Party Positions

With the election fast approaching, we wanted to give you an opportunity to compare where party commitments are against your priorities outlined in the Declaration for Change.

It's not to late to get in contact with candidates in your riding, support the declaration by sending them a message.

Create an open government plan to increase transparency and accountability	Initiate a citizen-led process for a referendum on electoral reform	Make it easier for people to participate directly in government decision-making
Recently launched an open government initiative, however the data is not truly "open" as its uses are restricted. It is also hard to reconcile their commitment to open government with their failure to release documents to Parliament.	No commitment on electoral reform, yet pledges to restore "fair representation" to Parliament by accounting for local population changes.	Promises to use online tools for two-way engagement, although no specific proposals are outlined.
Supports open government principles with a clear policy on the use of open data and a commitment to pro-actively releasing information (after exhaustive privacy and other legal requirements of the Access to Information Act are met). Commits to reinstating the long-form census.	No commitment on electoral reform, yet pledges to develop an online voting pilot project.	Promises to institute a weekly "people's question period" where the PM and ministers would take unfiltered online questions from Canadians.
The NDP has made no explicit platform promises on the issue of open data and open government. Supports reinstating the long-form census.	Wants a new voting system that preserves MP-constituent links while making Parliament more representative. Lacks detail on process and timing.	No explicit commitment to direct citizen participation. Recognizes role and independence of civil society organizations, including their right to advocate, and commits to a transparent funding process.
Supports open government principles with a robust policy on open data and a pledge to close loopholes and strengthen enforcement of the Access to Information Act. Commits to reinstating the long-form census.	Commits to holding a national discussion on electoral reform, and to holding a vote on replacing the current first-past-the-post voting system.	No explicit commitment to direct citizen participation. Promises to promote the ability of civil society organizations to advocate on behalf of their members.
Calls for improvements to the Access to Information Act and reinstating the long-form census.	Supports electoral reform and proportional representation in theory, but no commitment to move forward with changes.	No explicit commitment to direct citizen participation. Commits to maintaining a dialogue with Quebec civil society in order to present their concerns in Parliament.

Establish a plan w/ clear targets to reduce poverty and provide affordable housing	Ensure access to affordable quality child care and early childhood education	Improve access to high quality post-secondary education & reduce student debt
No comprehensive strategy to tackle poverty or affordable housing. They promise to increase support for poor seniors by $300m. Unclear how proposed across-the-board spending cuts will impact poor Canadians.	Promises to continue existing child tax credit program worth $184m per year. Children may be eligible for art class or fitness program tax credit.	Promises a small increase in support for the Canada Student Loan program and new R&D funds that may help certain university researchers.
Commits to developing a poverty reduction plan in consultation with provinces. Highlights include $700m for poor seniors, an affordable housing strategy and help for families caring for ailing loved ones.	Proposes transfers to the provinces to support new or existing child care programs worth $500m in the first year and rising to $1b in four years.	Proposes a $1b package that will provide students with $1k per year ($1.5k for low-income students). They also promise to invest in Aboriginal education, forgive some student debt for volunteers, and pay for post-sec education for veterans.
Calls for $700m to help poor seniors and has strong plans on affordable housing, low income home retrofits, support for caregivers, addressing child poverty and working with First Nations to set poverty goals and targets.	Commits to working with provinces to support their childcare initiatives by increasing spending to $300m in year 1 and then $1.3b by year 4.	Promises to target rising tuition by transferring $800 million to the provinces, and proposes a new grants program of $200m per year for low-income and Aboriginal students.
Commits to stop income taxes for those under the poverty line, and ramp up an affordable housing strategy. Promises a national pharmacare program that would be of great help to seniors.	Supports provincial initiatives to the tune of $1b a year, with a focus on expanding spaces in work places.	Proposes a $400m bursary program for low-income students, and to create a youth service program that will provide tuition credits for 40,000 participants.
Proposes increases to support for low-income seniors and funding for affordable housing.	Promises to continue existing child tax credit program worth $184m per year.	Calls for federal transfers for post-secondary education to be increased by billions of dollars, to return to pre-cut levels from the 1990s.

