On Tuesday, Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance, introduced the Keeping Canada’s Economy & Jobs Growing Act.  This legislation includes key elements from the Next Phase of Canada’s Economic Action Plan – A Low-Tax Plan for Jobs and Growth.

Canadians gave Stephen Harper’s Conservative Government a strong mandate to stay focused on what matters most – helping to create jobs and economic growth.  That’s why our top priority remains completing the economic recovery.

Tuesday’s announced legislation includes:

• a temporary Hiring Credit for Small Business to encourage more hiring
• simpler customs tariffs to help facilitate trade and lower the administrative costs for businesses
• a permanent annual investment of $2 billion in the Gas Tax Fund to provide predictable, long-term funding for municipalities
• eliminating the mandatory retirement age to give older workers the choice to remain in the workforce

Our Government knows this is the right action to take.  Because the alternative – the NDP’s massive tax hikes – would kill jobs, stall our recovery and set Canadians families back.

Through the Next Phase of Canada’s Economic Action Plan, our Government is helping to preserve our country’s advantage in the global economy.