INDU Committee Report

RECOMMENDATION 1: (p. 41)

That the Government of Canada continue to improve Statistics Canada’s collection and dissemination of data on the services sector.

RECOMMENDATION 2: (p. 41)

That the Government of Canada move the responsibility for the Co-operatives Secretariat from Agriculture Canada to Industry Canada.

RECOMMENDATION 3: (p. 44-45)

That the Government of Canada continue reforming fiscal policies that discourage work by:

1. expanding the working tax credit for low-income individuals;
2. reducing the claw-back rate for seniors on Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) and Employment Insurance (EI) recipients who return to the labour force; and
3. reducing the statutory personal income tax rate.

RECOMMENDATION 4: (p. 45)

That the Government of Canada work with the provincial and territorial governments to implement early childcare and early learning systems with the aim of reducing barriers to parents, particularly women, who choose to be in the workforce.

RECOMMENDATION 5: (p. 45)

That the Government of Canada work with the provinces and professional organizations to streamline the entry of foreign workers into the labour force, with the goal to commence, and if possible to complete, the process of recognition of foreign credentials in the country of origin.

RECOMMENDATION 6: (p. 46)

That the Government of Canada provide tax credits and/or other measures to companies providing employer-financed training and apprenticeships to their employees.

RECOMMENDATION 7: (p. 47)

That the Government of Canada introduce measures into the income tax system that would allow self-employed Canadians with highly variable incomes to average their incomes over several years.

RECOMMENDATION 8: (p. 47)

That the Government of Canada continue to reduce the federal corporate tax rate.

RECOMMENDATION 9: (p. 48)

That the Government of Canada reinstate the Goods and Services Tax (GST) rebate for foreign visitors and promote this rebate to visitors upon entry into Canada.

RECOMMENDATION 10: (p. 48)

That the Government of Canada remove the Goods and Services Tax (GST) on books.

RECOMMENDATION 11: (p. 48)

That the Government of Canada develop a services sector innovation strategy.

RECOMMENDATION 12: (p. 50)

That the Government of Canada improve the Scientific Research and Experimental Development (SR&ED) Tax Incentive Program to make it more accessible and relevant to Canadian businesses.

RECOMMENDATION 13: (p. 51)

That the Government of Canada vigorously enforce intellectual property, anti-counterfeiting and anti-piracy legislation.

RECOMMENDATION 14: (p. 51)

That the Government of Canada introduce an information technology investment tax credit for small businesses.

RECOMMENDATION 15: (p. 52)

That the Government of Canada should take a leadership role and encourage the provinces to bring down inter-provincial trade, investment and labour mobility barriers.

RECOMMENDATION 16: (p. 53)

That the Government of Canada study and review regulations that govern the movement of marine containers (i.e., cabotage regulations) such as the requirement that incoming containers exit via the same port within 30 days.

RECOMMENDATION 17: (p. 53)

That the Government of Canada increase efforts in partnership with the provinces and municipalities to invest in transportation, water and sewage infrastructure.

RECOMMENDATION 18: (p. 53)

That the Government of Canada encourage border and immigration officials to be welcoming to people entering Canada.

RECOMMENDATION 19: (p. 54)

That the Government of Canada continue to invest substantially in infrastructure to reduce delays at Canada-U.S. border crossings and all points of entry, and ensure new passport rules are implemented seamlessly.

RECOMMENDATION 20: (p. 54)

That the Government of Canada continue to ensure that staff in foreign missions has the expertise, knowledge and resources to promote the services sector.

RECOMMENDATION 21: (p. 54)

That the Government of Canada seek further favourable and comprehensive bilateral and multilateral trade agreements that would include services sector obligations.

RECOMMENDATION 22: (p. 55)

That the Government of Canada pursue more open skies agreements to the benefit of Canadians.

RECOMMENDATION 23: (p. 56)

That the Government of Canada increase efforts to provide regulation that promote Canadian ownership and Canadian content in media.

RECOMMENDATION 24: (p. 57)

That the Government of Canada ensure health care workers offering services to First Nations, Inuit and Métis people be appropriately culturally educated; and

RECOMMENDATION 25: (p. 57)

That the Government of Canada work with provincial and territorial governments to improve the retention of health care workers providing services to First Nations, Inuit and Métis.