Mark's latest campaign literature was mailed out to voters' homes throughout Ajax-Pickering. Find out more about some of Mark and the Liberal's platform statements refered to in the piece.
Tax relief for the Middle Class:
A future Liberal government would put money back in Canadians' pockets with record tax cuts across the board. The 15% income tax bracket will be lowered to 13.5%; 19% bracket will be lowered to 18%; and the 22% bracket will be lowered to 21%.
Making education affordable:
A future Liberal government will make post-secondary education more accessible by:
1. providing an education grant delivered four times a year, putting money in the hands of students when they need it most;
2. providing 200,000 needs-based bursaries of up to 3,500 per year;
3. providing 100,000 access grants of up to $4,000 per year for members of groups that are traditionally under-represented in post-secondary education;
4. ensuring that students are entitled for a $5,000 loan irrespective of parental income; and,
5. guaranteeing a lower interest rate for all student loans, extending the grace period on repayment post graduation from six months to two years, making that grace period interest-free and extending the time that individuals have to repay their student loans.
Better roads - better transit - supporting infrastructure priorities:
A future Liberal government would restore strong federal partnership with the provinces and municipalities to support record infrastructure investments:
1. create 10 year plan to invest $70 billion for ciritcally needed infrastructure projects;
2. devote all unanticipated budget surplus beyond $3 billion to infrastructure; and,
3. ensure dedicated financing of specific infrastructure priorities, like, transit and sewage treatment.
Streamline immigration system & restore fairness:
1.
invest $800 to end the backlog of qualified immigrants waiting to come to Canada;
2. instead of investing in a functioning system, the Harper Conservatives placed discretionary powers in the Immigration Minister's hands to choose favourites. Mark and the Liberals would restore fairness by reversing this regressive law, investing in a functioning system, and establishing standards and criteria that would apply fairly to every prospective immigrant.
3. support new Canadians find jobs in their fields by investing in language training programs that help new Canadians master English, as well as create a comprehensive program that supports internship, mentorship and work placement opportunities.
Finding doctors & nurses for Ajax-Pickering through a $420 million national plan to help recruit new medical profressionals, which would:
1.
increase the capacity to train and graduate doctors, nurses and medical technicians;
2.
remove bottlenecks that currently slow the process of licensing new health care professionals;
3.
provide financial support to assist foreign-trained health professionals in obtaining their Canadian qualifications more quickly; and,
4.
reward medical students choosing needed specialties such as family medicine, rural medicine, and geriatrics.
Want to know more about other Liberal party policies?
Send Mark an email: campaign@voteholland.com
***
Issues
What is the number
one issue in this federal election?
We must restore the
economic vitality of the Canadian economy. After just two and a half
years, Stephen Harper’s Conservative government has mismanaged the
economy, bringing Canada to the brink of recession with the worst two
economic quarters in almost two decades. This is a far cry from the 13
years which preceded the current government.
Under successive Liberal
governments, Canadians enjoyed
prosperity and productivity. Liberals achieved eight consecutive surplus
budgets, brought unemployment down to its lowest level in 30 years, and
the best fiscal record among the G-8. These strong economic fundamentals
allowed us to invest more in a strong public health system, quality
post secondary education, cities, early childhood education, and
environmental leadership. Since the Conservatives took power, all of
these critical program areas have either been cut altogether or starved for
funding.
There’s a pattern here. Every
time Canada is governed by a Conservative government, the economy stalls, jobs
are lost and deficits loom. Remember that in 1993
when the Conservatives left office, unemployment was 11 per cent, we had
a $42 billion deficit, and Canada’s economic performance was so poor the
Wall Street Journal called us an honorary member of the third world.
The manufacturing sector will
receive special attention in a future Liberal government. The success of the
manufacturing sector under previous Liberal administrations was in great part
the result of strong government participation with business and labour to create
the right investment and development conditions. This contrasts markedly from
the Conservatives who peddle "lazy laissez-faire-I-don't-care" economics, and
invite misfortune with public statements like "Ontario is the last place to
invest in." To use a Harperism: "that's crazy."
Clearly, we need to take Canada back
from a government that is wreaking havoc on the Canadian economy.
What is the number
one issue in your riding in this election?
We need to increase
the quality of life for residents of Ajax-Pickering by continuing to
invest in sustainable infrastructure.
Unlike the current
Conservative government, we recognize the urgency of providing federal funding
to help our growing communities build roads, public transit and improve water
quality. The Conservatives haven't taken this issue seriously, but a future
Liberal government would.
The "Liberal Plan to Tackle
Infrastructure Deficit" would provide any unanticipated budget surplus that
exceeds a $3-billion contingency fund towards the infrastructure deficit facing
Durham and other communities in Canada. These projects will not only create
immediate jobs at a time when Ontario desperately needs them, but they are vital
to improving the productivity, quality of life and prosperity of Ajax-Pickering
residents.
What makes you the
most qualified to represent voters in Ottawa?
