Canadian Reform Party Platform

by RPC

The Reform Party of Canada

1993 Federal ELECTION PLATFORM

Published January 29, 1993.

ECONOMIC AND FISCAL PRIORITIES

Deficit Reduction

If elected, a Reform Government will undertake a general program of reduction or elimination of federal expenditures until it allows for a lower level of taxation, a lower cost of doing business, and a lower cost of living. We will examine all federal spending and apply reductions according to the following priorities:

1. the pay, pensions, and perks of politicians, political parties, and parliamentary institutions; 2. spending on federal administration; 3. federal programs such as official languages, cultural programs, government advertising, advocacy groups, and foreign aid; 4. subsidies and grants to business and Crown corporations; 5. national defence by emphasizing increased efficiency and reduced administration, while maintaining consistency with Canada's long-term defence objectives; and 6. social spending by refocusing benefits on those most in need.

Balanced Budget

If elected, a Reform Government will balance the revenues and expenditures of the Government of Canada by the end of its third fiscal year of office or it will call an election.

Tax Reform

If elected, a Reform Government will not increase the general tax burden imposed on Canadians by the federal government. We will work toward a simple, visible, and flat rate system of taxation for all taxpayers. In the interim, there will be no increase in the rate of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) and current proceeds will be applied to reductions in the deficit and debt. When the budget is balanced, we would remove the GST by reducing it in stages to zero.

Economy and International Trade

If elected, a Reform government will make the Canada-United States Free Trade Agreement work more to Canada's advantage by removing interprovincial barriers to trade, lowering the tax burden, and shifting emphasis from welfare to retraining and technological development. The Reform Party of Canada assures that notwithstanding the inclusion of water in the Canada-U.S. Free Trade Agreement and the North America Free Trade Agreement, exclusive and unrestricted control of water in all its forms will be maintained by and for Canada and that both free trade agreements will be amended to reflect this. We will not proceed with the implementation of the North American Free Trade Agreement until these changes have been initiated.

Interprovincial Trade

If elected, a Reform Government will seek to remove interprovincial trade barriers which inhibit the free flow of goods, services, labour, and capital through agreements which include trade dispute settlement mechanisms amongst the provinces. Should the provinces fail to cooperate in the removal of interprovincial trade barriers, a Reform Government will challenge the constitutionality of such impediments wherever possible.

Agriculture

If elected, a Reform Government will work towards an international agreement to remove agricultural subsidies. Until this goal is achieved, we will continue direct subsidization and shift funds to programs that expressly compensate for the adverse effect of subsidies by other countries. We will reform supply management at home in the long term interests of both our domestic producers and our consumers.

Fisheries

If elected, a Reform Government will establish an economically and environmentally sustainable fisheries industry by: -establishing an independent commission to set sustainable quotas; -limiting the Department of Fisheries and Oceans' mandate to research, habitat administration, regulation and enforcement; -securing and enforcing international treaties to conserve the offshore fisheries; recognizing licence holders rights and responsibilities to participate in setting objectives of fisheries management.

HEALTH CARE

In light of the fact that health care expenditure now consumes about $45 billion annually, a Reform Government, if elected, will assist the provinces to solve the financial crisis threatening health care by allowing them to exercise their constitutional jurisdiction over health care. We will maintain the federal commitment to equalization payments and ensure that no Canadian is denied adequate health services for financial reasons no matter where they live in Canada.

Environment

If elected, a Reform Government will develop federal criteria for the evaluation of projects that balance environmental and economic concerns. We will negotiate with the provinces to clarify federal and provincial jurisdiction, and apply environmental criteria through a joint environmental evaluation process where appropriate.

Immigration

If elected, a Reform Government will focus immigration policy on Canada's economic needs without regard to race or creed. We will welcome genuine refugees, but we will deal firmly with illegal entry into Canada and with those who counsel or aid such entry. We will employ legislation to allow for the deportation of non Canadian citizen immigrants found guilty of indictable criminal offences.

CONSTITUTIONAL & POLITICAL PRIORITIES

Constitutional Reform

If elected, a Reform Government would impose a moratorium on First Ministers Constitutional Conferences (of the type that produced the Meech Lake and Charlottetwon accords). Should the people of Canada wish to pursue constitutional amendments, a Reform Government would;

-Seek to develop democratic, populist based mechanisms which would form the process for such discussions. These would include Constitutional Constituent Assemblies and provision for ratification of constitutional amendments by binding national referendums. -Seek ratification of the Party's constitutional amendment to establish a Triple E Senate - that is to say, a Senate which is Elected by the people, with Equal representation from each Province, and which is fully Effective in safeguarding regional interests. -Propose a constitutional amendment to recognize that in Canada there has existed and will continue to exist the right of everyone to the ownership, use and enjoyment of property both real and personal and the right not to be deprived thereof except by due process of law with provisions for just and timely compensation.

Better Representation in Parliament

If elected, a Reform Government will change the practices of the House of Commons to allow MPs to more freely represent their constituents wishes by ensuring that the defeat of a government measure does not automatically mean defeat of the government.

Referendum, Initiative and Recall

If elected, a Reform Government will introduce legislation and constitutional proposals to create binding referendum, citizensitiative, and recall mechanisms at the federal level.

Electoral Reform

If elected, a Reform Government will enact legislation to ensure that elections are held every four years at a predetermined time of the year. If a government were defeated in the House such that an election would be called immediately, the date of the subsequent election would be four years from the predetermined time of the year following the election.

Official Languages

If elected, a Reform Government will pursue a language policy which: -is based on freedom of speech, minimal legislation and does not impose either enforced bilingualism nor unilingualism; -recognizes the predominance of French in Quebec and English elsewhere in Canada as the language of work and society; -supports official bilingualism in key federal institutions such as Parliament, the Supreme Court, and federal services where demand is sufficient to warrant cost-effective minority language services.

Multiculturalism

If elected, a Reform Government will abolish the Department of Multiculturalism. We will focus the activities of the federal government on enhancing the citizenship of all Canadians regardless of race, language, or culture. Individuals and groups would be free to preserve their cultural heritage using their own resources. We will uphold their right to do so.

Criminal Justice

If elected, a Reform Government will place the protection of law- abiding citizens and their property ahead of all other objectives. We will amend the criminal law to ensure greater certainty in sentencing, a more stringent parole mechanism, adequate punishment for young offenders, and the creation of inmate work programs. We will place a higher emphasis on assisting victims of crime.

Moral Issues

If elected, Reform MPs will be committed to voting any consensus of their constituents on moral issues such as abortion and capital punishment, regardless of their personal views, should such issues arise in Parliament.