Where do the Liberals, Conservatives and NDP stand on major issues? Here is a breakdown of their positions on the issues of taxes, the economy, energy, climate change, infrastructure, child care and skills training.
Note: The Green Party of Canada has not yet released its full 2021 election platform. We’ll update this file when it is released.
Taxes
Liberals
• Luxury tax on new cars and private aircraft worth at least $100,000
• Tax vacation properties of non-residents
• 3% digital service tax
• Strengthen CRA to combat tax avoidance
Conservatives
• Make foreign tech companies pay digital services tax representing 3% of their gross revenue if they don’t pay corporate income tax here
• Provide 25% tax credit on amounts of up to $100,000 invested in a small business over the next two years
• Appoint expert panel to review tax system
NDP
• 1% tax on wealth over $20 million
• Excess profit tax on pandemic profits of large corporations
Economy
Liberals
• Expand EI sick benefits to 26 weeks
• $250 million, three-year aerospace pandemic recovery bailout
• Allow firms to expense up to $1.5 million in eligible investments in each of next three years
• $15 federal minimum wage
Conservatives
• Pay up to 50% of the salary of new hires for six months following the end of CEWS
• Provide 5% investment tax credit for any capital investment made in 2022 and 2023
• Loans of up to $200,000 to help small and medium-sized businesses in hospitality, retail, and tourism, with up to 25% forgiven
NDP
• Create one million jobs by investing in infrastructure, public transit, homes, retrofitting and transitioning to a carbon neutral economy
• Increase federal minimum wage
• Provide 10 paid sick days for workers in federally regulated industries
Energy
Liberals
• $1 billion over five years for large clean energy technology projects
• $35 million to create the B.C. Centre for Innovation and Clean Energy
Conservatives
• Introduce renewable natural gas mandate
• Implement LNG export strategy
• Tax credit for carbon capture, use and storage technology
NDP
• Create 300,000 jobs in the green economy
Climate change
Liberals
• $5 billion over seven years for the Net Zero Accelerator to help companies reduce emissions
• Reduce corporate income tax rate by 50% for zero-emission technology manufacturers
• $200 million for a Natural Infrastructure Fund; $5 billion in green bonds to fund conservation and green infrastructure
Conservatives
• Implement Personal Low Carbon Savings Account
• Price carbon starting at $20/tonne and tie carbon price to the U.S. and European Union
• Introduce zero-emission vehicle mandate; $1 billion for electric-vehicle manufacturing; $1 billion for hydrogen technology; $3 billion investment by 2030 in natural climate solutions
NDP
• Modernize and expand public transit with the goal of electrification by 2030
• Establish 91Ô´´ Climate Bank to boost investment in renewable energy and low-carbon technologies
• Set up a climate emergency cabinet to focus on reducing emissions 50% by 2030
Infrastructure
Liberals
• Build dedicated passenger rail tracks in the Toronto-to-Quebec City corridor for high-frequency trains
• $1 billion universal broadband fund
• $1.9 billion for upgrades to transportation routes
Conservatives
• Eliminate and replace the Canada Infrastructure Bank
• Provide the funding needed to complete the extension of the Surrey-Langley SkyTrain
NDP
• Infrastructure products to use 91Ô´´ inputs including steel and aluminum
Child care
Liberals
• $30 billion over five years for child-care system, to be $10 a day in five years
Conservatives
• Replace Liberals’ child-care program with refundable tax credit for up to 75% of cost for low-income 91Ô´´s
NDP
• National child-care program
Skills training
Liberals
• $470 million for new apprenticeship program
• $240 million to increase the wage subsidy in the Student Work Placement Program
Conservatives
• Double the Apprenticeship Job Creation Tax Credit for the next three years
• Invest $250 million over two years to create the Canada Job Training Fund
• Create the Working 91Ô´´ Training Loan to provide low interest loans of up to $10,000 to people who want to upgrade their skills
NDP
• Create a hiring bonus where the government covers the employer’s share of EI and CPP premiums for new hires or rehired laid-off employees