Did you know...? - Edition 1

July 17, 2009

Welcome to the first edition of Did You Know…?  

An editorial piece to keep you updated weekly with the latest news from our Conservative Government.  Great news doesn’t always travel the entire country, and this editorial will enable me to relay key messages to you on a weekly basis.  I hope each week; they will be beneficial to each and every one you.  


Did You Know....?   

That….Tim Hortons Inc. plans to shift its base of operations from Delaware to Canada because of our lower taxes.  Tim Hortons, an icon that left Canada under the high-tax Liberals, is now reorganizing as a Canadian company as a direct result of the steps to cut business taxes – a clear sign that our actions are having an impact.   Our Conservative Government believes competitive business taxes are integral to encouraging new investment, growth and job creation in Canada.

That….Her Majesty The Queen and His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh have accepted the Government’s invitation to visit Canada in 2010. The upcoming visit by The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh will be their first Royal Visit to Canada since 2005.  We are also very pleased that Their Royal Highnesses The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall will make a Royal Visit to Canada in November 2009.

That….As of July 14th, 2009, Mexican and Czech nationals must have a visa to enter Canada. Canada’s refugee system is overburdened by an ever-increasing number of refugee claims every year, many of them bogus.  This can undermine our ability to help those who truly need it, and it is also, in some cases, a potential threat to the safety of our communities.

That….The Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development Diane Finley launched a national advertising campaign to increase awareness of the Government’s Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP) and its accompanying Grant and Bond.  We want all eligible Canadian families to know about this important tax-savings tool and what RDSPs can do for them. Our Government will continue to stand up for Canadians with disabilities and do more to improve their quality of life.

That…Additional Canadian municipalities will be receiving loans for local priorities through our Municipal Infrastructure Lending Program (MILP). As part of Canada’s Economic Action Plan, our Government is making up to $2 billion worth of direct low-cost loans available to municipalities.   These low cost loans can be used by municipalities to fund their contributions to projects that are cost shared with the federal government.

That…We are improving Canada’s passenger rail service. As part of our Conservative Government’s Economic Action Plan we are investing $407 million to improve and expand VIA’s safe, cost-effective and environmentally friendly passenger rail service.

That…Beginning in the fall of 2009, students and families can take advantage of new grants and repayment assistance that make it easier to manage the cost of post-secondary education. For more information, visit CanLearn.ca