FINA Committee Report
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LIST OF RECOMMENDATIONS Recommendation The federal government continue with full implementation of current stimulus measures, pay close attention to debt management, engage in meaningful expenditure review and prepare long-term debt reduction plans to be implemented once the global economic recovery is fully entrenched. Moreover, the government should ensure that the Library of Parliament’s Parliamentary Budget Officer has timely and accurate information related to federal tax revenues, program spending and departmental program objectives, provide the Parliamentary Budget Officer with the necessary resources to carry out the mandate of the office effectively, and—as part of the legislation to implement the next federal budget—propose the legislative amendments needed to establish the Parliamentary Budget Officer as an independent officer of Parliament. Recommendation The federal government, recognizing the jurisdiction of the provinces and territories as well as the need to compensate those provinces and territories that decide not to participate in a country-wide measure, implement a national child care plan providing high-quality, affordable and inclusive child care services. This goal should be achieved through federal transfer payments to participating provinces and territories, and the plan should include measurable targets and timelines. Moreover, the government should increase and streamline existing funding for federal “at risk youth” programs, with a view to creating a centralized initiative that would better engage such youth in their communities. The government should also increase funding for Aboriginal friendship centres for the benefit of Aboriginal youth in cities. Recommendation The federal government create a refundable tax credit for new graduates. The proposed tax credit should be available to those who move to designated regions and engage in employment in their field of study. Recommendation The federal government, in respect of the Employment Insurance program, amend the Employment Insurance Act in order to:
Moreover, the government should identify the skilled labour needs of Canada’s small and medium-sized businesses and ensure that Employment Insurance training measures facilitate the acquisition of those skills. Finally, the government should fund job training initiatives that provide individuals with the skills needed to participate in the green economy. Recommendation The federal government amend the Income Tax Act in order to ensure that the disability tax credit is a refundable credit, and examine options to improve labour market supports for those who are disabled or have a chronic disease. Moreover, the government should work with the provincial and territorial governments in the development of a plan to ensure that appropriate, properly funded and equitable immigrant settlement and integration services are available throughout Canada. As well, a plan should be developed to recognize and reconcile the educational and professional qualifications obtained by immigrants in foreign countries. Finally, the government should continue to reduce the landing fee applicable to all new immigrants to Canada. Recommendation The federal government provide increased funding for Guaranteed Income Supplement benefits. Moreover, the government, with provincial and territorial governments, should continue its comprehensive review of the Canadian retirement income system. The focus of the review should include incentives for saving and the extent to which these incentives ensure that the financial and other needs of current and future pensioners, as well as of labour force participants and those who engage in unpaid work, are being—and will continue to be—met. Recommendation The federal government, in respect of both health and education, protect transfers to the provinces and territories. Moreover, while recognizing the jurisdiction of the provinces and territories, the government should help to ensure that all elements of preventative programs designed to improve the health outcomes of Canadians are adequately funded. In particular, the government should continue to promote health prevention, physical fitness and amateur sports through renewed and increased support for initiatives such as Own the Podium and ParticipACTION. Finally, consistent with the jurisdiction of the provinces and territories, the government should invest in health human resources, in particular to ensure access to doctors and nurses in Canadian communities and hospitals where they are most needed. Recommendation The federal government, in partnership with the provinces and territories, explore the development of a national strategy to promote greater emphasis on Canadian education services exports. Recommendation The federal government work with the venture capital industry to identify new sources of financing and examine the effectiveness of existing tax incentives related to financing. Moreover, the government should review the feasibility of increases to the Labour-sponsored funds tax credit to 20% of eligible investments, to a maximum eligible investment of $20,000. Recommendation The federal government simplify the administration of the Scientific Research and Experimental Development investment tax credit, and expand the range of expenditures eligible for the credit to include, for example, the costs of patenting and training employees to work on innovative projects. Moreover, consistent with the jurisdiction of the provinces and territories, the government should increase its support to research through federal granting councils and research agencies as well as for the indirect costs of research. As well, the government should encourage universities and colleges to partner in complementary areas of research and as well as commercialization of research. Finally, the government should, recognizing the jurisdiction of the provinces and territories, create a specialized fund for medical research for children’s health. Recommendation The federal government undertake a comprehensive review of capital cost allowance rates in Canada. Moreover, the accelerated capital cost allowance for manufacturing and processing machinery and equipment should be extended. As well, the government should continue to implement all planned corporate tax rate reductions as scheduled to 