Monday, March 19, 2007

News Release

From the Prime Minister's Web Site (http://www.pm.gc.ca/)


PRIME MINISTER HARPER WRITES PREMIER LORNE CALVERT ON PLAN TO RESTORE FISCAL BALANCE IN CANADA

March 19, 2007
Ottawa, Ontario

Prime Minister Stephen Harper today wrote Premier Lorne Calvert to outline the benefits for Saskatchewan in the fiscal balance plan set out in Budget 2007.

The plan announced today is based on national principles, while treating each province fairly and meeting the government's commitments.

Prime Minister Harper's letter highlighted the following issues:

  • Our Equalization plan fully meets our commitments on the exclusion of natural resource revenues.

  • Our plan also provides Saskatchewan with protection from any decline in its Canada Social Transfer and Canada Health Transfer payments as a result of the move to equal per capita cash.

  • Saskatchewan will also benefit from our formula for allocating infrastructure transfers. This provides all jurisdictions with floor funding of $25 million per year, in recognition of the particular challenges facing provinces and territories with smaller populations.

    Prime Minister Harper concluded that "I listened carefully to your views on these issues, and assure you and the people of Saskatchewan that our plan delivers important and lasting benefits to them. Indeed, Saskatchewan receives the highest per capita benefits of any province under our plan in 2007-08."

    The Prime Minister's Office - Communications
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    News Release

    From the Prime Minister's Web Site (http://www.pm.gc.ca/)


    PRIME MINISTER HARPER WRITES PREMIER GARY DOER ON PLAN TO RESTORE FISCAL BALANCE IN CANADA

    March 19, 2007
    Ottawa, Ontario

    Prime Minister Stephen Harper today wrote Premier Gary Doer to outline the benefits for Manitoba in the fiscal balance plan set out in Budget 2007.

    The plan announced today is based on national principles, while treating each province fairly and meeting the government's commitments.

    Prime Minister Harper's letter highlighted the following issues:

  • Manitoba will benefit from an Equalization formula based on a ten-province standard.

  • Manitoba will also benefit from our formula for allocating infrastructure transfers. This provides all jurisdictions with floor funding of $25 million per year, in recognition of the particular challenges facing provinces and territories with smaller populations.

    Prime Minister Harper concluded that "our plan delivers important benefits to the people of Manitoba, both now and in the future."
    The Prime Minister's Office - Communications
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    PRIME MINISTER HARPER WRITES GOVERNMENT LEADER DENNIS FENTIE ON PLAN TO RESTORE FISCAL BALANCE IN CANADA

    March 19, 2007
    Ottawa, Ontario

    Prime Minister Stephen Harper today wrote Government Leader Dennis Fentie to outline the benefits for the Yukon in the fiscal balance plan set out in Budget 2007.

    The plan announced today is based on national principles, while treating each province fairly and meeting the government's commitments.

    Prime Minister Harper's letter highlighted the following issues:

  • The fiscal balance plan reforms Territorial Formula Financing to meet the unique needs of the North.

  • The Yukon will also benefit from the new formula for allocating infrastructure transfers. This provides all jurisdictions with floor funding of $25 million per year, in recognition of the particular challenges facing provinces and territories with smaller populations.

    Prime Minister Harper concluded that "our plan delivers important and lasting benefits to the people of the Yukon."

    The Prime Minister's Office - Communications
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    PRIME MINISTER HARPER WRITES PREMIER DALTON MCGUINTY ON PLAN TO RESTORE FISCAL BALANCE IN CANADA

    March 19, 2007
    Ottawa, Ontario

    Prime Minister Stephen Harper today wrote Premier Dalton McGuinty to outline the benefits for Ontario in the fiscal balance plan set out in Budget 2007.

    The plan announced today is based on national principles, while treating each province fairly and meeting the government's commitments.

    Prime Minister Harper's letter highlighted the following issues:

  • The new Equalization formula will include a fiscal capacity cap, "to ensure that an Equalization-receiving province does not end up as a result with a higher fiscal capacity than a non-receiving province.

  • We are also moving to provide fairness to all provinces by legislating equal per capita cash transfers under the Canada Social Transfer immediately, and for the Canada Health Transfer when the Health Accord expires at the end of 2013-14. Together, these measures return federal transfers to the transparent and principled approach that Ontario has long advocated.

  • Budget 2007 also fulfills all federal commitments under the Canada-Ontario Agreement.

  • It also invests new resources in infrastructure of strategic significance to Canada's future, such as the Windsor-Detroit corridor.