Establish climate legislation to meet international and science-based targets	Invest in renewable energy, energy efficiency and home retrofits	End subsidies to fossil fuel companies
Promises no change from past five years, which failed to put in place any meaningful policy for Canada to meet its own inadequate targets that are not science-based.	Promises $400m for home retrofits, sufficient funding for one year. The Conservative Government has cut funding to clean energy programs, efficiency incentives, as well as climate science research.	Promises a gradual phase-out of a small portion of the $1.4b+ in subsidies to oil & gas companies.
Proposes a cap and trade system with a science-based long-term emissions target, yet short-term target is deferred to an independent body. Historically, Liberals have supported action on climate change, although they were unable to successfully implement meaningful policies while in power.	Promises meaningful support for clean energy and energy efficiency, including a long-term investment in eco-home retrofits ($400m/yr). Will quadruple renewable energy production in Canada between 2012 and 2017 with a $1b investment. Platform mentions public transportation system, but does not devote new funds.	Pledges to phase-out a portion of the $1.4b in subsidies faster than the Conservatives, yet is not clear on the extent and timing of ending all subsidies.
Calls for a cap and trade system to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and commits to implementing it right away. Long-term target (2050) is in line with science, but no short-term target. They have been consistent in pushing for action on climate change.	Proposes significant investments in clean energy and energy efficiency, with a focus on training and creating clean energy jobs as well as research. Measures expected to be paid for by $3.6b in revenues from cap & trade system. They also call for a national public transit strategy funded through by raising the gas tax by 1 cent.	Commits to an immediate phase-out of all fossil fuel subsidies. However, the NDP are proposing to give tax breaks for home heating oil, which is in and of itself a type of fossil fuel subsidy.
Proposes a visionary plan for reducing global warming pollution, primarily through a carbon tax on companies. Their goals for reducing greenhouse gas pollution are consistent with international and science-based targets.	Promises an aggressive transition towards a clean energy economy. Specific commitments in the platform include $180m for solar roofs and $600m for home retrofits.	Commits to an end to all subsidies that support fossil fuels.
Commits to achieving science-based climate targets with short, medium and long-term goals.	Calls for tax incentives for home retrofits, measures to promote electric cars and rail, and $750m for the development of alternative energy.	Calls for abolishing tax subsidies for oil companies.

Ensure universal access to high quality and publicly administered health care	Invest in programs that prevent illness and promote wellness	Create a national strategy to increase mental health support
Promises to maintain 6% increases in healthcare transfers to provinces for at least two years beyond 2014. Unclear how long transfers will continue, and what role outside of funding the federal government should play in health care.	No significant focus on wellness promotion, other than a fitness tax credit for children and adults, and a national farm and food strategy that includes food safety.	Does not mention mental health in its platform.
Promises to maintain 6% increases for a significant period beyond 2014 and hold a first ministers meeting within 60 days of forming a government. Creates a reform plan that includes home care and pharmacare. However, this promise has been made in the past without follow through.	Promises to encourage healthier eating and reduce obesity through a National Food Policy that includes education, labeling regulations and transfats and salt standards. Also plans to encourage consumption of local foods, especially for low-income children.	Pledges to reduce mental health stigma through education, and fund research into brain diseases such as Alzheimer's.
Promises to maintain annual 6% funding increases beyond 2014, and to Include home care and long term care under the federal health legislation. Pledges to hire 1,200 doctors and train thousands of nurses in next decade.	Pledges to introduce a Canadian Food Strategy to achieve health, environmental and food quality goals, enact food labeling legislation (specifying foods that are genetically modified), and expand programs that provide healthy meals to students.	Promises greater mental health support for prisoners, and $25m for mental health strategies.
Commits to training more doctors and nurses, and creating a national pharmacare plan ($300m).	Commits to promoting fitness and sports, phase out use of genetically modified foods, increase taxes on products harmful to health, ban all tobacco advertising, and provide funding for alternative therapies such as chiropractic, massage therapists and acupuncturists.	Platform mentions mental health for seniors, but provides no comprehensive strategy.
Proposes a tax credit of $250m over 5 years for care givers.	Views health as an exclusively provincial responsibility.	Does not mention mental health in its platform.

Party Positions

Signatures

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