The men and women of the Canada’s Armed Forces risk their lives every day defending our sovereignty at home and performing missions abroad. That’s why Conservatives are committed to providing the Canadian Armed Forces with the tools and equipment needed to get the job done.

For the better part of three decades, the CF-18s have provided excellent and reliable service defending Canadian skies. Since 1982 Canada’s squadron of CF-18s has played key roles in patrolling Canadian airspace, as well as contributing to Canada’s international commitments abroad.

Our Government is continuing to stand up for the Armed Forces by laying the groundwork for procurement of the next generation of fighter jets. At the same time, we must ensure our CF-18s can continue to do the job we need them to do until the F-35s are ready to fly.

Today’s announcement delivers secure jobs and extensive economic benefits to the greater Montreal area. It is also another example of our commitment to ensure best value and results for Canadians.

Through the Canada First Defence Strategy, our Conservative Government is providing our Armed Forces with the right equipment to do the difficult and demanding jobs Canadians ask them to do.

Under the New Horizons for Seniors Program, our Government is making a difference for seniors who are looking to improve the social well-being of neighbourhoods through local volunteering projects.

Our Government has a long record of standing up for Canadian seniors, including:

• Creating the position of Minister of State for Seniors to bring the concerns of older Canadians to the Cabinet table;
• Providing $2.3 billion annually in tax relief to seniors and pensioners through measures such as pension income splitting and increasing the Age Credit – twice;
• Standing up against elder abuse in all its forms by introducing the Federal Elder Abuse Awareness Initiative; and
• Establishing a National Seniors Day which we will celebrate every October 1^st, coinciding with the UN’s International Day of Older Persons.

Canada’s seniors worked hard and contributed so much to the Canada we know and love. Seniors deserve our gratitude and respect. That’s why Conservatives are proud to stand up for seniors and take action to ensure that our policies, programs and services continue to reward the hard work of the folks who built our country.

Conservatives believe that the integrity of Canada’s borders is the first and foremost responsibility of a national government. Our Conservative Government is committed to strongly asserting Canadian sovereignty throughout Canada’s Arctic.

The strategic importance of Canada’s Arctic is growing, which is why the work undertaken by Operation NANOOK is more valuable now than ever before. Countries around the globe are showing more interest in the Arctic and its rich resource potential. With new trade routes opening up, we must continue to promote Canada’s sovereignty while strengthening the safety and security of Canadians living in our High Arctic.

Operation NANOOK is part of our Government’s ambitious four-part Northern Strategy to assert and defend Canada’s sovereignty; to protect the unique and fragile Arctic ecosystem; to develop a strong Northern economy; and to encourage good governance, local control, and opportunity for Northerners.

Prime Minister Harper has made the North a priority for our Conservative Government because it is a priority for Canadians.

The North has played a major role in shaping Canada’s identity. Throughout our history, Canadians have drawn strength from those who have showed courage and leadership in overcoming the great challenges of this vast land.

That’s why our Conservative Government has launched an ambitious four-part Northern Strategy. We are taking action for Canada’s North by: asserting and defending Canada’s sovereignty; helping to protect the unique and fragile Arctic ecosystem; developing a strong Northern economy; and encouraging good governance, local control, and opportunity for Northerners.

As part of this strategy, our new High Arctic Research Station will be a world-class, year-round, multidisciplinary facility exploring the cutting edge of our Arctic science and technology. This station will create jobs, foster economic and social development, and help us understand and protect our northern environment.

The Prime Minister has made the North a priority for our Conservative Government because Canadians care about every part of our great country.

Canadian culture and character has been shaped by the North. We are a northern people and our history is intertwined with the experiences of those who have taken on the great challenges of this land. Our future depends on our ability and willingness to appreciate and defend it.

Prime Minister Harper is touring the North to express our commitment to improving the quality of life for families and communities in the Arctic and ensuring the North reaches its full potential through Canada’s Northern Strategy.

To bring our vision to life, Conservatives have focused on helping northern communities become more self-sufficient, healthy and safe. Our support for essential upgrades to Churchill Airport will help ensure that Canadians who rely on this remote airport will have access to necessary goods, services and opportunities.