    Prime Minister Harper concluded that "our plan delivers important benefits to the people of Ontario, both now and in the future. The combination of the move to equal cash per capita under the Canada Social Transfer, the EcoTrust, new funding for child care spaces, the patient wait times guarantee trust, the Infoway funding, as well as the pay-out of commitments under the Canada-Ontario Agreement should mean over $2 billion in new funding for Ontario before the end of 2007-08."
    The Prime Minister's Office - Communications
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    PRIME MINISTER HARPER WRITES PREMIER SHAWN GRAHAM ON PLAN TO RESTORE FISCAL BALANCE IN CANADA

    March 19, 2007
    Ottawa, Ontario

    Prime Minister Stephen Harper today wrote Premier Shawn Graham to outline the benefits for New Brunswick in the fiscal balance plan set out in Budget 2007.

    The plan announced today is based on national principles, while treating each province fairly and meeting the government's commitments.

    Prime Minister Harper's letter highlighted the following issues:

  • New Brunswick will benefit from an Equalization formula based on a ten-province standard.

  • New Brunswick will also benefit from our formula for allocating infrastructure transfers. This provides all jurisdictions with floor funding of $25 million per year, in recognition of the particular challenges facing provinces and territories with smaller populations.

    Prime Minister Harper concluded that "our plan delivers important benefits to the people of New Brunswick, both now and in the future."

    The Prime Minister's Office - Communications
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    PRIME MINISTER HARPER WRITES PREMIER JEAN CHAREST ON PLAN TO RESTORE FISCAL BALANCE IN CANADA

    March 19, 2007
    Ottawa, Ontario

    Prime Minister Stephen Harper today wrote Premier Jean Charest to outline the benefits for Quebec in the historic fiscal balance plan set out in Budget 2007.

    Prime Minister Harper's letter highlighted the following issues:

  • Quebec will benefit from an Equalization formula based on a ten-province standard and a new approach to property tax Equalization that Quebec has long advocated.

  • Our plan also reflects my Government's strong commitment to a federalism of openness and respect for provincial jurisdiction, notably by limiting the use of the federal spending power.

  • Quebec will also benefit from a move to predictable, long-term transfers, and from significant new investments in post-secondary education, child care, labour market training, infrastructure and initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution.

    Prime Minister Harper concluded that "our plan delivers important benefits to the people of Quebec. Quebec will have access to incremental federal funding of close to $2.2 billion by the end of 2007-08."
    The Prime Minister's Office - Communications
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    PRIME MINISTER HARPER WRITES PREMIER PATRICK BINNS ON PLAN TO RESTORE FISCAL BALANCE IN CANADA

    March 19, 2007
    Ottawa, Ontario

    Prime Minister Stephen Harper today wrote Premier Patrick Binns to outline the benefits for Prince Edward Island in the fiscal balance plan set out in Budget 2007.

    The plan announced today is based on national principles, while treating each province fairly and meeting the government's commitments.

    Prime Minister Harper's letter highlighted the following issues:

  • Prince Edward Island will benefit from an Equalization formula based on a ten-province standard.

  • Prince Edward Island will also benefit from our formula for allocating infrastructure transfers. This provides all jurisdictions with floor funding of $25 million per year, in recognition of the particular challenges facing provinces and territories with smaller populations.

    Prime Minister Harper concluded that "our plan delivers important benefits to the people of Prince Edward Island, both now and in the future."

    The Prime Minister's Office - Communications
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    PRIME MINISTER HARPER WRITES PREMIER GORDON CAMPBELL ON PLAN TO RESTORE FISCAL BALANCE IN CANADA

    March 19, 2007
    Ottawa, Ontario

    The plan announced today is based on national principles, while treating each province fairly and meeting the government's commitments.

    Prime Minister Harper's letter highlighted the following issues:

  • The fiscal balance plan meets the Government's commitments regarding the treatment of natural resource revenues.

  • The fiscal balance plan protects British Columbia with a number of transition provisions related to Equalization, the Canada Social Transfer and the Canada Health Transfer.

  • Budget 2007 also recognizes the need to invest more in infrastructure of national importance, and specifically commits to increase the Government's support for the Asia-Pacific Gateway by $1 billion.

    Prime Minister Harper concluded that "our plan delivers important and lasting benefits to the people of British Columbia."
    The Prime Minister's Office - Communications
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    PRIME MINISTER HARPER WRITES PREMIER ED STELMACH ON PLAN TO RESTORE FISCAL BALANCE IN CANADA

    March 19, 2007
    Ottawa, Ontario

    Prime Minister Stephen Harper today wrote Premier Ed Stelmach to outline the benefits for Alberta in the fiscal balance plan set out in Budget 2007.

    The plan announced today is based on national principles, while treating each province fairly and meeting the government's commitments.

    Prime Minister Harper's letter highlighted the following issues:

  • The fiscal balance plan draws on the Report of the Expert Panel, chaired by Mr. Al O'Brien, the former Deputy Treasurer of Alberta.

  • The fiscal balance plan meets the Government's commitments regarding the treatment of natural resource revenues.

