Saint-Hyacinthe, QC – Today, the Hon. Erin O’Toole, Leader of Canada’s Conservatives, introduced his plan to rebuild Main Streets across the country and help small businesses get back on their feet and create jobs. “Canada’s small businesses employ millions of people and have been hit hard by the pandemic,” O’Toole said. “They need real support to help rebuild or restart their business and hire back workers – and that’s exactly what Canada’s Recovery Plan will deliver.” To restore the one million jobs lost during the pandemic and rebuild Canada’s Main Streets, a Conservative government will introduce the Rebuild Main Street Tax Credit. The new incentive will give Canadians an opportunity to support small businesses by providing a 25 per cent tax credit on amounts of up to $100,000 that someone personally invests in a small business over the next two years. A Conservative government will also introduce the Rebuild Main Street Business Loan, which will immediately make available interest-free loans of up to $200,000 to help small and medium businesses, with up to 25 per cent forgiven depending on revenue losses. These loans are significantly more generous than the Liberals’ $60,000 Canada Emergency Business Account loan, which fell short of the needs of thousands of eligible businesses. In addition to the Rebuild Main Street Tax Credit and the Rebuild Main Street Business Loan, Canada’s Conservatives will introduce a Canada Investment Accelerator tax credit, which will provide five per cent back for any capital investment made in 2022 and 2023, with the first $25,000 to be refundable for small businesses. “Canadian small businesses have given back to their communities in countless ways – whether it was sponsoring the local kids’ soccer team or raising money for charity,” said O’Toole. “A Conservative government will have their backs and ensure we secure the future for Canada’s Main Streets.”

Fredericton, NB – Today, the Hon. Erin O’Toole, Leader of Canada’s Conservatives, released his plan to secure a more affordable future for Canadians. “Inflation is at a two-decade high, grocery bills have gone up 5 per cent, and each trip to the gas station seems to hurt just a little bit more,” said O’Toole. “This is the Canada of Justin Trudeau and the NDP. To lower prices, we need to get inflation under control and ensure there is more competition, not less.” With inflation rising, families are struggling to make ends meet. Canada’s Conservatives have a detailed plan to help families and make life more affordable. To lower food prices, a Conservative government will increase the maximum penalty for price-fixing from $24 million to $100 million and introduce criminal penalties, including jail time, for executives convicted of price-fixing. Canada’s Conservatives will also bring in a tough code of conduct to protect suppliers and to promote grocery competition. Canada’s Recovery Plan will also secure a more affordable future for families by: -- Bringing in legislation on open banking so that Canadians can connect with financial technology (fintech) companies that can provide a better offer for banking services such as a mortgage, line of credit, or credit card. -- Ordering the Competition Bureau to investigate bank fees. -- Requiring more transparency for investment management fees so that seniors and savers don’t get ripped off, including requiring the banks to show investment returns net of fees. -- Creating a technology task force within the Competition Bureau to examine whether dominance and anti-competitive behaviour of big technology giants is damaging to Canadian industry. -- Giving competition laws real teeth to prevent a few big companies from dominating whole industries and pushing up prices. -- Standing up to corporate Canada and rejecting mergers that substantially reduce competition and lead to layoffs and higher prices. If you don’t care about securing a more affordable future, you have three parties to choose from in this election. If you do, then there is only one choice – Erin O’Toole and Canada’s Conservatives.

Corner Brook, NL – Today, the Hon. Erin O’Toole, Leader of Canada’s Conservatives, released his plan to increase EI benefits for seriously ill workers from 26 to 52 weeks. “Canadian workers should know we have their backs if they become seriously ill,” said O’Toole. “But all too often, workers see their EI run out after 26 weeks while battling life-threatening diseases like cancer. Canadian workers and their families deserve better. It is time for the government to stand up for workers and their health.” With Canada’s Recovery Plan, Canada’s Conservatives will ensure that workers who need to take sick leave receive the support they need to recover and support their families by increasing EI sickness benefits from 26 weeks to 52 weeks for those suffering from a serious illness. “You can’t have a healthy economy without healthy workers. Canada’s Conservatives have a plan to put workers at the front of the country’s recovery and get the economy back on track,” O’Toole said. “Together, we can secure the future.”

