Conservative Majority Anniversary: Harper Urges MPs Not To Rest On Their Laurels (VIDEO)

CP  |  By Posted: 05/02/2012 10:09 am Updated: 05/02/2012 1:50 pm

OTTAWA - Prime Minister Stephen Harper looked to the future Wednesday in speech marking the first anniversary of his majority government.

Harper warned fellow Tory MPs not to rest on their laurels, but to keep working on the party's plans for prosperity.

"A majority mandate cannot change who we are and how we govern. Our values are our values, our commitments to Canadians must be honoured," he said.

"But our majority does give us the opportunity to look at the bigger picture and to focus on the longer term."

Harper says the financial crises of the last few years might not be a passing phenomenon for many countries and there's a historic shift in world economic power and wealth.

"We as Canadians must decide that we will be on the right side of that history," he said.

Putting Canada's economic focus on Asia has been a priority for the Conservatives over the last year, as has expanding trade deals with emerging economies around the world.

The Conservatives, Harper said, are the only party that has a workable plan for managing the economy.

So while the anniversary is a time to celebrate, it's also a time to realize how far they still have to go, Harper said.

"Our mandate, the big vision of Canada to which we are pledged, the big upheavals of the world to which we belong mean there can be no resting on the laurels of victory," he said.

Related on HuffPost:

HAVE THE TORIES KEPT THEIR PROMISES?
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  • Have The Tories Kept Their Promises?

    The Conservative election platform in 2011, "Here for Canada," featured many campaign commitments.<br><br>One year into Harper's "strong, stable, majority Conservative government," how much has been accomplished? What still remains to be done?<br><br><em>With files from CBC</em><br><br>(Getty)

  • What They've Done

    The next five slides provide a list of what the Tories have accomplished in their first year.<br><br>(Getty)

  • Budget 2011 Measures

    Budget 2011 measures (rolled into the election platform after the original March budget did not pass, and all delivered again in the June budget):<br><br> - Hiring credit for small business -- offering a short-term break from EI payments for those who increase payrolls.<br><br> - Extension for: work-sharing program (helping employers avoid layoffs by providing part-time EI benefits); the "targeted initiative for older workers" (programs to help older unemployed workers); temporary accelerated capital cost allowance rate for manufacturing equipment; mineral exploration tax credit; ecoENERGY retrofit program for homes (one more year only.)<br><br>- Funding for: Canadian youth business foundation; Canada student loans program; 30 new industrial research chairs at Canadian colleges and polytechnics and ten new Canada excellence research chairs for universities; northern adult basic education program in territories; student loan forgiveness for medical professionals willing to work in rural/underserviced regions.<br><br>- Funding for: all-season road between Inuvik and Tuktoyaktuk (to complete Dempster highway); two new national parks in Labrador and urban Toronto; snowmobile trails; small-craft harbour repairs; plus support for an agricultural trade commissioner and market access secretariat to "expand international markets for farmers;" as well as funding for an "agriculture innovation initiative."<br><br>- Funding for: Royal Conservatory of Music (to launch a national examination system); Canada periodical (magazines) fund; "youth gang prevention fund" to support projects in high-need communities.<br><br>- Tax credits: children's arts (up to $500/child in qualified arts/culture programs); family caregiver tax credit ($2,000 for those caring for an infirm family member); volunteer firefighters; plus a top-up for guaranteed income supplement for low-income seniors.<br><br>- Phase-out of taxpayer subsidies to federal political parties.<br><br>(CP)

  • Other Economic Measures:

    - Government-wide spending review, as reflected in the 2012 budget, implementing over $5 billion in spending and job cuts across all federal departments and agencies, representing some 6.9 per cent of total government spending.<br><br>- Repeal of legislation forcing mandatory retirement at a specified age for workers in federally-regulated industries (effective Dec. 2012).<br><br>- Financial assistance (loans) to help immigrants get foreign credentials recognized (pilot announced Feb. 2012).<br><br>- "One-for-one" rule for business regulations arising from work of "red tape commission," now requiring government to eliminate a regulation for every new regulation implemented (effective April 1).- Successful bidders chosen for shipbuilding procurement strategy (Oct. 2011).<br><br>- "Single desk" monopoly of Canadian Wheat Board dismantled and farmer-elected board dismissed, enabling an open market for Prairie wheat and barley effective 2012 crop year.<br><br>- Pooled retirement pension plans implemented (Nov. 2011).<br><br>- "Helmets to hardhats" program to help military veterans find civillian work after deployments (announced Jan. 2012).<br><br>

  • Intergovernmental Affairs

    - 18 more First Nations signed on to the First Nations land management regime, opting out of land-related sections of the Indian Act (March 2012).<br><br>- Quebec sales tax harmonization agreement (signed in Sept. 2011).<br><br>- Increase health transfers to provinces by six per cent annually until 2017, with the rate tied to economic growth and adjusted for inflation after 2017 (platform pledged to not "cut transfer payments to individuals or to the provinces for essential things like health care, education, and pensions" while working "collaboratively with the provinces and territories to renew the Health Accord and to continue reducing wait times").<br><br>- Loan guarantee for Lower Churchill River hydro project (memorandum with Newfoundland and Labarador signed in Aug. 2011).<br><br>- Legislation to make the "gas tax fund" a permanent form of infrastructure funding to municipalities (passed Dec. 2011).<br><br>- Alberta's elected Senate nominee Betty Unger called to Senate in Jan. 2012 (no other provinces have elected Senate nominees eligible for appointment).<br><br>(Getty)

  • Justice Measures

    - <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/news/omnibus-crime-bill/?" target="_hplink">Omnibus crime legislation (C-10)</a>, which included new mandatory minimum sentences, stiffer penalties for drug crimes, stiffer penalties for child sex offenders, an end to house arrest/conditional sentences for a range of offences, elimination or delay in eligibility for pardons, stiffer sentences for repeat or violent young offenders, new roles for victims of crime in parole decisions, measures to protect vulnerable foreign workers, new criteria for the transfer of Canadians convicted of crimes abroad, and new measures to seek justice for victims of terrorism (received royal assent March 2012, within the "100 sitting days of Parliament" deadline pledged in the platform).<br><br>- "Wanted by the CBSA" web site launched, to help find and facilitate deportations of foreign criminals (July 2012, and ongoing).<br><br>- Employment insurance benefits for parents of murdered or missing children (announced April 13).<br><br>- Legislation to end the long-gun registry (received royal assent April 5, but implementation stalled, subject to court injunction in Quebec).<br><br>

  • Other Measures

    - Office of religious freedom created in department of foreign affairs, to monitor and promote religious freedom as part of Canadian foreign policy.<br><br>- Legislation to reallocate House of Commons seats to "restore fair representation" (C-20 received royal assent Dec. 2011).<br><br>(CP)

  • What They Haven't Done (Or Haven't Finished, Yet)

    The next six slides provide a list of what the Tories didn't get done during their first year.<br><br>(Getty)

  • Trade Deals And International Commitments

    - Canada-European free trade deal (pledged for 2012).<br><br>- Canada-India free trade deal (pledged for 2013).<br><br>- New border agreement with the United States encompassing trade, travel and security regulations (negotiations ongoing).<br><br>- Copyright Modernization Act (special committee reviewing C-11 reported back to House on March 15).<br><br>- Maternal and child health initiatives, to be implemented in collaboration with other countries (the "Muskoka Initiative," launched in Nov. 2010 - $82 million for specific Canadian projects announced in Sept. 2011 ).<br><br>- Post-combat efforts in Afghanistan, focused on "the education and health of children and youth; advancing security, the rule of law, and human rights; promoting regional diplomacy; and delivering humanitarian assistance."<br><br>(Getty)

  • Defence Commitments

    - F-35 stealth fighter jet purchase (a new secretariat will now oversee the procurement of replacement fighter jets for the CF-18s, following controversy surrounding the disclosed costs of the F-35 program).<br><br>- New air expeditionary wing at CFB Bagotville, including 250 new personnel by end of 2011 and 550 stationed there by 2015 (undisclosed number of personnel added last year to "establish core" of new expeditionary wing, minister's office says, and the government is "committed to adding personnel as the operational tempo permits").<br><br>(AP)

  • Economic/Budget Measures

    - Long-term plan or program, with municipalities and provinces, for building public infrastructure once the Building Canada plan expires in 2014.<br><br>- National securities regulator (Supreme Court ruled in December a national regulator would infringe on provincial jurisdiction, but federal efforts to negotiate a deal with the provinces continue).<br><br>- Income-splitting for families with children under 18 years of age -- allowing couples to share up to $50,000 in income (to be implemented when/if the federal deficit is eliminated).<br><br>- Children's fitness tax credit to be doubled and made refundable (contingent on eliminating federal deficit).<br><br>- Adult fitness tax credit (up to $500 of eligible activities, contingent on eliminating federal deficit).<br><br>- Tax-free savings accounts to see doubling of annual eligible savings, up to $10,000 (contingent on eliminating federal deficit).<br><br>- Employment insurance benefits for parents of gravely ill children (nothing announced to date).<br><br>- Relocation for the head office for the Canada economic development agency for Quebec regions "to a centre or centres appropriate to all regions of the province" (it's still in Montreal, and the minister's office says "we are at the stage where we are considering all of the options").<br><br>- Legislation to implement the Canada-Quebec accord on offshore resources (brief mention in text of 2012 budget).<br><br>- New national farm and food strategy (no announcement yet).<br><br>(Alamy)

  • Justice Measures

    - Anti-terrorism legislation to reinstate powers like preventative arrest and secret investigative hearings, and make it illegal to leave Canada to participate in terrorist-sponsored training or other activities (S-7 currently before Senate committee).<br><br>- Legislation to streamline the process for deporting foreign criminals, including the opportunities for appeal (not introduced yet, expected "in a few short months").<br><br>- Doubling of victim surcharge that convicted criminals must pay (bill C-37 introduced April 24).<br><br>- Legislation to combat elder abuse by adding it as an aggravating factor in sentencing (bill C-36 introduced March 15).<br><br>- Legislation to clarify self-defence and property rights/citizen's arrest provisions (bill C-26 concurred at report stage April 24).<br><br>- Legislation to "give law enforcement and national security agencies up-to-date tools to fight crime in today's high-tech communications environment" (bill C-30 introduced Feb. 14, but stalled after receiving negative feedback). The campaign platform pledged to fulfil this within "100 sitting days of Parliament," which suggests a March deadline, now passed.<br><br>- Measures to combat drug abuse in prisons (no announcement yet).<br><br>- End to sentencing discounts for multiple child sex offences and child pornography charges (no announcement yet).<br><br>- Mandatory jail sentences for those with repeat convictions for contraband tobacco, and a new RCMP anti-contraband force of 50 officers (no announcement yet).<br><br>- National action plan to combat human trafficking (no announcement yet, but private member's bill C-310 to amend the Criminal Code to strengthen measures against human trafficking passed at third reading in the House April 27 and is now before the Senate).<br><br>- New law enforcement mandate for Canada's Coast Guard, to allow them to enforce federal laws on oceans and the Great Lakes, including new armed capabilities on board Coast Guard vessels and armed boarding teams (no annoucement yet).<br><br>- Legislation to allow sentencing courts to order the deportation of convicted criminals upon completion of sentence or parole eligibility, and to remove the requirement of the prisoner's consent for transfer to complete a sentence abroad (no announcement yet).<br><br>(Alamy)

  • Environmental And Community Measures

    - National conservation plan (consultations currently underway at Commons environment committee).<br><br>- "Social impact bonds" to help raise money for worthwhile community projects (2012 budget said HRDSC was "exploring social finance instruments" for an announcement at a later date).<br><br>- Funding for a "volunteer-matching" service through Volunteer Canada (2012 budget ends federal funding for the national volunteer community service organization Katimavik).<br><br>- Defibrillators for every hockey rink in Canada, and training for using them (no announcement yet).<br><br>- Hunting advisory panel, to consult with environment minister on issues concerning hunting and fishing (no announcement yet).<br><br>- Review of the Species at Risk Act to ensure landowners receive fair compensation when their property is affected (no announcement yet, however the 2012 budget implementation bill does amend the Species at Risk Act).<br><br>(CP)

  • Senate Reform And Accountability Measures

    - Legislation to set term limits for senators and provide a framework for Senate elections (C-7 introduced June 2011 but has not progressed further -- and on May 1, Quebec government announced a constitutional challenge of this Senate reform bill).<br><br>- Legislation to publish the salaries of First Nations chiefs and councillors (C-27 introduced Nov. 2011 but has not progressed further).<br><br>- Measures to implement Canada's commitment to the "open government initiative" (ongoing).<br><br>(CP)


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OTTAWA - Prime Minister Stephen Harper looked to the future Wednesday in speech marking the first anniversary of his majority government.Harper warned fellow Tory MPs not to rest on their laurels, but...
OTTAWA - Prime Minister Stephen Harper looked to the future Wednesday in speech marking the first anniversary of his majority government.Harper warned fellow Tory MPs not to rest on their laurels, but...
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albertarick
These are questions for wise men with skinny arms
01:23 PM on 05/03/2012
80,000 public sector job cuts
privatization of health care (proven to be ever so successful in USA),
temporary foreign workers change (amounts to a 15% wage cut for existing skilled labour)
cut support for environmental protection (that would be our environment)
interference with collective bargaining (lower wages for union employees)

Whos prosperity are you planning for Mr. Prime Minister?
Donna Meness
www.findmaisyandshannon.com
Donna Meness
www.findmaisyandshannon.com
10:53 AM on 05/03/2012
Ottawa's display of indifference came at a dishearten­ing time for the 3.4 million Canadians living in poverty.

The government delivered its response in October 2010 to the Senate's 2009 report, In From the Margins: A Call to Action on Poverty, Housing and Homelessne­ss.

It rejected every one of the report's 74 recommenda­tions.

http://www­.parl.gc.c­a/Content/­SEN/Commit­tee/402/ci­ti/rep/rep­02dec09-e.­pdf
Donna Meness
www.findmaisyandshannon.com
10:52 AM on 05/03/2012
Canadians are being told that public health care financing is not ’sustainab­le’, and that the solution is a shift to more private health insurance and private delivery of services.

According to Canada’s leading health care economist, “bluntly, this is a lie.”

Robert G. Evans, O.C., Ph.D. (Economics­, Harvard), an officer of the Order of Canada, and a fellow of the Royal Society of Canada and the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences, recently delivered this message to Members of Parliament during a special briefing session.

This is not because healthcare is unsustaina­ble but because it is underfunde­d, at both federal and provincial levels.

http://www­.rabble.ca­/news/2010­/10/harper­-politiciz­es-healthc­are-it-bad­-canada-ba­d-world
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
rotary
canucklehead
02:00 PM on 05/03/2012
How do you come to the conclusion of the system being underfunded? Health spending is approaching 50% of some provincial budgets, federally it's approaching $200 billion annually. Look at the state of illness of our citizens- obese, obese, obese. Until Canadians get fit and take their health seriously, our system will continue to be bogged down and playing catchup regardless of funding.
Donna Meness
www.findmaisyandshannon.com
10:52 AM on 05/03/2012
And as Stephen Harper is suggesting that public healthcare is too expensive to maintain, Jim McQuail suggests that our costs aren't too high, but our problem is under-taxation.

Maintaining social programs through deficit financing, so long as the rules invite the rich elite to evade taxation, means that the programs we receive today will be paid for by tomorrow’s working people. Sustainability and social equity require that government tax the rich, not defer collecting the necessary revenue indefinitely (and tax working people to pay the interest on the public debt).

Governments should raise enough money to maintain and expand social spending, at least across the business cycle, by taxing it where it lies – in the pockets of rich people and corporations. We do not have a problem of over-spending – our health care and education systems are not over-priced. Our problem is under-taxation.

http://pushedleft.blogspot.ca/2010/11/taxing-proposal-where-buck-is-buck.html
Donna Meness
www.findmaisyandshannon.com
10:19 AM on 05/03/2012
HUNGER FACTS 2011
http://foodbankscanada.ca/factsandstats.htm
Donna Meness
www.findmaisyandshannon.com
10:17 AM on 05/03/2012
The 2012-13 federal budget was greeted with a protest in the House of Commons and criticism from a wide swath of society, including environmentalists, students, teachers, health care workers, Indigenous people, journalists and housing advocates. The budget announced the elimination of 19,200 public sector jobs; reforms to the immigration system, moving it further towards wealth and economic based immigration; fast-tracked environmental assessments on large-scale projects like the Northern Gateway pipeline; and 10 per cent budget cuts to the National Film Board, Telefilm and the CBC. The government also formally announced the increase of Old Age Security admission from 65 to 67 years of age and the elimination of the one-cent coin. "This budget fails to address the pressures of a middle class losing ground and young people struggling to find work," said a member of the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives. "The books will be balanced, but we'll all pay the price."

http://www.mediacoop.ca/newsrelease/10358
Donna Meness
www.findmaisyandshannon.com
08:26 AM on 05/03/2012
Canadian parliament passed Bill C-10, commonly known as the Omnibus Crime Bill. The controversial bill has been criticized for bringing in harsh new penalties, including mandatory minimum sentences that have proven ineffective in the United States.

Ottawa activist Obert Madondo initiated a hunger strike on March 14 to protest the bill.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/story/2012/03/12/pol-crime-bill-monday.html
Donna Meness
www.findmaisyandshannon.com
10:55 AM on 05/03/2012
CANADA’S EXTRA-JUDICIAL SOLUTION TO HOMELESSNESS
The average age of the homeless people living in Canadian shelters is between the ages of thirty-five and fifty-five, and they have been drifting across this country in search of food, shelter and employment for the past twenty to thirty years.
In the 1980’s only 5% of this homeless population mentioned above had a criminal record, today over 70% of them now have a criminal record with charges ranging from totalitarian to completely moronic, for example; urinating in a public place could land you a prison term and then a life sentence down at one of the Canadian Homeless Shelters.
According to Pardons Canada four million people can not find suitable employment, ascertain a post-secondary education, or cross the American border due to criminal record checks, thereby leaving them as unproductive citizens in society with a higher aptitude to re-offend.
It would be interesting to know how many of Canada’s inmates have resided at a Canadian homeless shelter and were forced into working for Temporary labor Agencies prior to their various convictions .

http://www.canada.com/news/Tories+want+hike+fees+pardons/4211087/story.html
Donna Meness
www.findmaisyandshannon.com
08:24 AM on 05/03/2012
The federal government announced it was introducing two-tiered wages for temporary foreign workers, who employers will be allowed to pay 15 per cent less than the average hourly wage in their sector of work. The government had previously said it would not institute a two-tier wage system; labor and immigrant rights activists denounced the change as introducing second class workers and provoking wage depression, as local workers would be forced to compete with lower-paid foreign workers. For the first time ever, there are more temporary foreign workers than permanent immigrants migrating to Canada.

http://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/article/1168905--two-tiered-wage-system-announced-by-tories
Donna Meness
www.findmaisyandshannon.com
08:19 AM on 05/03/2012
http://www.vancouversun.com/wisdom+messy+democratic+assessments/6550006/story.html

The wisdom of messy, democratic assessments

BY JAY RITCHLIN, SPECIAL TO THE SUN MAY 2, 2012

Making development decisions democratically can be a
ponderous exercise, but it?s the best way.

Northern Gateway, Prosperity Mine, Jumbo Glacier: Balancing
environmental protection against economic and social benefits of big
projects is seldom easy. It?s often ponderous, complex and messy. And
that?s if the assessment is done properly.

The new environmental regime outlined in the federal budget on March 29
will likely expedite and tidy up assessments. But if history is correct,
it will ultimately lead to greater conflict and lower standards of
environmental protection.

Under the new ?streamlined? federal process, only one environmental
assessment would be conducted, by the federal or provincial government.
The new regulations also limit the length of time for reviews and
restrict who can speak at them. Add to this the weakening of fish
habitat protection, by limiting Fisheries Act protection to major bodies
of water used for commercial, recreational or aboriginal fisheries, and
strengthening of the hand of the federal cabinet and environment
minister in decision-making, and you have an unravelled environmental
assessment process.
Donna Meness
www.findmaisyandshannon.com
08:17 AM on 05/03/2012
Stealth Bill C-38 upends CEAA
By: John Cumming

Over the years, mine developers in Canada have heard politicians at the
provincial and federal level make so many empty promises to streamline
the redundancy-laden process for mine approvals, it?s been easy to tune
them out and temper hopes.

But that scenario is changing fast, and in a big way, with the governing
federal Conservative party having introduced Bill C-38 in late April.
Modestly titled "An Act to implement certain provisions of the budget
tabled in Parliament on March 29, 2012 and other measures," Bill C-38 is
not a tweak, but a sweeping omnibus bill that amends 60 acts, adds
three, repeals six and completely rewrites the Canadian Environmental
Assessment Act.

All manner of unrelated major policy matters from immigration reform
(the backlog for skilled immigrants essentially eliminated) to
telecommunications ownership (foreign ownership loosened) have been
tossed into Bill C-38, and Members of Parliament will have to vote up or
down on the whole kit and caboodle. With the Conservatives holding a
solid majority and its members well whipped, the bill is guaranteed to
pass as cranky opposition members stand by powerless.

http://www.northernminer.com/news/editorial-stealth-bill-c-38-upends-ceaa/1001123713/?&e=90x84Wx8w8w6n0q27M20
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
gravescanada
06:26 AM on 05/03/2012
Yes, Harper is courting Asian countries. This worked so well for the Manufacturing workers in the USA. Prime Minister Harper, how much of our manufacturing are you planning on sending to China?
04:30 AM on 05/03/2012
Harper is merely the gatekeeper of the crumbs.
With him controlling the flow it will always be meagre and Scrooge like to the 99%.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
SeanMartin
Everything in moderation.
02:47 AM on 05/03/2012
>> "The Conservatives, Harper said, are the only party that has a workable plan for managing the economy."

... one that apparently includes 40-50% cost overruns for a few jets we dont need.
04:56 AM on 05/03/2012
and jets that don't work
01:48 AM on 05/03/2012
One thing about PM Harper is that he always feels that he has the best vision for the economy... I guess as an economist that is where he should shine, if anything.

Sadly, not only is his economic vision twisted in ideological weakness, what is more disappointing is that Harper has not realized that there is more to running Canada then focusing merely on economics alone.

Mr Harper and fellow Cons, there are other elements to our country besides the economy. The neglect and ignorance of all sectors of society is disturbing to say the least. That all said though, if your sole focus is going to be the economy, then at least please leave your far right anti-science and anti-knowledge base ideology out of the nations business. It is so embarrassing for the rest of us.