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This election is about a new future for Canada where the winds of change bring benefits for mainstream Canadians. A future of hope, where government stands up for the ordinary people who work hard, pay their taxes, and play by the rules. We will give all our citizens a break by cutting the GST. We will give hard-working parents a break by delivering a $1,200-a-year Choice in Child Care Allowance for every child under six.
This morning, I am pleased to announce another part of our plan for hard-working families. A Conservative government will provide modest tax assistance for families who have kids in organized sports and fitness activities. Parents across Canada put their children in community sports programs for many reasons – it encourages children to be active and fit from an early age; it gives parents an opportunity to be engaged in their communities; it gives kids the chance to learn the values of teamwork, to build character and to dream of stardom; to see themselves on the podium when they watch Canada’s national hockey team win the gold medal; to be the next Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, Hayley Wickenheiser or Vincent Lecavalier.
Many of our candidates are involved in local recreational activities. I know that Lawrence Cannon gets great pleasure from coaching the Olympiques de Hull in the Ligue de Développement Outaouais. I am also pleased that his son Sacha as well as Étienne Parmentier, Maxime Fecteau, and Jonathan Guillotte-Blouin from his team are able to join us today.
Children should be able to dream, have fun, and be active. An important part of health care is prevention, including ensuring that Canadians, especially children, get a proper level of exercise. Governments should encourage not just international excellence in sports, but also the choices of ordinary families that encourage active children. That is why a new Conservative government will allow parents to claim a federal tax credit for kids’ sports.
This tax credit can be claimed against income for the first $500 of registration fees for organized sport. This credit will be available for each child under the age of 16. It will cover registration fees in organizations that promote physical fitness – registration fees for soccer, hockey, swimming lessons, ballet, figure skating, and karate. Activities where our children are active, where they have fun, and where they develop the skills and relationships that can last a lifetime.
A Conservative government will cut the GST, support choice in child care for parents with small children, and give families with older children a modest break on the cost of kids’ sports. On January 23rd, stand up for accountability, stand up for families, stand up for Canada.
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For further information: Conservative Party Press Office (613) 755-2191