2012, ensure that all relevant thresholds related to corporate taxation are changed annually in accordance with increases in the Consumer Price Index, ensure that federal regulations are as simple and modern as possible, and review the federal fiscal implications of allowing consolidated tax reporting. Finally, the government should improve tax fairness and combat tax evasion by strengthening the Canada Revenue Agency’s underground economy initiatives, and should adopt international tax agreements consistent with the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development’s tax haven initiatives. Recommendation The federal government review the Excise Tax Act in order to ensure that domestically produced beverage alcohol is taxed appropriately, extend the Mineral Exploration Tax Credit, and create tax incentives to stimulate investment and growth in the manufacturing industry. Recommendation The federal government encourage the provinces and territories to remove internal barriers to trade. In doing so, priority should be given to reaching agreement concerning a national securities regulator. Moreover, the government should continue to support supply management and all other agricultural exporters during the Doha Round of World Trade Organization negotiations. Furthermore, the government should implement the notion of duty-free purchases for individuals arriving in Canada. Finally, the government should develop and implement proactive policies to expand key sectors of the economy and to support targeted high-value activities. Recommendation The federal government investigate the feasibility of repayable loans, through the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s Direct Lending Program, for affordable housing repair and new affordable housing development. Recommendation The federal government examine the possibility of expanding current traditional and alternative energy programs to include production from forest waste. Moreover, consistent with the jurisdiction of the provinces and territories, the government should implement initiatives designed to encourage the use of electric cars. Initiatives that could be considered include:
Recommendation The federal government work with provincial, territorial and municipal governments in order to develop a strategic approach to resolving the nation’s long-term infrastructure needs. Moreover, the government should augment the existing program for the sharing of a portion of the federal gasoline excise tax revenues with municipalities. Recommendation The federal government continue to ensure increased broadband availability in rural and remote regions of Canada. Moreover, the government should examine measures that could be taken in order to encourage young Canadians to enter the agricultural sector, enhance the Growing Forward Framework, and increase income support for agricultural producers. As well, the government should implement a co-operative investment plan that would include the creation of a tax credit for members or employees of agricultural and employee-owned co-operative businesses that invest in their co-operatives. The government should also establish a $70-million repayable co-operative loan fund. Furthermore, the government should introduce an economic diversification program, similar to the measure eliminated in 2006, in order to support regional economies that have been adversely affected by the forestry crisis. As well, in order to assist companies in modernizing and in surviving the current crisis, the government should implement a loan guarantee program for the forestry sector modelled on the efforts of Investissement Québec. Additionally, the government should introduce a support plan for the fishing industry that would include assistance to the lobster and shrimp industry, assistance for repairs to small-craft harbours and a long-term plan for the fisheries sector. Finally, consistent with the jurisdiction of the provinces and territories, the government should increase the funding available to fire departments through the Joint Emergency Preparedness Program and should ensure that 50% of the funding is used by volunteer fire departments for the purposes of training and the purchase of equipment. Recommendation The federal government ensure that programs for Aboriginal Canadians are designed and delivered in a manner that addresses their health, education, housing, infrastructure, early childhood development and care, and other needs. These programs should respect their rights and governance concerns, be delivered consistent with the Canadian Constitution, be sufficiently flexible to meet their diverse needs, and permit funding allocations that reflect the relatively small population base as well as the size and geographically large and remote nature of their communities. Moreover, the government should revise applicable programs and procedures within Health Canada’s Non-Insured Health Benefits Program for First Nations and Inuit to allow independent dental hygienists to receive payment for the services provided to beneficiaries of these health benefits. Finally, the government should reaffirm its commitment to the British Columbia treaty process, to timely implementation of the West Coast Fisheries Review, and to updated mandates for Canadian negotiators on specific issues hindering treaty completion. Recommendation The federal government examine incentives that would have the effect of increasing the level of charitable giving by businesses and individuals. In particular, the government should consider:
Recommendation The federal government make a commitment to providing increased and sustained funding for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. The government should also provide significant assistance to developing countries, with a view to achieving the Millennium Development Goal of 0.7% of gross national income devoted to Official Development Assistance. Recommendation The federal government make a significant investment in culture, for example by enhancing the Canada Feature Film Fund and the feature-length documentary fund, eliminating the Goods and Services Tax on books, providing a tax exemption for copyright royalties and increasing the budget of the Canada Council for the Arts. Moreover, the government should work with non-national museums with a view to developing a funding strategy for their long-term sustainability. |