37 per cent of our GDP. International trade is crucial to all regions of the country and most areas of the economy, including natural resources, agriculture and manufacturing. International trade is particularly important for “new economy” or high technology sectors, which derive as much as 95 per cent of their revenue from international customers.

THE LIBERAL POLICY The Liberal government is a strong proponent of vital international trade agreements and institutions, such as the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), to ensure market access for Canadian products and services.

We therefore have a responsibility to continually work to foster open trade and investment through these institutions, and take a lead role to constantly improve and expand that system. The Liberal government has advanced our trade agenda in a number of significant ways:

• Created a separate Department of International Trade to provide a coherent focus to Canada’s trade and investment efforts; • Implemented the Smart Borders Initiative to facilitate Canada-U.S. trade in the post- 9/11 environment, when concerns about security threatened to disrupt cross-border trade with the U.S. We have provided almost $1.5 billion over five years in new funding to the Smart Borders Initiative and Related Programs. More recently, we have established a new Border Services Agency to further advance this agenda; • Established the $600 million Border Infrastructure Fund for investments along our border with the United States, including the $150 million commitment made towards the Windsor Gateway; • Established a new Secretariat at the Canadian Embassy in Washington to help with public advocacy and legislative efforts to further Canadian interests in the United States, as well as opening seven new consulates to improve Canada-U.S. trade relations; • Continued and expanded trade and investment promotion activities, including ongoing trade missions throughout the world; • Vigorously defended through political, diplomatic and legal means Canada’s trade interests in the U.S., particularly on issues such as softwood lumber, beef, and wheat; • Provided a number of programs to assist Canada’s forest industry, communities and workers who have been adversely affected by the unfair trade practices of the U.S. during the softwood lumber dispute; • Improved the Community Investment Support Program to provide assistance to Canadian communities looking to build their capacity to attract and retain foreign direct investment, and • Launched the Trade and Investment Enhancement Agreement with the European Union, aimed at reducing barriers to trade in the EU - the world’s largest single market.

While Canadian firms, small, medium and large, have been increasingly successful in penetrating global markets, the government needs to do more to assist them. We also need to attract further investment to Canada.

The Liberal government will:

• Build stronger trade relations with key developing countries, such as China, Brazil and India, which are judged to have great potential market opportunities for Canadian firms, and • Continue to work to move the Doha Development Agenda forward, including engagements to resolve issues on agricultural subsidies and on science-based trade decision making.

SUPPORTING CANADA’S VETERANS THE LIBERAL PERSPECTIVE The service and sacrifices of Canadian veterans are being commemorated this June 6, in a remembrance ceremony on the beaches of Normandy where - as young Canadians – these veterans, and many who did not return, stormed out of landing craft and onto the pages of history in the crusade to liberate Europe.

Prime Minister Paul Martin will join veterans at the 60th anniversary of D-Day, as he represents a nation grateful for the heroism and unflinching courage shown by these Canadians.

Liberals hold Canada’s veterans in the highest esteem for their unparalleled record in war and peace, serving in the two World Wars and the Korean War, and as peacekeepers and peacemakers from Cyprus to Yugoslavia, from Kosovo to Afghanistan. Always our soldiers, airmen, navy – men and women – serve the cause of justice, democracy, human rights and freedom.

Our veterans command our respect, and a Liberal government offers them our ongoing thanks and our support for their service to Canadians and Canada.

THE LIBERAL POLICY The Liberal government has enhanced a number of benefits for our veterans. Specifically, the Liberal government has:

• Extended the Veterans Independence Program (VIP) for housekeeping and grounds maintenance services to veterans’ survivors, benefiting an estimated 10,000 people; • Extended the VIP to an additional 20,000 survivors and other primary caregivers of veterans who had been receiving VIP benefits and who passed away before June 2002; • Provided financial compensation to Aboriginal veterans and merchant mariners for their service during the World Wars and the Korean War, and • Provided financial compensation to veterans (and their estates) who were involved in chemical weapons testing carried out during and after the World Wars and the Korean War.

The ranks of Canada’s veterans has increased almost 60 per cent – from 23,600 in 2001 to 37,300 in 2004 as members leave the service of the Canadian Forces and access veterans’ programs.

Existing programs, however, were designed primarily for the veterans of the World Wars and the Korean War. The Liberal government is committed to modernizing and enhancing our veterans programs. Specifically, a Liberal government will:

• Develop and legislate a modern-day Veteran’s Charter for Canadian Forces veterans. This will comprise a set of programs designed to meet the unique needs of Canadians Forces veterans and help them re-integrate into the labour market and adjust to life after military service. This initiative will include: • A modern disability regime; • Medical, psychological, social and vocational rehabilitation programs; • Enhanced insured health care services for veterans and their families; • Replacement of temporary earnings loss, as well as longer-term income support, when required, and • Job placement services. • Ensure that Canada’s youth are provided with the tools and opportunities to further their recognition and appreciation of Canada’s rich military heritage, and to gain a better understanding of the sacrifices and achievements of veterans. This will involve: • Shifting the remembrance focus from overseas events to in-Canada activities, and • Using modern communications and education tools, as well as partnerships with the private and not-for-profit sectors, to help increase the exposure of our young people to veterans and their stories.