Tp Agreement En

Alternative government will put economy first ISSUE •

Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion, New Democrat Leader Jack Layton and Bloc Québécois Leader Gilles Duceppe have agreed to form a cooperative government to address the impact of the global economic crisis on Canadians. The NDP will support this agreement until June 30, 2011.

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The Bloc Québécois has agreed to support this government until June 30, 2010.

KEY MESSAGES •

The Liberals are putting partisan politics aside and working with the other parties to create a plan to put our economy and Canadians first.

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Prime Minister Stephen Harper has no plan to effectively address this crisis. His government’s bad management of the economy has plunged our country into deficit without offering any economic stimulus. Now he is stalling for time and changing policy positions on a daily basis.

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How can Canadians trust this government to get our economy back on track when it’s all over the map?

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The Conservatives just don’t get it. The issue is and always has been about the economy.

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Canadians don’t want another election. We are ready to form a new government that will put our economy and Canadians first.

ADDITIONAL MESSAGES •

Mr. Dion has informed Governor General Michaëlle Jean of the agreement between our parties.

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Given the significant economic challenges facing our citizens, and that the last federal election was held less than two months ago, he has called on her to exercise her constitutional authority and call on himself as Leader of the Official Opposition to form a new collaborative government supported by the other two opposition parties at her first opportunity.

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A new Liberal-led government will help get our economy back on track by:

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getting much-needed infrastructure funding (such as transit, clean energy, water, corridors and gateways) into the hands of cities and communities as soon as possible;

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Investing in the manufacturing, forestry and automotive sectors to create and save st jobs and ensuring that these industries have a plan to be successful in the 21 century economy;

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Eliminating the two-week waiting period for employment insurance and guaranteeing that all revenue from EI premiums go to providing benefits and training for workers;

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Ensuring that Canadian workers learn the skills needed to keep pace with the rapidly changing economy;

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Lowering the minimum required RRIF withdrawal for seniors for 2008 by 50 per cent to help them protect their life savings;

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Implementing an income support program for older workers who have lost their jobs in order to help them make the transition from work to receiving retirement benefits;

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Supporting the Canadian Wheat Board and Supply Management to help Canadian farmers get a better price for their crops;

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Cancelling the Conservatives’ cuts to the arts and cultural industries which provide jobs for approximately 1.1 million Canadians; and

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Pursuing other common goals such as immigration reform, a cap-and-trade system, a North American cap-and-trade market with absolute emission targets and improved child benefits and an early learning and childcare program.