The Conservative Party of Canada
Information provided by Conservative.ca
Principles and Policy
The Conservative Party will be guided in its constitutional
framework and its policy basis by the following principles:
- A balance between fiscal accountability, progressive
social policy and individual rights and responsibilities;
- Build a national coalition of people who share these
beliefs and who reflect the regional, cultural and socio-economic
diversity of Canada;
- Develop this coalition, embracing our differences and
respecting our traditions, yet honoring a concept of Canada
as the greater sum of strong parts;
- The Conservative Party will operate in a manner accountable
and responsive to its members;
- A belief in loyalty to a sovereign and united Canada
governed in accordance with the Constitution of Canada,
the supremacy of democratic parliamentary institutions
and the rule of law;
- A belief in the equality of all Canadians;
- A belief in the freedom of the individual, including
freedom of speech, worship and assembly;
- A belief in our constitutional monarchy, the institutions
of Parliament and the democratic process;
- A belief in the federal system of government as the
best expression of the diversity of our country, and in
the desirability of strong provincial and territorial
governments;
- A belief that English and French have equality of status,
and equal rights and privileges as to their use in all
institutions of the Parliament and Government of Canada;
- A belief that the best guarantors of the prosperity
and well-being of the people of Canada are:
- The freedom of individual Canadians to pursue their
enlightened and legitimate self-interest within a competitive
economy;
- The freedom of individual Canadians to enjoy the fruits
of their labour to the greatest possible extent; and
- The right to own property;
- A belief that a responsible government must be fiscally
prudent and should be limited to those responsibilities
which cannot be discharged reasonably by the individual
or others;
- A belief that it is the responsibility of individuals
to provide for themselves, their families and their dependents,
while recognizing that government must respond to those
who require assistance and compassion;
- A belief that the purpose of Canada as a nation state
and its government, guided by reflective and prudent leadership,
is to create a climate wherein individual initiative is
rewarded, excellence is pursued, security and privacy
of the individual is provided and prosperity is guaranteed
by a free competitive market economy;
- A belief that the quality of the environment is a vital
part of our heritage to be protected by each generation
for the next;
- A belief that Canada should accept its obligations among
the nations of the world;
- A belief that good and responsible government is attentive
to the people it represents and has representatives who
at all times conduct themselves in an ethical manner and
display integrity, honesty and concern for the best interest
of all;
- A belief that all Canadians should have reasonable access
to quality health care regardless of their ability to
pay; and
- A belief that the greatest potential for achieving social
and economic objectives is under a global trading regime
that is free and fair.
The Right
Honourable Stephen Harper, Prime Minister
Stephen Harper is dedicated to building a stronger, prouder, more prosperous Canada by delivering real results for everyday Canadian families. He has spent his entire political career standing up and speaking out for Canadians who work hard, pay their taxes and play by the rules. As Prime Minister, Stephen Harper has delivered real action on the priorities of all Canadian families including: - Passing the tough new political fundraising rules that take the big money, corporations and unions out of political party financing.
- Reducing the GST from 7% to 6% and now, to 5%.
- Providing $1,200 per year, per child under six, that parents can spend on their own child care priorities.
- Giving Canadians tax credits for money spent on transit passes, textbooks and kids' sports.
- Strengthening Canada's product safety laws, including the first ever federal mandatory recall law, and new rules for what can be called a "product of Canada".
- Passing tough new laws that will keep gun criminals and sexual predators behind bars.
- Taking real action on the environment with Canada's first ever mandatory greenhouse gas emission regulations.
- Investing in new patrol ships, satellite surveillance, and arctic rangers to protect our sovereignty over Canada's North.
Stephen Harper was born on April 30, 1959, in Toronto, Ontario. He moved to Alberta in 1978. He studied at the University of Calgary where he earned both a Bachelors and Masters Degree in Economics. First elected as a Member of Parliament in 1993, Harper was instrumental in putting priorities such as lower taxes, balanced budgets and a tougher criminal justice system on the national agenda. In 2002 Harper was elected Leader of the Opposition and went on to co-found the new Conservative Party and become its first leader. As Opposition leader, he did more than just oppose; he put forward bold, innovative ideas such as the Federal Accountability Act, the Public Transit Tax Credit and the Apprenticeship Incentive Grant - ideas he would later implement as Prime Minister. By 2006, the Harper-led Conservatives replaced the Liberal Party as government, and Stephen Harper was sworn in as Canada's 22nd Prime Minister on February 6, 2006. Stephen Harper has been honoured with the prestigious Woodrow Wilson Award for Public Service. In 2008 he also became the first Canadian to be awarded the B'nai Brith Presidential Gold Medallion for Humanitarianism Stephen Harper and his wife, Laureen, have two children, Benjamin and Rachel, and make their permanent home in Calgary. |