  • The fiscal balance plans provides fairness to all provinces by legislating equal per capita cash transfers under the Canada Social Transfer immediately, and for the Canada Health Transfer when the Health Accord expires at the end of 2013-14. Together, these measures return federal transfers to the transparent and principled approach that Alberta has long advocated.

    Prime Minister Harper concluded that "our plan delivers important benefits to the people of Alberta, both now and in the future."
    The Prime Minister's Office - Communications
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    PRIME MINISTER HARPER WRITES GOVERNMENT LEADER PAUL OKALIK ON PLAN TO RESTORE FISCAL BALANCE IN CANADA

    March 19, 2007
    Ottawa, Ontario

    Prime Minister Stephen Harper today wrote Government Leader Paul Okalik to outline the benefits for Nunavut in the fiscal balance plan set out in Budget 2007.

    The plan announced today is based on national principles, while treating each province fairly and meeting the government's commitments.

    Prime Minister Harper's letter highlighted the following issues:

  • The fiscal balance plan reforms Territorial Formula Financing to meet the unique needs of the North.

  • Nunavut will also benefit from the new formula for allocating infrastructure transfers. This provides all jurisdictions with floor funding of $25 million per year, in recognition of the particular challenges facing provinces and territories with smaller populations.

    Prime Minister Harper concluded that "our plan delivers important and lasting benefits to the people of Nunavut."

    The Prime Minister's Office - Communications
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    PRIME MINISTER HARPER WRITES GOVERNMENT LEADER JOSEPH HANDLEY ON PLAN TO RESTORE FISCAL BALANCE IN CANADA

    March 19, 2007
    Ottawa, Ontario

    Prime Minister Stephen Harper today wrote Government Leader Joseph Handley to outline the benefits for the Northwest Territories in the fiscal balance plan set out in Budget 2007.

    The plan announced today is based on national principles, while treating each province fairly and meeting the government's commitments.

    Prime Minister Harper's letter highlighted the following issues:

    • The fiscal balance plan reforms Territorial Formula Financing to meet the unique needs of the North.

    • The Northwest Territories will also benefit from the new formula for allocating infrastructure transfers. This provides all jurisdictions with floor funding of $25 million per year, in recognition of the particular challenges facing provinces and territories with smaller populations.

    Prime Minister Harper concluded that "our plan delivers important and lasting benefits to the people of the Northwest Territories."
    The Prime Minister's Office - Communications
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    PRIME MINISTER HARPER WRITES PREMIER RODNEY MACDONALD ON PLAN TO RESTORE FISCAL BALANCE IN CANADA

    March 19, 2007
    Ottawa, Ontario

    Prime Minister Stephen Harper today wrote Premier Rodney MacDonald to outline the benefits for Nova Scotia in the fiscal balance plan set out in Budget 2007.

    The plan announced today is based on national principles, while treating each province fairly and meeting the government's commitments.

    Prime Minister Harper's letter highlighted the following issues:

  • Nova Scotia will continue to receive the full benefits provided under its offshore Accord, without a cap, while keeping the Equalization regime it had when it signed those Accords.

  • The province will have the right to opt into the new Equalization regime permanently at any time it chooses to do so in the future.

  • Our formula for allocating infrastructure transfers provides all jurisdictions with floor funding of $25 million per year. This recognizes the particular challenges facing provinces and territories with smaller populations.

  • The national infrastructure program announced in Budget 2007 also contains a component for nationally significant infrastructure – including gateways and I encourage you to continue to work with my Ministers to further develop the Atlantic Gateway concept.

    Prime Minister Harper concluded that "our plan delivers what we promised to the people of Nova Scotia."
    The Prime Minister's Office - Communications
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    PRIME MINISTER HARPER WRITES PREMIER DANNY WILLIAMS ON PLAN TO RESTORE FISCAL BALANCE IN CANADA

    March 19, 2007
    Ottawa, Ontario

    Prime Minister Stephen Harper today wrote Premier Danny Williams to outline the benefits for Newfoundland and Labrador in the fiscal balance plan set out in Budget 2007.

    The plan announced today is based on national principles, while treating each province fairly and meeting the government's commitments.

    Prime Minister Harper's letter highlighted the following issues:

  • Newfoundland and Labrador will continue to receive the full benefits provided under its offshore Accord, without a cap, while keeping the Equalization regime it had when it signed those Accords.

  • The province will have the right to opt into the new Equalization regime permanently at any time it chooses to do so in the future.

  • Our formula for allocating infrastructure transfers provides all jurisdictions with floor funding of $25 million per year. This recognizes the particular challenges facing provinces and territories with smaller populations.

    Prime Minister Harper concluded that "our plan delivers what we promised to the people of Newfoundland and Labrador."
    The Prime Minister's Office - Communications
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