Ottawa, December 15, 2011 – Today, the Honourable Peter Van Loan, Government House Leader and the Honourable Steven Blaney, Minister of Veterans Affairs highlighted the Government’s legislative accomplishments in the fall sitting of Parliament.
“Canadians gave our Government a strong mandate to focus on creating jobs and economic growth and to deliver on our commitments,” said Minister Van Loan. “The highlight of this productive, orderly and hard-working session is the passage of the Keeping Canada’s Economy and Jobs Growing Act.”
The Keeping Canada’s Economy and Jobs Growing Act implements important measures of the 2011 Budget, the Next Phase of Canada’s Economic Action Plan: A Low Tax Plan for Jobs and Growth, including:
- A job creation tax credit for small businesses.
- A tax credit for children’s art, music and dance lessons.
- Long-term infrastructure funding for municipalities through legislating a permanent annual investment of $2 billion in the Gas Tax Fund
- support for the manufacturing and processing sector with an extension of the capitol cost allowance.
“Our government is continuing to work hard on the priorities of Canadians,” continued Minister Van Loan. “We have made progress on implementing key commitments we made to Canadians in the last election. By the end of the session we will have passed the Fair Representation Act and the Marketing Freedom for Grain Farmers Act.”
“During the fall sitting, our government has concluded an agreement with the government of Quebec regarding the harmonization of the Quebec Sales Tax. Moreover, the House of Commons passed the Safe Streets and Communities Act. This piece of comprehensive legislation is now before the Senate,” added Minister Blaney. “We’re well on our way to meeting our election commitment to pass this bill within 100 sitting days.”
In January, the House will continue to focus on important economic measures including:
- Free Trade Agreements with Panama and Jordan
- The Copyright Modernization Act
- The Pooled Registered Pension Plans Act
- The 2012 Budget
The Government will also follow through and pass into law our long-standing commitment to eliminate the wasteful and ineffective Long-Gun Registry.
For more information, please contact:
Fraser Malcolm
Director of Communications
Office of the Government House Leader
(613) 947-7619
