FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DECEMBER 7, 2005

BREITKREUZ OFFICIALLY ‘STANDS UP FOR CANADA’

YORKTON – Garry Breitkreuz, Conservative Party candidate for Yorkton-Melville, provided a look into the future of Canada, Wednesday, as he officially opened his campaign office for the Jan. 23, 2006 election.

“Canadians have grown tired of Paul Martin, this government, and the Liberals’ belief that they are entitled to taxpayer dollars,” Breitkreuz told those attending the Wednesday morning press conference. “The culture of entitlement has to come to an end.”

Breitkreuz was first elected by the constituents of Yorkton-Melville in October 1993, and was re-elected in the 1997, 2000, and 2004 general elections. He was raised and still resides in the Springside area and has first-hand experience in the agriculture industry and as an educator.

“The issues that matter to Canadians have been completely ignored under Liberal rule,” said Breitkreuz. “They have been too busy with damage control. In the three budgets released – the Liberals’ original offering; the ‘coalition budget’, released with the NDP; and the mini-budget, released just prior to the election call – had not one mention of agriculture.”

The Conservative Party has made it clear that they will not govern Canada in the same manner as the Liberals. In just one week, Conservative Party Leader Stephen Harper has put in motion a plan which will help secure the financial future of our nation and its people.

“Lowering the GST to 5%, a treatment-time guarantee, reduced taxes on small business and childcare choices for families – those are real issues with real promises that will benefit all Canadians.”

Breitkreuz, an experienced and well-respected member of the House of Commons, has remained dedicated to the people of Yorkton-Melville, while working to improve Canada as a whole. His annual Agriculture Forum held in Yorkton, for example, provides local agriculture producers the opportunity to hear first hand from high-ranking officials, such as the Minister of Agriculture. The Agriculture Forum is also broadcast across Canada on television. Breitkreuz has also continued to shine a spotlight on the useless gun registry and more recently on the RCMP shortages in detachments, not only in Yorkton-Melville, but across Canada.

Stephen Harper and the Conservative Party of Canada has listened to the priorities of Canadians while setting out party policies and the Conservative government’s plan. Among those key policies:

1. Defending foresters, farmers, and other primary producers against unfounded trade challenges and opening up new markets in the Americas and the Asia-Pacific region.

2. Choice in child care: We will support parents whether they choose formal day care, a babysitter, neighbourhood child care, or having one parent stay at home.

3. Patients: We will deal with the treatment backlogs that the Supreme Court says contravene the Charter of Rights.

4. Seniors: We will help to protect seniors’ hard won gains and ensure better service for seniors.

5. A renewed partnership with the provinces and territories.

6. Ending the wasteful long-gun registry and using the savings to hire more front-line police officers.

7. Dedicate a portion of the gasoline tax to municipalities and towns for roads, bridges and other infrastructure.

8. Increase government accountability. Giving more power and teeth to independent watchdogs like the Auditor General and Ethics Commissioner, protecting whistleblowers from reprisal, and strengthening access to information laws to give citizens the right to know.

“These are only a few of our key policies. More will be released,” said Breitkreuz. “It’s clear we are here for all of Canada, not just certain groups. Stephen Harper has vision for our country that is truly forward looking. We need a real change.”

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