Ottawa, ON – Today, Conservative Candidates, Yves Levesque and Michael Barrett, commented on a resurfaced column in which Justin Trudeau’s candidate for Trois-Rivières criticizes Trudeau for his corruption. “Justin Trudeau is too corrupt for even his own candidates – and it’s not surprising. Trudeau has been found guilty of breaking federal law twice, and his cover-ups and deception have become commonplace,” said Barrett. In an editorial dated July 15, 2020, Martin Francoeur, Liberal Candidate for Trois-Rivières, criticizes Justin Trudeau’s WE scandal, saying, “The fact of awarding a contract without a tender to an organization closely linked to the Trudeau family is a perfectly stupid move.” He goes on to say that the Prime Minister’s apology “does not detract from the gravity of these acts of favouritism and this form of interference by the Prime Minister.” Francoeur continues, “Therein lies the problem with Justin Trudeau. His lapses of ethics and his annoying tendency to place himself in a situation of conflict of interest seem most often associated with candour or a kind of carelessness or even a lack of judgment, which makes the matter even more astounding.” The Liberal candidate concludes his column by citing when Justin Trudeau broke federal law, including Trudeau’s trip to a billionaire’s island. “Does Mr. Francoeur still think Justin Trudeau is a corrupt politician,” asked Levesque. “And will Mr. Francoeur speak out against other Liberal candidates, like Judy Sgro, who believe that federal laws should not apply to them?” “Canadians can’t afford any more of Justin Trudeau’s corruption,” Barrett and Levesque concluded. “Canada’s Recovery Plan is Erin O’Toole’s plan to secure the future by restoring accountability to Ottawa.” The full column can be read here: https://www.lenouvelliste.ca/opinions/editorial/lethique-elastique-de-justin-trudeau-b04eeaba5539dd2d13fda450752d11c9

Ottawa, ON – Today, the Hon. Erin O’Toole, Leader of Canada’s Conservatives, introduced his plan to protect gig economy workers by ensuring their access to employment insurance (EI) benefits. “Millions of Canadians don’t qualify for EI because they’re on contract or only have temporary work,” O’Toole said. “So when a crisis like COVID-19 hit, these workers had no safety net. A Conservative government will provide security to gig economy workers.” With Canada’s Recovery Plan, Canada’s Conservatives will require gig economy companies to make contributions equivalent to the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) and EI premiums into a new, portable Employee Savings Account every time they pay their workers. The money will grow tax-free and can be used to pay CPP premiums or accumulate savings that will be withdrawn by the worker when they need it. “The Canadian workplace has changed and the support Canada provides to workers must change as well,” said O’Toole. “Only Canada’s Conservatives have a plan to secure the future for Canadian workers.”

Brantford, ON – Today, the Hon. Erin O’Toole, Leader of Canada’s Conservatives, introduced the Canada Mental Health Action Plan. The COVID-19 pandemic has deepened Canada’s mental health crisis, especially for youth. After a year of lockdowns, one in five Canadians has screened positive for symptoms of depression, anxiety, or post-traumatic stress disorder. “As a country, we need to recognize that mental health is health,” said O’Toole. “We have tremendous work to do to end the stigma and build more integrated mental health care systems across the country. Only Canada’s Conservatives have a plan to secure the mental health of Canadians.” To help those struggling with mental health, as part of the Canada Mental Health Action Plan, a Conservative government will: -- Massively boost health transfers to the provinces to six per cent annually, doubling the Liberal commitment and representing $60 billion more health care dollars over the next 10 years. -- Work with the provinces to invest in mental health as the health priority it is with the goal of providing enough funding through health transfers for an additional million Canadians to receive mental health treatment every year and cut the waitlists for help. -- Encourage employers to add mental health coverage to the employee benefit plans or boost their coverage by offering a tax credit for 25 per cent of the cost of additional mental health coverage for the first three years. -- Provide $150 million over three years in grants to nonprofits and charities delivering mental health and wellness programming. -- Create a nationwide three-digit suicide prevention hotline. -- Make the single largest investment in Canadian history for mental health supports for Indigenous people by providing $1 billion over five years to boost funding for Indigenous mental health and drug treatment programs, including providing culturally appropriate supports. “Canada’s Conservatives believe that mental health is as important as physical health and now is the time to act,” said O’Toole. “I want Canadians who are struggling to know that we are here to support you and ensure help is on the way.”

Ottawa, ON – Today, the Hon. Erin O’Toole, Leader of Canada’s Conservatives, released his plan to secure pensions for Canadian workers. “Canadian workers who have paid into a pension plan on every paycheque should be able to rely on it being there when they retire,” said O’Toole. “But far too often, we have seen workers, through no fault of their own, forced to take big cuts to their pensions when the company they worked for goes bankrupt. As Prime Minister, I will stand up for workers and introduce the necessary measures to protect hard-earned pensions.” As part of Canada’s Recovery Plan, a Conservative government will change the law so that when a company goes bankrupt or is being restructured, workers come first – not corporate elites. Canada’s Conservatives will also improve the security of workers’ pensions by: Preventing executives from paying themselves bonuses while managing a company going through restructuring unless the pension plan is fully funded. No longer forcing underfunded pension plans to be converted to annuities, a practice where the financial assets are sold and exchanged for an insurance product to reduce risks and offer fixed payments to pensioners. Companies typically fail in the midst of a recession when markets are depressed, and as a result, this practice currently locks in losses and means workers receive less money. Requiring companies to be more transparent with their employees by mandating they report the funding status of their pension plans. “If you don’t care about standing up for Canadian workers, you have three parties to choose from in this election,” O’Toole said. “If you do, then there is only one choice – Canada’s Conservatives.”

