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Welcome to "You Asked..."
Every couple of weeks, some of the most frequently asked questions that have
been raised in e-mails sent to the Prime Minister will be posted on this page.
Along with these questions are answers from the Prime Minister, which will let
you know where he stands on these important issues.
The questions are not exactly as they appeared in individual e-mails, but
represent composites from the many items of mail we have received on these
topics.
Q. The future of health care in Canada is a matter of concern to all
Canadians. How is your government preparing Canada to face the new health challenges of
the 21st century?
A. First of all, it is important to note that in September 2000, Canada’s
first ministers unanimously endorsed the Health Action Plan and expressed their
renewed commitment to the five principles of the Canada Health Act :
portability, accessibility, universality, comprehensiveness and public
administration. The Health Action Plan was designed to relieve short
and medium-term pressures on our health care system with $18.9 billion in
new federal transfers to the provinces and territories for health over five
years, $2.3 billion in federal investments to help provinces address immediate
needs, and an agreement on joint priorities.
It is now time to build on this strong foundation and focus on the long-term
sustainability of our public health care system – so that Canada is well
prepared for the major technological developments and demographic shifts that
will place additional pressure on the health care system in the years to come.
For this reason, on April 6, 2001, our government announced the creation of a
Commission on the Future of Health Care in Canada, to be chaired by former
Saskatchewan Premier Roy Romanow.
The Commission will undertake a dialogue with Canadians on the future of
Canada’s public health care system and recommend policies and measures to
ensure over the long term the sustainability of the system and quality services
to Canadians.
Our public health care system was built on strong, creative cooperation
between the federal and provincial governments. And provinces will be important
partners in the process we are launching today. In fact, the Commission will
draw upon and build on the work of recent provincial commissions, such as the Clair
Commission in Quebec and the Fyke Commission in Saskatchewan.
Our public health care system is a defining element in who we are. Canadians
have worked hard to build it, and we have the responsibility to preserve it for
the future.Access to health care services is a matter of passionate concern to
all Canadians. They want to be involved in discussions about the future of their
health system, and this Commission will give them the opportunity to be heard.
Our government is steadfastly committed to providing access for all Canadians
to a modern, publicly-funded quality health care system which will respond to
their needs in the 21st century.
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Q. What action has the Government of Canada taken to fight organized crime ?
A. Combatting organized crime is one of the Government of
Canada’s greatest priorities. Indeed, fulfilling a commitment made in the
Speech from the Throne, our government recently introduced new, aggressive,
broad-based measures, and new funding, that will place Canada among the world's
leaders in combatting organized crime.
These measures will help safeguard Canadians from new and
emerging forms of crime through stronger anti-gang laws, a new prosecution
strategy and increased funding. They will also protect people involved in the
justice system from intimidation.
Several provisions of the proposed legislation will improve
the 1997 anti-gang legislation by giving law enforcement officers stronger
investigative powers and by taking aim at the cornerstones of criminal
organizations by targeting those who participate in their activities and seizing
profits from organized crime activities.
More specifically, the proposed amendments will:
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introduce three new offences and tough sentences that
target various degrees of involvement with criminal organizations;
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improve the protection of people who play a role in the
justice system from intimidation against them and their families. Intimidating
a justice system participant would be punishable by up to 14 years
imprisonment;
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simplify the current definition of "criminal
organization" in the Criminal Code;
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broaden powers of law enforcement to forfeit the proceeds
of crime, and in particular, the profits of criminal organizations and seize
property that was used in a crime; and
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establish an accountable process to protect undercover
law enforcement officers from criminal liability when they commit what would
otherwise be considered illegal actions while investigating and infiltrating
criminal organizations.
Our government will also mount a new Intensive Federal
Prosecution Strategy against Organized Crime that will ensure increased
co-ordination between investigators and prosecutors and more effective
investigations and prosecutions.
We will also inject an additional $200 million over the next
five years to implement legislation and related prosecution and law enforcement
strategies to fight organized crime. This funding will add to the $584 million
dedicated in last year’s federal budget and over $300 million from previous
years for RCMP activities.
These announcements build on previous measures taken by our
government to combat organized crime. In the last four years alone, the federal
government has introduced no less than eight pieces of legislation and a series
of other measures that have strengthened the ability of law enforcement
authorities to go after criminal organizations and protect our borders.
We believe that safe and strong communities are an integral part of the
fabric of our society, and our government is determined to preserve them.
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Q: What has your government done to cut
taxes?
A: We believe that the standard of living
of Canadians can be improved through tax relief. That is why the government has announced in the 2000 Economic Statement and Budget Update that
we will be building 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.
But there is a right way and a wrong way to cut
taxes. The approach to tax cuts is fair and responsible. Fair, because
the lion’s share of the tax relief is for moderate and middle-income Canadians.
In fact, 52% of our tax cuts will go to Canadians making $60, 000 or less.
What is the bottom line?
Next year, a single parent earning $25,000, with
one child, will see his or her net federal tax benefits rise by $800 to $2,200.
Next year, a single parent earning $33,000, with
one child, will get a 100% tax cut - or $900.
Next year, a one-earner family earning $40,000,
with two children, will get a 32% tax cut or $1,100. In less than four years
their tax cut will be 59%.
Next year, a two-earner family of four with a
combined income of $60,000 will get an 18% tax cut or $1,000. In less than four
years, their tax cut will be 34%.
With the strongest economy in decades, Canadians
are in an era of prosperity and opportunity. Today’s budgetary surpluses give
us a chance to strengthen the social fabric of our nation while allowing
Canadians to keep more of what they earn this year, next year and in the years
to come.
If you wish to share your views, please click
here.
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