The Canadian Arctic is a vital part of our national identity, sovereignty and economic security. The Prime Minister has made the North a priority for our Conservative Government because it is a priority for Canadians.

In Canada, sealing is a time-honoured tradition. For generations, coastal and Inuit communities have relied on the seal hunt as a source of income. That’s why our Conservative Government is steadfast in its commitment to defend the commercial seal hunt and to protect Canada’s access to foreign markets, including the European Union (E.U.).

Our Government has made representation at all levels of the E.U. to inform them that the Canadian seal hunt is a sustainable activity based on sound conservation principles. It is humane and closely monitored – unlike many European slaughterhouses.

Unfortunately, the E.U. has chosen to proceed with the ban on seal products based on an ill-informed political decision that has no basis in fact or science.

Conservatives will continue our efforts to counter the misinformation campaign by the anti-seal hunt lobby groups. We will not shy away from or apologize for defending a lawful Canadian industry and the economies of our coastal communities.

Canadians believe in the rule of law and respect for the law. That’s why our Government is taking action to maintain confidence in our justice system. That means delivering justice swiftly and efficiently and cutting down on long, drawn-out trials.

‘Mega-trials’ deal with serious offences such as organized crime, gang-related activity and terrorism. Proceedings can be exceptionally long because they often involve many defendants, multiple charges, complex evidence, and lengthy investigations.

These trials sometimes force victims to wait too long for justice. That isn’t right.

Our Conservative Government has made significant progress, developing proposals that would make mega-trials more efficient. Conservatives believe that the rights of victims should always be put ahead of the so-called rights of criminals. We want organized crime groups, gangs and terrorists to face justice swiftly and efficiently while ensuring fairness for victims and all Canadians.

Criminal gangs depend on the revenue they receive from large-scale illegal gambling, prostitutions rings, and certain drug-related offences to fund their vast and violent operations. That’s why we are continuing to take action against organized crime. Our Government recently announced tough new regulations to make crimes typically associated with these gangs ‘serious-offences’ under the Criminal Code.

The victims of crime must never be left behind. Conservatives continue to stand up for victims and we were pleased to appoint former Ottawa Deputy Police Chief, Sue O’Sullivan as the Federal Ombudsman for Victims of Crime. Today, she begins her important work on behalf of victims in this new position.

Our Conservative Government is taking action to rebuild the Canadian Forces. We are helping ensure our soldiers, sailors, airmen and women have the tools and equipment needed to do the job Canadians ask them to do.

Today’s announcement is helping to modernize the facilities and training grounds of CFB Borden. This base plays a pivotal role in training our brave men and women in uniform to carry out operations both in Canada and around the world.

Our Government’s total action to update base infrastructure amounts to almost $210 million, and it is already creating jobs and providing economic stimulus to the local community.

Through the Canada First Defence Strategy, our Conservative Government is ensuring that Canada has a first-class modern military that is ready to protect Canadian sovereignty here at home, and contribute to the preservation of global security abroad.

Our Government believes the activities of those who represent Canadians should be as open and transparent as possible. In keeping with a vote in the House of Commons earlier this spring, we are moving forward to increase the transparency of Parliament by proposing to expand the definition of designated public office holders that are covered under the Lobbying Act.

Under the new changes, the definition would be expanded to include Members of Parliament, Senators and the exempt staff from the Offices of the Leader of the Opposition in the House and the Senate.

The proposed changes demonstrate our Conservative Government is committed to making Parliament as open and accountable to Canadians as possible, not to special interest groups.

Many criminal gangs in Canada rely on the revenue generated through illegal gambling, prostitution, and drug-related crimes to fund their dangerous and violent criminal networks. Our Conservative Government is serious about protecting Canadians from the threat of organized crime.

Our new actions - supported by all the provincial and territorial justice ministers- would target these crimes and make them “serious offences” under the Criminal Code, helping to put more dangerous criminals behind bars.

Today’s announcement once again demonstrates our Government’s seriousness about getting tough on crime. No other party has demonstrated such leadership on criminal justice issues.

Our Conservative Government is taking action to crack down on crime every day.

