December 20, 2000

A Third Straight Majority Mandate

The people of Canada honored us with a third consecutive majority mandate.

We increased our majority by 17 seats over the 1997 election (172 vs. 155) and our percentage of the popular vote (40.8% vs 38%) And for the first time since 1980, the Liberal Party won a plurality of the vote of in Quebec (44% to 39.9% for the BQ)

A more Secure Society

Working with First Ministers, we reached unanimous consensus on a comprehensive and forward-looking Health Action Plan that will sustain and modernizing Canada’s publicly-funded health care system. We are generously supporting the Plan by making $21.2 billion available over 5 years for health through the Canada Health and Social Transfer (CHST).

First Ministers, with the exception of Quebec, concluded an Early Child Development Agreement (ECDA) that will provide more money in services and programs for families and children. Under the ECDA, the Government of Canada is making a substantial investment of $2.2 billion in early child development over 5 years through the Canada Health and Social Transfer.

Responding to the opinion of the Supreme Court of Canada - that "...it will be for the political actors to determine what constitutes ‘a clear majority on a clear question’ in the circumstances under which a future referendum vote may be taken." - we passed the Clarity Act. The legislation defines what conditions will have to be met for the federal government to enter into negotiations following a referendum on secession.

We announced a federal investment of $753 million over the next three years in a strategy to help alleviate and prevent homelessness in Canada.

We announced additional farm income assistance, bringing to $2.31 billion the total amount that we have provided to help farm families since December 1998.

In 2000 alone, we invested some $1.2 billion to promote environmental technologies and sustainable practices.

We doubled the length of maternity and parental leave under the Employment Insurance Act (EI). The benefits were also made more flexible.

We tabled legislation to remedy unintended problems with the EI reforms we introduced in 1996 - problems that have affected women and seasonal workers in particular. Passing this legislation is a priority of our new mandate.

The unemployment rate fell to 6.8% - its lowest level in almost a quarter century. More than two million jobs have been created since we first took office in October 1993.

We announced our third straight balanced budget or better in 1999-2000.

We announced a $12.3 billion pay down of the national debt in 1999-2000- the largest in Canadian history. And we are on course to pay down the public debt by at least $28.7 billion by the end of 2000-01.

The 2000 Economic Statement and Budget Update built on Budget 2000 by cutting taxes further and faster. The combined tax measures outlined in Budget 2000 and the Update deliver - by far - the largest tax cut in Canadian history – some $100 billion in cumulative tax relief by 2004-05.

All Canadians will get a federal tax cut -- moderate and middle-income Canadians in particular. 52% of our tax cuts go to Canadians making $60,000 or less. Almost all of the cuts will take effect on January 1^st , 2001 - just a few days from now.

By 2004-05, Canadians’ average personal income tax burden will be 21% less – and 27% less for families with children.

We launched the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.

We announced that the Government of Canada will fund the creation of 2000 new 21st Century Chairs for Research Excellence in Canadian universities over the next five years.

We announced an investment of $2.65 billion over six years on infrastructure - with Green Municipal Infrastructure as our top priority.