Did You Know...? - Edition 26

January 29, 2010

That… One year ago this week, your Government took bold and decisive action to respond to the global economic downturn and introduced Canada’s Economic Action Plan. The Economic Action Plan was a $62-billion shot in the arm to stimulate the economy, create jobs for Canadians and protect those hit hardest by the downturn.
Funds have already been committed to more than 12,000 projects across Canada that will create and maintain jobs across Canada, 4,000 of which have already begun; we’re providing extended EI benefits and training; and we have provided tax relief through such initiatives as the Home Renovation Tax Credit. Consumer confidence is improving, jobs are being created and maintained across the country and the economy is showing tentative signs of improvement. Government Ministers continue to be at work across Canada and abroad, meeting with Canadians to listen to their views on the economy, making important announcements to improve infrastructure and communities, and representing Canada abroad.

That… Prime Minister Stephen Harper outlined a Canadian initiative to improve the health of women and children in the world's poorest regions. Canada will drive this priority at the G-8 meeting in Muskoka this June. Following up on the Prime Minister’s call, Minister Oda is meeting with representatives of NGOs to begin putting this initiative into action. Far too many lives have already been lost for want of relatively simple health care necessities such as clean water, inoculations and better nutrition, as well as trained health workers to care for women and deliver babies. In the weeks ahead, the Government will be consulting and working with partners, including G-8 counterparts, to help bring about this important measure to combat maternal and infant mortality around the world.

That… The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said today that Canada’s economic growth will be at the head of the G7 pack in 2010 and 2011. In 2011, Canada will lead all G7 countries. The IMF says stimulus efforts by governments are “driving the global rebound” and recommends that “the fiscal stimulus planned for 2010 should be fully implemented.” This reinforces what we’ve been saying all along: Canada’s Economic Action Plan is helping stabilize the economy and enabling Canada to weather current global economic challenges better than nearly every other industrialized country. Entering Phase II of Canada’s Economic Action plan, your Government’s priority is to continue the rapid implementation of the Economic Action Plan and roll out the remaining stimulus projects across the country. At the same time, we are planning for deficit reduction once the economy has recovered, and we are building a strong foundation for job creation and economic growth. 

That… The Supreme Court of Canada overturned two previous lower court decisions and ruled that the Government is not required to ask for accused terrorist Omar Khadr’s return to Canada. We are pleased that the Supreme Court has unanimously recognized that the conduct of foreign affairs is the responsibility of the executive branch of government. We are currently reviewing the ruling in its entirety to determine appropriate next steps. Omar Khadr is accused of the most serious of crimes, including the murder of U.S. Army medic Sergeant Christopher Speer and the planting of roadside bombs in Afghanistan – the very type of weapon that has taken so many Canadian lives in that war-torn country. Clearly these accusations are serious enough for the Obama Administration to identify Khadr as one of the Guantanamo terrorist camp prisoners set for trial under a military commission in the United States. And while the Liberals will continue to cry for Omar Khadr’s return to Canada, we are merely following the same policy as previous Liberal governments following Khadr's capture on the battlefields of Afghanistan in 2002.