Eco-friend of the Anada S.E.A.A.R.A.R.E.A.E.R.E.F.A. S.E. B.E.A.

Transcription

1 The Party Platforms 2008: What do they say? Building and onstruction Trades Department, AF-IO, anadian Office

2 onservative Party of anada The True North, Strong and Free Stephen Harper s plan for anadians iberal Party of anada Richer, Fairer, Greener: An action plan for the 21 st entury New Democratic Party Jack ayton and the New Democrats. A Prime Minister on your family s side, for a change. Industry - Training Not yet released (as of October 6) and no significant announcements regarding training, training delivery or skills development Apprenticeship Incentive Grant graduation bonus of $2,000 to encourage completion of registered, nationally recognized apprenticeships this addresses a focus of our lobbying efforts over the last year and last legislative conference Will offer to full-time apprentices the $400/month tax credit mirroring the support for college and university students Will offer access to apprentices the $5,000 anada Student oan program as provided to other students (p20) Will work with the building and other trades in collaboration with provincial governments to set anada wide standards for apprenticeship entrance requirements, curriculum and recognition requirements expand the number of new apprenticeable trades in anada make the employment of certified apprentices and journey persons a condition in federal government construction contracts (p16) omment This proposal from the iberals is a large step forward in terms of tax treatment for people training in apprenticeship trades. If it comes to fruition, this item would give apprentices equal tax treatment to full-time students enrolled in a college or university and would enable them to use these credits against income earned. This means a credit on taxable income by approximately $4,800 per

3 year if our interpretation and the definition of full-time apprentice are accurate. We have approached the iberal Party for more information but as of October 1, 2008 no response was received. The newly announced graduation bonus by the Prime Minister in Saint John, NB addresses the concern raised by the Building Trades at our last legislative conference and is a welcome addition to the toolkit we have in order encourage our members to become as highly qualified as possible. Environment - (Regulatory Framework/arbon Tax/ ap and Trade) Regulatory frameworks are aimed at A arbon Tax adds a tax to the reductions of intensity of energy goods or services produced by an consumption and are a bundle of industry, company or group of regulations and guidelines aimed at companies. This tax can either be changing behaviours at the industry level added at the wholesale or retail level of over a specific timeframe. For example, the the economy so consumers of the April 2007 Regulatory Framework for Air product either pay directly or indirectly. Emissions introduced by the current A carbon tax puts a price on pollution by Government showcased broad designs for charging a fixed fee per weight or industrial emissions of both greenhouse volume of production of carbon gasses and air pollutants in anada. emissions. For example, an oil refining These kinds of frameworks aim to reduce company would be taxed based on the emission intensity or the kind of energy amount of O2 produced and emitted that is used to produce other energy. oal into the environment. For example, fired power plants are an example of under the Green Shift plan proposed energy intense industry. These by the Dion iberals, at the end of the frameworks aim to discourage energy four year implementation period a intense processes. The danger here is producer that emits 17 Million tonnes of oftentimes certain industries are O2 per year (like Ontario Power grandfathered or excluded from the Generation at Nanticoke, On) would regulations altogether suddenly owe $680MM (See Green shift) ap and Trade systems very simply, put a limit on a group of emitters as to how much O2 could be expelled into the environment. This industry group (like oil refiners) then can trade allowances within that cap. This kind of system puts more certainties around absolute levels of pollution flowing into the atmosphere. It demands focus on emissions regulation and monitoring something governments are not historically good at. This system is very complex but creates more certainty in terms of reducing emission levels. In anada, large polluters make up about 50% of carbon emissions. This kind of a system can be modified to work in conjunction with a carbon tax system. This system creates a market, buying and selling the cost of pollution.

4 omment All three systems would have some impact on construction and the anadian economy as a whole. The plan with the least negative impact would be the onservative plan which really grandfathers all oil sand pollution limits until It also would do the least to take concrete steps in addressing environmental control in anada. The iberal and plan would encourage investment in nuclear technology and other non-traditional energy, it would force polluters to pay by volume of their production. The and iberal plans could have regional consequences Ontario could benefit from increased public and private investment in the nuclear industry traditional industries like oil and gas could suffer significantly in the West. Personal Income Taxes - Targeted announcements (seniors, new homebuyers, parents raising disabled children) have been part of the campaign pitch via press release it is assumed no further income tax cuts other than Federal Budget 2008 A reduction in personal income taxes as outlined in the Green Shift Plan lowest income tax bracket moves to 13.5% from 15% 22% bracket goes to 21% and 26% goes to 25% annual child tax credit of $350 per child / year (see calculator at above link) No cuts to the personal income tax brackets per se. omment Personal tax cuts proposed by the iberals would work out to about $ per household (family income of $60,000 with 2 children). The Green Shift will invariably cause all consumer goods and services to increase in cost certainly more than $ per year for the average family.

