Elections 2011: Weekend Round-Up

With less than a month before Canadians head to the polls, party leaders were on the campaign trail this weekend. Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff was in Ottawa on Sunday. He unveiled his party’s $8 billion plan for Canadian families. The plan includes a $1.2 billion pledge for provinces to create new child care spaces. But Finance Minister Jim Flaherty believes the Liberals’ promises are not affordable. 

Conservative leader Stephen Harper promised to extend the fitness tax break. He would double the children’s tax credit to $1,000, and would introduce a $500 tax credit for adults. This plan would go into effect when the budget is expected to balance in 2015. 

NDP leader Jack Layton was in Gatineau. He spoke about health care and promised again to hire more doctors and nurses across the country. 

Bloc leader Gilles Duceppe is still waiting for a $2 billion payout from the government. Quebec has yet to receive any compensation from Ottawa after harmonizing its sales tax in 1992. Ontario and British Columbia received almost $6 billion for harmonizing their sales taxes.