Whitby, ON – Today, the Hon. Erin O’Toole, Leader of Canada’s Conservatives, released his plan to improve the lives of Canadians in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). Nearly one in five Canadians live in the GTA, but families in these communities are increasingly worried about finding a home they can afford, the rising cost of living, long commute times, gang violence, and overcrowded hospitals. “We need someone in Ottawa who personally knows and understands the challenges facing the families and communities in our region,” said O’Toole. “As someone who was raised in the GTA and now raising my family there, I will deliver a Conservative plan to build more homes, get shovels in the ground on transit, and cut hospital wait times.” Through Canada’s Recovery Plan, Canada’s Conservatives will: -- Get housing prices under control by building one million more homes over the next three years and banning foreign buyers if they have no intention of moving to Canada. -- Lower prices by introducing a GST holiday in December, cracking down on price-fixing, and getting inflation under control by stopping the Liberals’ endless deficits, and responsibly balancing the budget over the next decade. -- Reduce commute times by immediately getting shovels in the ground on transit projects across the Greater Toronto Area, including Ontario’s GTA transit plan and GO expansion. -- Cut hospital wait times by increasing health transfers by a minimum of six per cent annually, representing a historic $60 billion investment over 10 years in health care. -- Combat gang violence by hiring an additional 200 RCMP officers to help keep communities safe. “It’s time Canada had a Prime Minister from the 905,” said O’Toole. “As Prime Minister, I will secure the future for workers and families across the GTA and for all Canadians.”

Conservative plan takes real action to fight crime vs. Trudeau’s do-nothing gun ban

A new Conservative government will take real action to fight gang and gun violence, combat human trafficking, and tackle drug addictions and recovery, Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer announced today.

“As Prime Minister, I will lead a government that honours its most sacred duty – to keep its citizens and their streets safe,” Scheer said. “Justin Trudeau has failed in this regard and all of his proposed measures to fight crime simply will not work. Canadians can’t trust him to keep them safe.” 

The Conservative plan for safer streets targets illegal firearms crossing the border and ending up with gangsters, while strengthening penalties to keep gang and gun criminals behind bars. 

As Prime Minister, Andrew Scheer’s plan for A Safer Canada will:

• End automatic bail for gang members awaiting trial and revoke parole for any gang member who associates with their former gang following release.

• Identify known gangs as criminal entities in the Criminal Code, similar to how terrorist organizations are currently listed.

• Bring in tougher sentences, including a five-year minimum mandatory prison sentence for violent gang crime, with a new five-year minimum mandatory prison sentence for possession of a smuggled firearm.

• Create a Canada Border Services Agency firearms smuggling task force to intercept illegal firearms at the Canada-US border.

• Strengthen background checks for gun licenses and make it a crime to provide a firearm to anyone who has been prohibited from owning them.

• Revise the Canadian drugs and substance strategy to focus on helping Canadians recover from addiction.

• Strengthen human trafficking laws, including consecutive sentences for those who are convicted on multiple counts of human trafficking and ensuring Canada meets our commitments under the Palermo Protocol.

Scheer contrasted the detailed Conservative plan with Trudeau’s vague firearms ban that will do nothing to crack down on gun crime.

“Forcing law-abiding Canadians to follow even more laws will not reduce crime,” Scheer said. “Criminals don’t follow laws and that’s exactly why we have to target them. My plan does the hard work of tracking down criminals and putting them behind bars where they belong so you and your family can be safe and get ahead.”

ANDREW SCHEER’S PLAN FOR YOU TO GET AHEAD:

• Scrap the Trudeau Carbon Tax, lowering the cost of everyday essentials like gas, groceries, and home heating.
• Introduce the Universal Tax Cut, saving an average couple $850.
• Take the GST off home heating costs, saving your family $107 every year.
• Introduce the Green Public Transit Tax Credit, saving a family of four who take transit up to $1,000.
• Make maternity benefits tax-free, putting up to $4,000 back in the pockets of new parents.
• Introduce the Children’s Fitness Tax Credit, allowing parents to claim up to $1,000 for sports activities.
• Introduce the Children’s Arts and Learning Tax Credit, letting parents claim up to $500 for arts and learning programs.
• Expand the Age Credit, benefiting the lowest income Canadians the most and giving a senior couple up to $300.
• Boost government-matching to RESPs by 50%, helping parents get more for their kids’ education.
• Introduce the Green Home Renovation Tax Credit, putting up to $3,800 back in the pockets of families who make green-home improvements. 

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