From coast to coast to coast, Canadians can see positive signs of recovery. With economic growth in ten of the last twelve months and 400,000 jobs created across Canada since July 2009, Canada is living up to its description by the Economist magazine as an “economic star.”

However, Canada is not an island and we are not immune to the economic instability of other countries.

That’s why our Conservative Government will continue to focus on creating and protecting jobs while helping communities and workers that were most affected by the global economic recession. We are keeping taxes low to encourage new businesses to invest in Canada and are helping to open new markets for Canadian businesses. We will continue to keep a lid on government spending while respecting provincial transfer payments ensuring funding for important services for Canadians like pensions, health and education. And our Government will work toward returning to balanced budgets by winding down stimulus spending as planned.

Compare that to the Liberals in the 1990s who slashed and burned funding to the provinces or Michael Ignatieff’s tax hike plan which experts say will cost Canada 400,000 jobs and stop Canada’s economic recovery in its tracks. Canada cannot afford such a plan.

While Ignatieff and the Liberals plan ways to raise your taxes, our Conservative Government is keeping its focus on jobs and growth to benefit all Canadians.

Our Conservative Government believes Canadians shouldn’t be compelled to give up extensive private and personal information under the threat of fines or even jail time.

The Liberals and their Coalition partners, however, think Canadians should be branded as criminals and sent to jail for not divulging how many bedrooms we have in our homes or the time we leave for work in the morning.

Instead, Canadians deserve a choice. The new National Household Survey will ask the same questions and collect the same data that would have been provided through mandatory long-form census. The difference is that the new National Household Survey is voluntary and provides Canadians with the freedom to share personal information or not.

Our Conservative Government’s fair and reasonable approach finds a better balance between collecting necessary data and protecting the privacy of Canadians.

Canada is taking action to pressure Iran to suspend its nuclear enrichment program, cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency and to return to negotiations with the United Nation’s Security Council.

Iran has continued to ignore its international legal obligations. According to the IAEA, Iran currently has enough nuclear material to create two nuclear weapons if the uranium were further enriched.

Iran’s reckless actions are unacceptable. Canada’s sanctions are targeted to hamper attempts by Iran to develop its nuclear, chemical, and biological missile programs and they will send a message to all states-particularly those with nuclear aspirations- that international standards cannot be flouted without consequence.

These sanctions bar: any dealings in trade, property or goods between Canada and designated individuals and agencies in Iran; the export of arms and related material not already banned to Iran from Canada; and suspending any new Canadian investment into Iran’s oil and gas industry. They also prohibit Iranian financial institutions from establishing a presence in Canada and vice versa.

The sanctions are in no way intended to punish the Iranian people. Travel, family remittances and export trade within the established regulations and humanitarian aid including food and pharmaceuticals will continue to be permitted between Canada and Iran.

Our Conservative Government is standing with our allies around the world. We strongly urge Iran to address serious concerns about the military dimensions of its nuclear program and meet its international nuclear obligations.

Canada and the U.S. have the strongest trade relationship in the world. We are the top export destination for 34 American states, and the U.S. is both the largest foreign investor in Canada and the most popular destination for Canadian investment.

Through these meetings, our Conservative Government is taking action to find ways we can enhance our mutual efforts to create jobs and economic growth for Canadians and Americans alike. Conservatives believe that protectionist tendencies are the single greatest threat to long-term recovery in Canada, and for the entire world economy. That’s why our Government is committed to open borders and free markets, while understanding that markets require prudent, transparent regulation and oversight. As evident at the G-8 and G-20 Summits, Canadians can count on our Government to oppose protectionism and defend free trade on the world stage.

In fact, today’s meetings build on the commitments made at the G-20 to avoid protectionism and increase the $1.6 billion in trade that crosses our border every day. The United States has agreed to transfer the Softwood Lumber export charges to Canada. The revenue collected from this tax will stay in Canada and be distributed back to the affected provinces.

Canadian businesses and workers can compete with the best in the world. Canadians can have confidence that we are promoting economic recovery and laying the foundations for sustainable growth.

