In these tough economic times, standing up for families is more important than ever, and our Conservative Government is delivering on its commitments to families.
Our Government introduced measures that give families a break, long before the global recession hit, and Canada’s Economic Action is designed to make sure families get the support they need.
Our Government has:
- Delivered a new child tax credit that is providing up to $310 of tax relief for each child under 18, helping more than 3 million Canadian families;
- Implemented the Universal Child Care Benefit which provides $1200 per child under six; and
- Put in place a new tax credit for families that enroll their kids in sports and other physical activities.
Registered Education Savings Plans have been strengthened, so families can plan better for the future.
The marriage penalty in the tax system has been removed. In the past, a married couple was discriminated against in the tax system as opposed to unmarried couples living together. We have changed this.
I have worked with the pro-life caucus on issues that are very important to Canadian families, such as supporting Bill C-484, the Unborn Victims of Crime Act. This bill was a re-incarnation of my own Private Members Bill of 2006. Bill C-484 would have allowed criminal charges to be laid in the death or injury of an unborn child when the child’s mother is the victim of a crime.
Our Conservative Government is helping young families get a head start on buying their first homes, by providing up to $750 in tax relief. We’re also providing first-time home buyers with more flexibility to buy or build a home. They can now withdraw up to $25,000 from RRSP savings to do so, an increase from the previous limit of $20,000.
The Home Renovation Tax Credit is an important foundation of Canada’s Economic Action Plan. We are lending a hand to families who want to improve their homes as their most significant investment, and at the same time, giving a boost to tradespeople and business that produce and sell building materials.
All of these measures reflect our Government’s belief that by making life a little easier for families, we can build a stronger Canada. The strength of Canadians families will help bring Canada out of this global economic recession stronger than ever.