5 orporate Taxes - no changes expected beyond what was proposed and passed in Budget 2008 removal of oil sands tax credits ($1.2Billion) Increase corporate taxes by $50 billion (through freezing future reductions as outlined by the onservatives) omment The proposal would have profound impact on the success of the anadian economy. Investment in the anadian economy would stifle as business would seek lower cost tax jurisdictions. Infrastructure - Build anada fund as outlined in Budget 2008 $70 billion for public infrastructure over 10 years (roads, bridges, security measures) Invest the equivalent of 1% of the GST in funding for our cities and communities by 2011 omment The Build anada Fund is worth approximately $37 billion over seven years and was initiated in 2007 by the onservatives. For reference purposes, 1% of annual GST revenue is approximately $300 million. The iberal plan really stands out here as the most attractive for construction activity. Health are - committed to the anada Health Act additional steps to ensure that anada s communities and hospitals have more doctors and nurses where they are needed most. It is not noted what those steps are. committed to the anada Health Act creation of the Doctors and Nurses Fund to reduce bottlenecks in licensing professionals, increase capacity to train and graduate doctors and debt forgiveness for medical students. committed to the anada Health Act a anada wide prescription drug program commit to implement a program to train more doctors and nurses (goal will be a 50% increase) a pan-anadian home care program

6 omment The and iberals have made some funding commitments specifically around training doctors and nurses. The has discussed a prescription drug plan and home care plan. It is unclear from the platform where funding will come from for these initiatives although it has been implied some of the funding in the plan would come from the reversal of corporate tax cuts. Employment Insurance - Bill -50 proposed a number of legislative changes as outlined in June 2008 regarding the EI financing board unemployed workers who accept temporary work while receiving benefits will be allowed to earn $750 or 40% of benefits without a clawback (p47) pledge to repeal Bill -50 which make legislative changes to EI management omment In June 2008 we appeared before two Parliamentary committees to discuss the changes the onservatives put in place for the EI system. At that time the iberals appeared to be opposed to the changes but abstained from voting in the House of ommons enabling the onservative agenda. It was widely expected the iberals would put some changes forward in their platform regarding this issue; however it is missing from the document. Oil and Gas No substantive changes in policy direction Announced a position on bitumen export to jurisdictions outside anada that do not have equivalent environmental emission standards as laid out in the onservative regulatory framework A removal of tax credits for oil sands producers which currently exist Pledge to shut down further development of the oil sands in Alberta

7 omment The onservatives will encourage further oil and gas development as will the iberals. The indicated further development will be halted if elected. It is important to understand that this onservative position on bitumen export will positively affect the economy of anada. It will help ensure the raw extracted material from the oil sands does not leave Alberta and anada without the value add jobs that come along with the processing. The position on this issue is completely ill-founded and could prove to be an economy killer. Federalism Establish a charter of open federalism which respects the jurisdiction of the provinces claim that if the provinces do not act on certain issues they will use their constitutional power to force action over trade and commerce any new shared cost program in an area of provincial or territorial responsibility that the provinces should be given the right to opt out with compensation. Respectful Federalism is the official term used in the platform book A re-introduction of the Atlantic Accords Respectful Federalism is the term used in the platform Similar to the onservatives they would seek provincial consultation in new areas of provincial jurisdiction funded by the federal government and compensate provinces that would not participate in a federal program omments The onservative government is committed to a united anada where the Federal government does not interfere with the jurisdiction of the provinces nor a growing centralist role. They fundamentally believe in smaller government and less interference the other two parties are more centralist in nature who believe in expanded roles of the federal government. It is interesting to note that the onservatives (and the ) will not require provinces to participate in a federal government program this will continue to devolve responsibility from a national governing body to provincial governments on a number of issues.

8 Defense anada First Defense Strategy wherein $45 to $50 billion is invested over the next 20 years on the purchase of major equipment as outlined in June 2008 Mission in Afghanistan continues until 2011 combination of buying anadian-made defense equipment and securing high value industrial benefits when equipment is purchased abroad Mission in Afghanistan continues until 2011 remain committed to money allocated to anadian Forces for the next four years by the onservatives in June million for a fund for Veterans affected by post traumatic stress disorder focus on anadian sourcing of defense contracts Defend anada First and withdraw all troops from Afghanistan assist people facing catastrophes provide support for peace-making and peace-keeping around the world focus on anadian sourcing of defense contracts omment The onservatives and iberals are similar in their approach to the anadian Forces and defense policies. The is radically different on this issue and proposes a new role for the F in the world. onsumer Safety Vow to strengthen the anadian Environmental Protection Act $160 million the to anadian Food Inspection Agency to hire new inspectors, better track imports and improve safety systems Toxic substances reduction strategy which creates a hot list of carcinogenic substances and eventually legislate replacement and phase out re-institute the anadian Health Measures Survey program $50 million to create a more robust food safety network Food safety initiatives by increasing Ministerial power in Health anada and a new Minister of onsumer Protection

9 omment The iberal plan has the potential to assist efforts of the construction industry in working at reducing asbestos exposure for workers and consumers. Other interesting proposals The onservatives have pledged to make immigration consulting a regulated activity this will assist with some of the concerns surrounding the Temporary Foreign Worker program and abuses in the system for guest workers. The onservatives have pledged $200 million over four years for a fund called the Automotive Innovation Fund The onservatives have pledged $200 million over four years for a fund called the Strategic Aerospace and Defense Initiative omment These late campaign pledges are aimed at Ontario and Quebec voters wherein most of the automobile manufacturing and aerospace industries are located. The onservative platform really seems to be lacking any real action on these and other issues in the economy $200 million each for two of the country s largest industries seems like a last minute effort to shore up votes and not really address the underlying economic issues pressing these important drivers.