Canadians can be proud that our country is leading the world in HIV research and development. Our Conservative Government is continuing to take action to reaffirm our commitment to the global fight against HIV and AIDS.

We are joining with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and establishing the CHVI Research and Development Alliance which will unite industry, researchers, scientists and international organizations.  Our action will help ensure a stronger, more coordinated effort in the global fight against a virus which crosses borders, cultures, genders, and backgrounds.

In conjunction with the development of the Alliance, our Government is helping to make a difference by investing in the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV, primarily in Africa. This effort will help prevent the spread of HIV while researchers work hard to develop a vaccine.

Through this important investment and Alliance, Our Conservative Government is helping ensure that Canada continues its leadership role in the global fight against HIV and AIDS.

Prime Minister Harper, Minister Lunn and Minister Moore helped welcome the world as the International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) World Junior Championships kicked off at the Université de Moncton. The federal Government has contributed $7.5 million towards the construction of the 10,000-seat athletics stadium, which will host athletes and fans from around the world and bring direct and significant economic benefits to the community.

Hosting International sporting events boosts tourism and creates jobs for Canadians. That’s why our Conservative Government is also proud to support the 2011 Winter Canada Games that will be held in Halifax this coming February.

When the global economic recession hit, our Conservative Government delivered Canada’s Economic Action Plan. To help stimulate the economy, create jobs for hard-working Canadians and build the essential infrastructure our country will need in the future.

On Monday, Senator Mockler attended the Bathurst Waterfront Development grand opening. Senator MacDonald attended the grand opening of the revamped Northern Yacht Club Community Marine Centre in North Sydney. And Minister Shea was in Prince Edward Island making three separate investment announcements: one at the Souris East Point Lighthouse, another at the St. Peter’s Bay Campground, and a third for a tourism project in the Morell River area. It’s easy to see why Regis and Kelly were “completely taken with” the province.

Our Conservative Government is taking action for Canadians from coast to coast to coast. These initiatives will shine a spotlight on our Maritime provinces, help create jobs and bring long term economic benefits.

Every day, our brave men and women in uniform risk their lives to keep Canadians safe at home and contribute to security and stability around the world.

Incredibly, the Liberals are threatening to break the F-35 contract, just as they ripped up a contract to purchase EH 101 helicopters two decades ago and never replaced the aging Sea Kings, despite good economic times.

Unlike the previous Liberal government, which sent our troops to Afghanistan in jungle-green camouflage uniforms, our Conservative Government is standing up for our soldiers, sailors and airmen and women, and rebuilding the Canadian Forces after the Liberal Decade of Darkness.

The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter will strengthen the Canadian Forces ability to defend Canada’s airspace, and it will provide vital air support wherever Canada asks our troops to go. It is – hands down – the best aircraft we can provide our men and women in uniform.

Our Conservative Government is also investing in two new ships to support the Canadian Navy. These new ships will help our sailors carry out important tasks at home and abroad and allow the Navy to remain at sea for longer without going to shore for replenishment. And since the new ships will be built in Canada, this investment will create jobs for Canadians in shipyards across the country.

While the Liberals threaten a second Decade of Darkness, our Conservative Government will continue to take action to support our brave soldiers, sailors and airmen and women.

The safety and security of Canadians is a top priority for our Conservative Government. Under the strong leadership of Prime Minister Stephen Harper, and with help from our Economic Action Plan, Canada is emerging from the global economic recession. But our recovery remains fragile. With over $2 billion in trade flowing between our countries every day, it is critical that the Canada-U.S. border remain open, strong and competitive for businesses and travellers to help stimulate our economy.

Canada and the United States have a long tradition of cooperating with one another. We are proud of our joint effort to combat national and economic security threats, without limiting trade across our shared border. As a result of Tuesday’s successful Canada-U.S. bilateral meetings, three key initiatives were launched:

• The Canada-U.S. Action Plan for Critical Infrastructure, which will enable both countries to more effectively protect vital assets  and systems such as electricity grids, transportation networks, financial systems and telecommunications that are the backbone of our economy, our security, our health and our way of life. We must ensure that Canada’s vital assets and systems are protected, and continue to be there when Canadians need them.
• New U.S. Child Sexual Exploitation and Trafficking Measures: The U.S. will join a Canadian effort through the Royal Canadian Mounted Police to further assist the Haitian National Police to prevent child human trafficking in Haiti post earthquake; and,
• New Measures to Aid Cross Border Currency Seizure: Both Canada and the U.S. will enter a Memorandum of Understanding that will assist in money-laundering and terrorist-financing investigations and prosecutions.