I am the only
candidate with elected experience, both at the municipal and federal
levels of government. I have a strong history of listening to
constituents, and standing up for their interests. When I speak, I do so
passionately, strongly, and with the knowledge I have acquired in my
years of serving the community. I have strong principles, which include
integrity in government, ensuring that Canadians get the best value for
their tax dollars, and supporting a strong and united Canada which is
inclusive and welcoming toward all Canadians, regardless of background.
Background or
other information about yourself that you feel is important for voters
to understand.
I am a life-long
resident of Ajax and Pickering, and was first elected municipally in
1997. I served as a councillor both for the City of Pickering and Region
of Durham, leading the redevelopment of Pickering’s waterfront. I was
first elected at the federal level in the election of 2004.
In the recent Parliament, I
first served as the Liberal Opposition critic for Natural Resources, and since
October 2007, the Liberal Opposition Critic for Public Works and Procurement.
I also served on two House of
Commons Committees. My role on Public Accounts, which is responsible for
reviewing government spending, gave me an opportunity to apply my financial
background and skills to one of my greatest interests – defending Canadians'
right to get the best value for their tax dollars. And as a member of the
Government Operations committee, I worked to hold the Conservative government to
account for their poor record as managers of government departments and
institutions.
In the last Parliament, I was
a contributing member of the Liberal Committee on Cities and Communities, which
was key to developing the plan for using gas taxes to fund sustainable
municipal infrastructure.
What would you do
to ensure you represent the interests and wishes of all or at least the
majority of your constituents?
In order to represent
constituents, you must first know their interests and wishes, and the
key to that is excellent communication. I have made that one of my
highest priorities.
Regularly when the House is sitting, I hold town
hall meetings where constituents are invited to discuss matters of
concern; and when I am in Ottawa, I post videos weekly on my MP website,
where constituents can follow the major issues before Parliament. I send regular newsletters, and I invite constituent feedback.
I also make myself available to the local media, and I meet constituents
whenever possible, both at their doors and in my office. Most
importantly, I lived in this community all my life and have also
represented it municipally.
What do you
think are the three most important issues facing Canadians today, and
how would your party address them?
1.
Economy, 2. environment, 3. social justice. I'd like to point out that
these three issues are closely linked. Where I differ from the
Conservatives is that I believe a healthy environment is essential to a
healthy community and a sustainable economy -- not an obstacle to
economic development.
What will you do to prevent
evictions, demolitions and the destruction of community on the airport lands?
This local issue is
one on which I’ve spent considerable time since the 2004 election.
I
was successful in September 2005 in getting the
former Liberal federal government to agree to undertake a peer review of the
GTAA's proposal. I believe that if this review is conducted honestly, it will
conclude that an airport in Pickering doesn't make sense from a transportation,
economic, or environmental perspective. In addition to a peer review, I was able
to get the Liberal government to commit to respecting properties of heritage
value, like the Tullis cottage, and an
informal moratorium on any further evictions and demolitions until there is a
fair and transparent process in place for determining if a building is no longer
cost effective to maintain.
In May 2007, however, the Conservative
government announced that Transport Canada had awarded the contract to review
the need for an airport in Pickering to the GTAA -- a blatant conflict of
interest, as the GTAA is an interested party, and not a neutral observer. This
review is a "fraud" and it reverses the previous Liberal Transport Minister's
commitment to an impartial review.
I will continue to fight for the community in
the Pickering Lands and ensure their voice is heard and respected on any
development.
Assuming the proposed Pickering airport is
shelved, what use if any should be made of the land?
I would like to see a
significant part of the land set aside as North America’s largest urban
park in connection with the Oak Ridges Moraine. I am opposed to
haphazard development of it as unplanned urban sprawl. Beyond that,
however, I believe the local community must be properly consulted on its
future use. I don’t believe we can make planning assumptions for 2020,
2030 and beyond based on today’s consumption of fossil fuels. Therefore,
whatever use we make of the land, it must be environmentally and
economically sustainable.
How do we fight poverty among the most
vulnerable members of our community, especially children and seniors?
I am concerned about statistics
showing the numbers of children and seniors living in poverty today. Many suffer
from hunger, poor housing, chronic illness, and lower educational outcomes. The
working poor also face hardships making ends meet.
Despite these statistics, Prime Minister Harper’s Conservative government has
done very little to help those who have little. However, we have a plan that
will make a difference in the lives of people living in dire circumstances.
The "Liberal 30/50 plan" is designed to reduce by at least 30% the total number
of people living below the poverty line and reduce the total number of children
living in poverty by at least 50%. Under the plan, a new benefit called the
"Making Work Pay Benefit" will lower the welfare wall while encouraging and
rewarding work.
Other features focus on
helping lift vulnerable seniors out of poverty. This will be done by increasing
the Guaranteed Income Supplement payments for the lowest income seniors, ensure
that the loss of a partner does not drive the surviving spouse below the
low-income threshold, and encourage and reward those seniors who choose to
participate in the workforce.
The third part of the plan is
directed at helping children in poverty. The plan will support working families
by expanding and improving the Canada Child Tax Benefit and by making the
non-refundable Child Credit into a refundable credit so that even people who do
not pay taxes receive a benefit. |