Ottawa, ON – Today, the Hon. Erin O’Toole, Leader of Canada’s Conservatives, released his plan to ensure the needs of Canadian workers are being addressed by having a seat on the boards of directors. “Too many decisions at major corporations are being made without the people who helped build the company – the workers – at the table,” said O’Toole. “Canada’s Recovery Plan will give workers a real voice within these companies to support the long-term success of their employer, and ultimately, their ability to make a living.” To ensure workers’ needs are heard at the very top, an O’Toole government will require federally regulated employers with over 1,000 employees or $100 million in annual revenue to include worker representation on their boards of directors. Federally regulated sectors include aerospace, trucking, marine shipping, rail, oil and gas, mining, telecommunications, and banking. Together, these sectors employ hundreds of thousands of Canadian workers across the country. “As we work toward recovery, we have an opportunity to ensure Canadian workers go back to better jobs,” said O’Toole. “Canada’s Recovery Plan will stand up for workers and deliver jobs for all Canadians.” If you don’t care about getting Canadians back to work in every sector and every region of the country, you have three parties to choose from in this election. If you do, then there is only one choice – Erin O’Toole and Canada’s Conservatives.

New Westminster, BC – Today, the Hon. Erin O’Toole, Leader of Canada’s Conservatives, introduced his plan to address the opioid crisis as a national emergency and help Canadians struggling with addiction. Every day, 17 Canadians die from opioid-related deaths. Since the onset of COVID-19, opioid-related deaths have almost doubled. “Families across this country are mourning lost children, lost parents, lost partners,” said O’Toole. “As Prime Minister, I will treat the opioid epidemic as the urgent health crisis that it is.” To help those struggling with addiction and save lives, Canada’s Recovery Plan will: Invest $325 million over the next three year to create 1,000 residential drug treatment beds and build 50 recovery community centres across the country. Enhance the delivery of culturally appropriate addiction treatment and prevention services in First Nations communities with high needs. Provide $1 billion over five years to boost funding for Indigenous mental health and drug treatment programs. Partner with the provinces to ensure that Naloxone kits are available for free across Canada. Reorient the Canadian Drugs and Substances Strategy towards ensuring that every person struggling with addiction has the opportunity to recover. “As a country, we must recognize that mental health is health,” O’Toole concluded. “Only Canada’s Conservatives have a plan to make historic investments in mental health and addiction.”

Edmonton, AB – Today, the Hon. Erin O’Toole, Leader of Canada’s Conservatives, released his plan to break down barriers for Canadians living with disabilities. One in five Canadians lives with a disability. People living with long-term conditions or disabilities were also among the most impacted groups during the pandemic, with more than one-third experiencing a temporary or permanent job loss or reduced hours. “As Prime Minister, I will work to build a Canada where people of every ability can live full lives and participate fully in society, including in the workforce,” said O’Toole. “Canada’s Recovery Plan will provide Canadians with living with disabilities the supports they need, while always leaving them further ahead when they choose to pursue work.” Canada’s Recovery Plan will support Canadians with disabilities by: Doubling the Disability Supplement in the Canada Workers Benefit from $713 to $1,500, providing a major boost to lower-income Canadians with disabilities on top of our increase in the Canada Workers Benefit. Overhauling the complex array of disability supports and benefits to ensure that working always leaves someone further ahead and work with the provinces to ensure federal programs are designed to work with provincial programs to achieve this result. Providing an additional $80 million per year through the Enabling Accessibility Fund to ensure: Additional incentives for small business and community projects to improve accessibility. Grants and support for all types of accessibility equipment that Canadians with disabilities need to work. Enhancements to existing programs that will get more Canadians with disabilities into the workforce. Reducing the number of hours required to qualify for the Disability Tax Credit and the Registered Disability Savings Plan from 14 to 10 hours per week. “The disability community has been advocating for these improvements for years, but their demands have too often been met with lip service rather than action,” said O’Toole. “Conservatives are prepared to put our money where our mouth is, providing real, immediate funding increases to support Canadians living with disabilities through this difficult time.” If you don’t care about securing better disability supports for Canadians, you have three parties to choose from in this election. If you do, then there is only one choice – Erin O’Toole and Canada’s Conservatives.