Canadians from coast to coast to coast win from increased national safety and protection. Tuesday’s initiatives will also benefit businesses and commerce, as well as Canadian travelers and tourists to our great country.

After spending 34 years globetrotting through America, France, Russia, and England, the last leg of Michael Ignatieff's world tour will see him launch his “Just Visiting Express” later today on Parliament Hill.

Our country is apparently so foreign to Michael Ignatieff that he told his fellow Liberal MPs that that he wants to get out there this summer and meet “the Canadians” as if we were some sort of foreign species. (Hill Times, June 14, 2010) Ignatieff also doesn’t appear to be that enthusiastic about meeting “the Canadians” as he said he would only tour Canada “if it doesn’t kill me first”. (QMI, July 10, 2010)

During his 34 years abroad, Ignatieff didn’t have a lot of nice things to say about his fellow Canadians. To him,

• Our flag was a “passing imitation of a beer label.” (The Observer, July 8, 1990);

• He also claimed the only thing he missed about Canada when he was away for 34 years was Algonquin Park. (Macleans, November 20, 2006);

• He told American TV viewers, “You have to decide what kind of America you want...it’s your country just as much as it is mine.” (CSPAN, June 17, 2004), and

• His commitment to Canada was so weak that just days before returning to our country to run for Parliament, he said, “If I am not elected, I imagine that I will ask Harvard to let me back”. (Harvard Crimson, November 30, 2005)

One newspaper even described Ignatieff as “remote and haughty, an opera-loving cappuccino-sipping scion of a family that was part of the Russian nobility, an urbane dilettante who owns a vacation home in Provence and a condo in Toronto's trendy Yorkville.” (Vancouver Sun, July 9, 2010)

Ignatieff’s attempt to fool Canadians into forgetting that he was away from our country for 34 years and that he’s “just visiting” proves yet again that he isn’t in it for Canadians. He’s just in it for himself.

The earthquake caused widespread damage and destruction, and Haiti faces overwhelming challenges as it rebuilds. With strong leadership from Canada, the international community is making important progress in Haiti. Canada hosted the Ministerial Preparatory Conference on Haiti in Montreal on January 25^th and we co-chaired the International Donors’ Conference Towards a New Future for Haiti in New York on March 31^st, where Canada pledged $400 million over two years to support the Haiti Action Plan and funding towards the priorities of the Haitian Government.

Following the earthquake, the Canadian Forces dispatched nearly 2000 men and women in uniform to provide 1.5 million meals, 2.6 million litres of drinkable water and medical care for more than 22,000 people. Our soldiers, sailors and airmen and women are true heroes.

Canadians can be proud that the Canadian International Development Agency has allocated over $150 million to date in support of humanitarian assistance and initial reconstruction efforts. Our Government has been helping to reunite families affected by this disaster as quickly as possible. Citizenship and Immigration has contacted every applicant it had in its system before the earthquake, and it has completed over 90 percent of the immigration applications received before April 1^st. We will continue to fast-track applications we have received since then.

Canada will continue to work closely with the Haitian government and the international community. We are dedicated to leading the relief effort and committed to ensuring long-term stability, security and prosperity in Haiti.

Rain or shine, Canada’s farmers and producers work hard to deliver results for fellow Canadians and consumers around the world. However, in recent weeks, floods in the Canadian Prairies have devastated farm families, leaving many without crops to harvest and others unable to even seed the land this year.

To see firsthand the devastating conditions that Prairie farmers are trying to overcome, Prime Minister Stephen Harper, together with Premier Brad Wall and other officials, is touring flood-stricken areas of Saskatchewan today.

In Saskatchewan alone, the flooding has caused more than 70 communities to declare states of emergency.

That’s why our Conservative Government is working with the Prairie provinces to deliver the fastest and largest AgriRecovery response ever. We are providing relief to farmers and producers who have been hard-hit by the heavy rains and floods through a direct payment of $30 per acre to help protect, rehabilitate and manage affected cropland.

Agricultural programs are the first line of defence for Canadian farmers so it makes sense to build upon them. Our Conservative Government is taking action to help bring faster relief to farmers who must deal with the realities of today, while still planning for a successful planting season next year.

"This has been a great year for Canada, truly a time to shine!

"At Vancouver’s Olympics and Paralympics, our fantastic athletes set a record for the most gold medals any nation ever won at a Winter Games!

"It’s also been a time of leadership and hope, as our country has hosted the Summits of the G8 and G20 and as our economy begins to emerge from the global recession in the strongest position of any advanced country in the world.

"And, of course, In Haiti, Afghanistan and elsewhere, we have continued to do our duty to help build a better world through strong diplomacy, compassionate development assistance and the valiant work of the men and women of the Canadian Forces.

"In short, this is an important occasion to remind ourselves how lucky we are to be citizens of the best country in the world

"On behalf of my family, Laureen, Ben, and Rachel, and on behalf of the Government of Canada, I wish all of you a Happy Canada Day!"

Under the strong leadership of Prime Minister Stephen Harper, our Conservative Government is focusing on the issues that matter most to Canadians.

This not only includes our strong focus on the economy and creating jobs and growth, but also includes issues like getting tough on crime.

For example, Canada’s Public Safety Minister, Vic Toews, celebrated legislation that eliminates pardons for those convicted of serious crimes, like the sexual exploitation of minors.

Canada’s Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, Jason Kenney, welcomed our balanced action on refugee reform to ensure legitimate refugees are heard more quickly in the immigration system, while ensuring that bogus refugee claimants don’t clog the system.

Our Conservative Government has also recognized the great sacrifices of the men and women who serve our country.  We are standing up for members of the Canadian Forces by extending the current parental benefit window following the birth of a child or the date an adopted child joins the family of our military personnel.   Pierre Poilievre, Member of Parliament, today emphasized the improvements that we have made to the Employment Insurance system for military families.

These are just a few accomplishments of our Conservative Government. But there is more to do. We will continue to deliver by:

• Creating jobs and ensuring future economic growth
• Protecting families and communities across Canada
• Asserting Canada’s Arctic sovereignty
• Leading Canada on the world stage

Our Conservative Government is taking action with these initiatives to build a stronger, safer and better Canada; a Canada that works for families and taxpayers.

Yesterday, Michael Ignatieff said a future Liberal government would ban tanker traffic for oil sands oil in BC's northern coastal waters.

Never mind that for decades there has been a moratorium on tanker traffic between Alaska and Washington State, and that under this longstanding agreement, U.S. tanker ships do not come within 25-70 miles of the BC coast.

But just 24 hours earlier in Edmonton, he told his audience that the oil sands provide a great benefit for the entire country and will continue to do so in the future.  "We're going to be in a hydrocarbon future for a long time," said Ignatieff.  (Edmonton Journal, June 20, 2010)  And one of his British Columbia MPs, Joyce Murray, has been a proponent of oil and gas development.  (New Westminster Record, Apr. 27, 2005)

This is Michael Ignatieff desperately trying to be all things to all people in a shameless attempt to score cheap political points.  Sadly, this is a pattern.  For example:

• Ignatieff told Ontarians that he supported direct assistance for the auto sector (Toronto Star, Nov. 14, 2008) and then later told British Columbians he was opposed to it (Victoria Times-Colonist, Mar. 29, 2009);

• Ignatieff criticized the size of the deficit, but called for even more government spending, and then later said the deficit is “not my problem.”  (Ottawa Citizen, Jan. 19, 2010); and

• He told one group that Israel’s bombing of Hezbollah targets in Lebanon was a “war crime” but later told a Jewish group his comments were “a mistake”.  (Toronto Star, Apr. 14, 2008)

Michael Ignatieff has repeatedly been caught making contradictory promises to different audiences.

Shockingly, Ignatieff once said, "Rule number one is say the same thing in every community wherever you go and don't tailor your message to your audience."  (hour.ca, April 23, 2009)

Yet he has proven that if he thinks it will score him some cheap political points, Michael Ignatieff will say whatever he thinks people want to hear.

This shows yet again that Michael Ignatieff isn’t in it for Canadians.  He's only in it for himself.

With help from Canada’s Economic Action Plan, Canada is leading the world recovery with an economic and fiscal record that is stronger than other industrialized nations.

Canada’s Global Economic Leadership: A Report to Canadians demonstrates Canada is seriously advanced on the key priorities facing G-20 leaders. These priorities include fiscal consolidation, trade liberalization and financial sector reform.

When the global economic recession hit Canada, our Conservative Government responded swiftly with the right policies to stimulate the economy and create jobs led by Canada’s Economic Action Plan. We have increased support for workers and families, reduced the overall tax burden on Canadians to its lowest level in 50 years, and invested in better roads, bridges, public transit, parks, hockey arenas, wastewater facilities, post-secondary institutions, and other projects that are making our communities better places to live, work and play.

Our Conservative Government is continuing to take action to create better jobs for Canadians, for today and for the future.

Under the strong leadership of Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Canada is leading on the world stage. Our financial system has served as a model for reforms, and our fiscal situation is the envy of countries facing crippling deficits.

Canada’s international economic leadership is clear. As Canadians prepare to host the world at the G-8 and G-20 summits, we have a great economic story to tell, and the world is listening.

Conservatives recognize the lifetimes of hard work that seniors have contributed to make Canada what it is today. Seniors deserve our thanks.

That’s why our Government has a long record of standing up for Canadian seniors, including:

• Providing real tax relief by increasing the Age Credit;
• Putting an end to the unfair tax treatment of Canadians receiving U.S. Social Security; and
• Protecting the financial security of Canadian seniors by introducing income splitting.

Our Government is continuing to take steps to recognize and support our seniors by tabling the Celebrating Canada’s Seniors Act. This will give all Canadians the chance to honour those who contribute so much to Canada’s past, present and future.

We will celebrate this day every October 1^st, coinciding with the UN’s International Day of Older Persons.

Seniors helped build our great country. National Seniors Day is one more example of our Conservative Government’s commitment to Canada’s seniors.

Our Conservative Government is listening to the concerns of Canadians, and we agree – the corrections and conditional release system should put public safety first. The rights of criminals should not come before the rights of victims and law-abiding Canadians. The punishment should fit the crime.

The current system of Accelerated Parole Review allows white-collar criminals and others convicted of “non-violent offences” to get day parole after only serving one-sixth of their sentence and full parole after serving only one-third.

This system doesn’t put the rights of victims ahead of criminals. That is why our Conservative Government is proposing legislation to change the current system.

The proposed amendments would also:

• Stand up for law-abiding Canadians by making the protection of our society the paramount principle of the system;
• Enshrine in law the right of victims to be involved in parole board hearings, and keep victims better informed about the behaviour and handling of offenders;
• Help ensure that parole is truly deserved by moving toward a system of earned parole: increasing offender responsibility and accountability, and strengthening the disciplinary system;
• Authorize police to arrest an offender who is breaking release conditions, without having to get a warrant; and
• Work for victims by using the seriousness of an offence, in decisions made by the National Parole Board.

Since we were elected in 2006, our Conservative Government has taken action to get tough on crime. Our Government is taking further action to keep our streets and communities safe, and to strengthen Canadians’ faith in our justice system.

His plan?  Ignatieff apparently told the Liberal Caucus last week that he wants to get out there and meet “the Canadians”.  (Hill Times, June 14, 2010)

You heard that right.  Canadians are such a foreign species to Ignatieff that he needs to spend the next eight to ten weeks getting to know “the Canadians” and clinically examining them in their habitat.

This is the same Michael Ignatieff who:

• Described the Canadian flag as “a passing imitation of a beer label” (The Observer, July 8, 1990);
• Told an interviewer that “the only thing he missed about Canada was Algonquin Park”. (Maclean’s, November 20, 2006), and said
• That Canada was just an address of convenience – it was “the place on earth that, if I needed one, I would call home.”  (The Rights Revolution, 2000 ed.)

Michael Ignatieff’s previous statements on Canada and “the Canadians” show how out of touch he is with our country and our values.

Although we know Ignatieff prefers Provence to Penticton or Prince Edward Island, there’s no word if he has booked off time for a vacation at his summer home in the south of France this year.

When someone who’s been away from Canada for 34 years only returns to be anointed Prime Minister, you know he’s not in it for “the Canadians”.  He’s just in it for himself.

Canada’s out-of-date product safety laws leave families vulnerable to these dangerous or unsafe products on Canadian store shelves.

That’s why our Conservative Government made a commitment to Canadians, to help ensure our product safety laws are fit for the realities of the global marketplace.

We delivered on that promise by introducing the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act. This Act will help protect Canadian consumers and families with tough provisions. It will help prevent unsafe products from getting into Canadian homes, and into the hands of our children.

It will give the government the power to recall unsafe products and to ensure industry keep effective records to track where they’ve sent unsafe products more quickly.

This new bill builds on previously introduced legislation by our Conservative Government. Our new amendments keep the strength and spirit of the original bill intact, while delivering more clarity to certain provisions.

Our Conservative Government puts the safety of Canadians first. Safe products help ensure safe families. We call on Parliament to quickly pass this important legislation.

For thousands of people around the world, Canada is the destination of choice to build a better life for themselves and their families. While our Conservative Government treats all immigration applicants equally, many choose to use the services of an immigration consultant to assist with the application process.

Although most immigration consultants are honest and legitimate, some crooked consultants take advantage of would-be Canadians for their personal financial gain. That’s why our Conservative Government is taking action to crack down on crooked immigration consultants who prey on vulnerable would-be Canadians.

Tuesday’s proposed legislative changes would ensure that only authorized consultants could charge a fee to give advice. The current laws fail to cover the time period before an application is submitted to the government. Our proposed changes would make dishonest actions of immigration consultants in this time period against the law.

To better protect would-be Canadians from dishonest consultants, our proposed changes would also give the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration the authority to designate and establish a new oversight relationship with a body to oversee immigration consultants.

Canadians know that our country is the most peaceful, prosperous, and pluralistic country in the world.  The contributions of new Canadians to our communities cannot be measured. Our Conservative Government is therefore taking action to help protect those who aspire to make a better life here in Canada.

Today the Canadian Press quotes Michael Ignatieff as admitting that he would form a coalition government if given the opportunity following the next election.

This is exactly what we have been saying -- and the Liberals have been denying -- for 18 months.

Finally Michael Ignatieff has come clean about his plan.

Our response is that Michael Ignatieff's plan remains unacceptable to Canadians:

• It's not acceptable to ignore the election result and install a party and leader rejected by the voters.
• It's not acceptable to give the NDP co-management of the economy.
• It's not acceptable to share power with a political party committed to the break-up of this country.

The coalition plan is further proof that Michael Ignatieff is not in it for Canadians. He's just in it for himself.

Yesterday, Michael Ignatieff’s Liberals put help for criminals before the safety of Canadians.

The Liberals gutted a tough-on-crime bill that ends two-for-one sentencing for convicted criminals.

This bill ensures that criminals serve their full sentences – instead of serving reduced sentences in lieu of time spent in jail before their trial.

It was already unanimously passed by the House of Commons.

However, Michael Ignatieff’s Liberal Senators gutted this important piece of anti-crime legislation.

Now, the practice of giving extra credit for time spent will continue.

Meanwhile, our Conservative government will always work for the safety of Canadians and their families. Since first taking office in 2006, we have been working to get tough on crime.

In addition to our action to end extra credit in sentencing, we are working to make our streets safer. We are introducing mandatory jail time for convicted drug criminals who target children. We are also introducing action to prevent serious criminals from serving their sentences from the comfort of their homes.

We have always said that Michael Ignatieff was soft on crime. Now, he’s proven it.

Michael Ignatieff is not in it for Canadians. He’s only in it for himself.