Harper reinforces priorities while Martin ducks his past record

January 9, 2006

MONTREAL – Conservative Party leader Stephen Harper demonstrated tonight that Canada will be better served by a new Conservative government focused on the key priorities of Canadians instead of a tired Liberal government short of new ideas and one mired in RCMP investigations and scandals.

“In the past couple of weeks, two new police investigations into the Liberal government have come to light,” said Mr. Harper. “Clearly another Liberal government will be bogged down in police investigations and public inquiries at the expense of working on the issues affecting all Canadians.”

While Mr. Martin claimed every issue as his first priority, Mr. Harper made clear that he will focus on five key priorities. A Conservative government will pass the Federal Accountability Act, cut the GST, crack down on crime, provide choice in child care, and establish a Patients Wait Times Guarantee.

“Paul Martin’s inability to answer for the Liberal government’s record simply underscored his lack of credibility,” said Harper. “As we’ve already seen during the campaign, Paul Martin makes up policy on the fly as shown again by promising a major constitutional amendment, off the cuff, in the middle of a televised debate.”

On January 23rd, Canada faces a clear choice between stagnation and vision, between old and new, between entitlement and accountability, and between benefits for some Canadians and benefits for all Canadians.

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