Happy Canada Day - Record of Accomplishments

June 26, 2008

OTTAWA – Ted Menzies, Member of Parliament for Macleod and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance wants to remind all Canadians of their good fortune and freedom this Canada Day.

“The celebration of Canada Day allows me the opportunity to share with all Canadians some of the significant changes their Conservative Government has made for them and their families,” shared Menzies.  “These are changes meant to foster pride and unity in our country and reinforces that there is nothing this country can’t do if we put our minds and energy to it.”

Among the accomplishments made by this Government;

• The Universal Child Care Benefit which celebrates its second anniversary on July 1.  Since July 2006, this Government has provided $2.4 billion a year directly to the parents of 2 million Canadian children under six as we believe that parents are best suited to make decisions about their children;
• Seniors are living longer and healthier lives so to make certain that low-income seniors who work can keep more of their own money we’ve increased the GIS exemption to $3,500 effective July 1;
• Budget 2008 provides the most important federally driven personal finance innovation since the introduction of the RRSP: the Tax-Free Savings Account.  This flexible, registered, general-purpose account will allow Canadians to watch their savings – including interest income, dividend payments and capital gains – grow tax free!  “Maybe most importantly” said Menzies, “I would encourage Canadians to visit www.budget.gc.ca/2008/mm/calc_e.html, which is a user friendly TFSA calculator that will show how much you can benefit by the TFSA.”
  

“There are plenty of reasons to be confident and proud about the future of our great country,” says Menzies. “There’s nothing Canadians can’t do when we mobilize and focus our creativity and our talents.”   Happy Canada Day to all and a safe, sunny and healthy summer!