Prepared by Christopher Smillie, Senior Advisor, Government Relations and Public Affairs

The Platforms and Campaign 2015 update

Elections Canada reports approximately 3.6 million voters voted at advance polls across the country

over the Thanksgiving weekend. This is an increase of 71% versus 2011. All signs point to a better voter

turnout than in previous elections. This is a good thing for democracy in Canada.

All the major parties have now released full platforms. Each is a comprehensive outline for both social

and economic policy. Many of the proposals are fully costed however not all economists agree on

feasibility. There are less than 7 days remaining before voting day October 19, 2015.

The Conservatives have stuck to their Balanced Budget proclamation.

The New Democrats have also promised a balanced budget continuing over the next number of years

which follows the Conservatives in their approach to messaging to Canadians

The Liberals have committed to a spending program claiming to champion jobs creation and economic

activity at the expense of balanced budgets.

A number of polls (as of October 15) have the Liberals 7 or 8 points ahead of the Conservatives

nationally. These same polls have consistently outlined 9 or 10% of the Canadian population is

undecided.

The full platforms can be viewed here:

Conservative Party of Canada http://www.conservative.ca/media/plan/conservative-platform-en.pdf

Highlights for the construction industry

A stay the course approach to trade deals and economic policy in general recently announced

negotiation of the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) and subsequent industrial policy adjustments.

The extension of the apprenticeship hiring tax credit for companies the credit was extended into year

three and four of apprenticeships (after much lobbying by CBTU and the affiliates). The credit for

employers had previously only applied to year one and two .

Highlights for Building Trades families

A continuation of the Child Care Tax Benefit as per the changes introduced July 1, 2015.

A myriad of boutique style tax credits for individuals and organizations, notably the reintroduction of the

Home Renovation Tax Credit first touted in 2009.

Income splitting for seniors is a key tenant of the Conservative plan and will impact your retired

members .

New Democratic Party http://www.ndp.ca/platform

Highlights for the construction industry

NDP committed about a billion per year over twenty years for transit and more after the NDPs first four

years in office for generalized infrastructure funding.

The NDP oppose the TPP.

Highlights for Building Trades families

The NDP proosed $15/day federal childcare program in lieu of the CCCB payment currently in place. It

unclear how this proposal will end up affecting middle class budgets or financial situations.

Announced an additional 1.8 billion for seniors health care and long term care facilities

The NDP announced a federal minimum wage which affects only a small percentage of workers. Only

workers federally regulated will benefit. For example, telecom, banking, transportation (ect)

Liberal Party of Canada https://www.liberal.ca/files/2015/10/New-plan-for-a-strong-middle-

class.pdf

Highlights for the construction industry

A significant and large infrastructure package was announced mid -way through the campaign. This

announcement has the potential to impact work hours in Canadas major urban centres and beyond.

The more than $120billion package is a reasonable size of investment given the infrastructure deficit in

our country.

The Liberals support the TPP with some reservation about reviewing the full text of the agreement to

ensure the interests of middle class workers are represented.

The Liberals announced $25 million for union training centres and the reinvestment of training

equipment this program comes from our (and affiliate) advocacy efforts with the Liberal Party

The Liberals also announced a Liberal government would continue to support the provinces in skills

training delivery with renewed labour market agreements with roughly $750 million being dedicated

from the EI fund. There was no discussion about the Canada Job Grant recently announced by the

Government of Canada

Highlights for Building Trades families

Significant changes to the Income Tax Act have been promised by the Liberal campaign. The below

Liberal plan is supposedly revenue neutral to the government and benefits Canadians in lower income

tax brackets.

The

below provides information on the changes to the Child Care Tax Benefit and comes from

https://www.liberal.ca/realchange/helping-families/ . The difference from the Conservative benefit is

that the Liberal benefit is not taxable. It is important to remember this in an income tested benefit and

each family will be adjudicated based on household income.