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As a non-partisan organization, OSPE considers it a civic duty for all Canadians to vote based on a clear understanding and knowledge of the platforms of each political party.

This week OSPE is showcasing the Conservative Party’s 2019 electoral platform. Click here to make sure you are registered to vote on Monday, October 21, 2019

Energy

• Repeal Bill C-69
• End the ban on shipping traffic on North Coast of British Columbia
• Enact legislation that will clarify the roles of proponents and governments that are involved in energy project consultations
• Foster the creation of a national energy corridor that facilitates the transmission of clean electricity
• Build the Trans Mountain Pipeline

Environment and Climate Change

• Repeal the carbon tax.
• Work with provinces and municipalities to bring an end to raw sewage dumps into marine or freshwater ecosystems.
• Launch a “Canadian Clean” brand where products would be marketed as an alternative to the carbon intensive options that exist in other countries.
• Set emission standards for major emitters that will lower greenhouse gases and drive Canadian businesses to the highest standards of green technology. Those companies that emit more than is allowed under the Green Investment Standards will be required to invest in research, development, and adoption of reducing technology related to their industry.
• Expand the mandatory application of the major emitters policy from facilities emitting 50 kt CO2e to facilities emitting 40 kt CO2e per year.
• Create a two-year Green Home Renovation Tax Credit for homeowner to help pay for energy-saving renovations. Canadian would be eligible to receive a 20% refundable credit on their income tax for green improvement to their homes of over $1,000 up to $20,000.
• Establish a retrofit code for those who wish to undertake an environmental retrofit.
• Establish Energy Savings Performance Contracting where investment capital is used upfront and repaid by building owners through the energy savings.
• Establish a voluntary net zero ready building standard.
• Establish a Green Patent Credit that will reduce the tax rate to 5% on income that is generated from green technology developed and patented in Canada.
• Leverage up to $1 billion in private investment in new venture capital for Canadian green technology companies. This will provide $250 million for a fund managed by the private sector and separate from government. The private sector will be required to invest $4 for each government dollar.
• Create a single online hub for green technology innovators that will help them identify where they can find talent, information, and resources from the private and public sectors.
• Direct the Canadian Forest Service to investigate the use of technology that can improve the early detection of wildfires.
• Create a new fund for community-based projects targeted to wildlife enhancement.
• Ban the export of plastic waste unless it can be shown that it will be recycled at its destination.
• Develop a nationally harmonized regulatory regime for plastics recycling including elements of extended producer responsibility and harmonized standards for products and packaging containing plastic.
• Provide targeted accelerated capital cost allowances to industries that can be shown to reduce emissions in other countries.

Infrastructure

• Prioritize infrastructure projects that will have the maximum benefit to Canada’s economy.
• Prioritize infrastructure projects that shorten commute times.
• Incorporate a mitigation and adaptation lens to the government’s infrastructure investments, so as to improve resilience to extreme weather events.
• Prioritize infrastructure projects and invest resources to end the dumping of raw sewage in our lakes, rivers, and oceans.

Indigenous Peoples

• Collaborate with Indigenous peoples on undertaking mitigation and adaptation projects.
• Work collaboratively with Indigenous communities and leaders to review the Indian Act and other government policies and procedures to remove barriers to prosperity.
• Work towards modernizing Indigenous governance so that accountability shifts from the federal bureaucracy to the people served by Indigenous leader.
• Pursue opportunities to allow eligible Indigenous communities to receive the federal Gas Tax Fund directly.
• Develop a National Action Plan to address the ongoing tragedy of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls.

Housing

• Work with the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI) to remove the stress test from mortgage renewals.
• Extend the mortgage amortization period on insured mortgages for first-time home buyers to 30 years.
• Make surplus federal real estate available, in order to increase the supply of housing.
• Reward municipalities that have proven to reduce red tape that stands in the way of new home construction.

Taxes

• Reduce the tax rate on income under $47,630 from 15% to 13.75%.
• Remove the Goods and Services Tax (GST) from home heating and energy bills.
• Reduce the number of hours required to qualify for the Disability Tax Credit (DTC) and the Registered Disability Savings Plan from 14 to 10 hours per week.
• Make maternity benefits tax free.
• Introduce the Children’s Fitness Tax Credit, which will allow parents to claim up to $1,000 per child, each year, for expenses related to sports and fitness program.
• Introduce the Children’s Arts and Learning Tax Credit, which will allow parents to claim up to $500 per child, each year, for expenses related to arts and learning activities.
• Increase the government’s contribution to a Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP) from 20% to 30% for every dollar invested, up to $2,500 a year.
• Expand the Age Credit by $1,000.

Economy

• Balance the budget within 5 years.
• Cut foreign aid by 25%.
• Require all new spending proposals be offset with savings equal to the cost of the new spending.
• Make sure that intellectual property protection and free trade services is at the heart of new trade agreement.
• Break down interprovincial trade barriers.
• Strike a Natural Resources competitiveness task force.
• Implement an Agriculture and Agri-Food Labour Strategy.
• Deliver compensation to farmers affected by free trade deals.
• Defend Canada’s system of supply management.
• Create a CETA and CPTPP Accelerator, in order to provide market intelligence or advice on local regulations.

Jobs and Skills Training

• Ensure government re-training programs meet the demand for skills required for the jobs of today and tomorrow.
• Encourage new economic immigrants to consider jobs in remote parts of the country by providing them with information about opportunities that exist outside of our urban centres.

Pharmacare

• No pharmacare plan.
• Invest $1.5B over 4 years to renew and expand medical imaging equipment across Canada.
• Develop a national autism strategy.

 Full Conservative Party platform available here

What do you think of the federal Conservative Party platform? Are these promises attainable?

As a part of our Federal Election coverage, OSPE and its Task Forces have put together a comprehensive National Strategy that contains recommendations from professional engineers for all political parties to consider ahead of the 2019 Canadian Federal Election. Read the full document here.