Ottawa, Ontario -31 December 2014
Some of the Government’s most notable accomplishments this year include:
- Announcing new tax measures and benefits for hard-working Canadians and their families, including the Family Tax Cut, increasing the Universal Child Care Benefit (UCCB) for children under age six, expanding the UCCB to children aged six through 17, and enhancing the Children’s Fitness Tax Credit by doubling the maximum amount that may be claimed effective for the 2014 tax year, and refundable as of the 2015 tax year.
- Creating jobs, economic growth and productivity by launching the $53 billion New Building Canada Plan, which will support the construction or renewal of provincial, territorial and municipal infrastructure.
- Concluding negotiations for the Canada-European Union Trade Agreement and concluding negotiations and securing passage of implementing legislation for the Canada-Korea Free Trade Agreement, Canada’s first free trade agreement in the Asia Pacific.
- Continuing to reduce the deficit to balance the federal budget in 2015. This has been partly achieved by the Government controlling direct program spending without compromising the delivery of priority services to Canadians.
- Hosting the Saving Every Woman, Every Child: Within Arm’s Reach Summit (May 28 to 30) and announcing Canada’s commitment of $3.5 billion from 2015 to 2020 towards Canada’s top international development priority: maternal, newborn and child health (MNCH).
Over the past year, the Government of Canada has delivered on its commitments to:
