NDP policy platform includes $71 B in spending
Last Updated: Wednesday, January 11, 2006 | 10:54 PM ET
CBC News
The platform revealed few new proposals, as many have been announced throughout the campaign. They include:
- Home care for seniors and creation of long-term care spaces.
- Legislation to stop the spread of private, for-profit health care.
- Legislation to make politicians more accountable.
Jack Layton
Other items included $20.1 billion over five years on tax breaks for low-income earners; $1 billion a year for a prescription drug plan, starting in 2007, and $16 billion over four years for child care and child tax benefits.
"That's our agenda in this election and that will be our agenda in the next Parliament," Layton told supporters in Hamilton.
NDP strategists said the money would come from cancelling corporate tax cuts promised by the Liberals.
The platform document also states that the party would not have to raise taxes. "With billions of dollars in surplus, Ottawa doesn't need new revenues."
Layton said the NDP emphasis on seniors, children and health care makes his party a true alternative to both the Liberals and Conservatives.
"Mr. Martin's campaign is as bad as his record," Layton said. "And Mr. Harper is selling moonshine on taxes – which is all he has to offer."
But the NDP leader wouldn't say whether it would be harder to achieve his goals if the Conservatives win.
"We're going to put our priorities in front of the House, and Canadians will decide what that House looks like," Layton said. "Our job will be to try to convince as many parliamentarians as we can to adopt these measures."
