'Affordable, responsible and fits inside a balanced budget, each and every year.'

Hamilton (12 Jan. 2006) – New Democratic Party Leader Jack Layton has released the party's Jan. 23 election platform, pledging that it will produce results for people in the next parliament.

The NDP plan outlines action to help youth and seniors, protect and improve public health care, and a plan to clean up politics and keep budgets balanced while preventing any tax increases.

“Our plan to address these issues is affordable, responsible and fits inside a balanced budget, each and every year,” Layton said Wednesday in Hamilton. “The federal government has enough money and doesn’t need to raise its taxes to do its job.”

The comprehensive document platform includes:

• Help for seniors to stay independent as long as possible with improvements to home care and the creation of long-term care spaces so that quality care will be available when it is needed.
• Helping children get a good start in life with investment in the child benefit to reduce child poverty and more quality child care spaces along with legislation to ensure national standards for quality child care.
• Building opportunities by ensuring young people get the education they need without being burdened with huge debts.
• Legislation to stop the spread of private, for-profit health care and concrete improvements in the health care system including first steps towards a National Prescription Drug Plan and training more health care providers such as nurses and doctors.
• Cleaning up government with legislation to ensure politicians can be held accountable and reforming our democracy with a proposal to improve Canada’s electoral system.

“I’m calling on Canadians to reject the threats and manipulation of the Liberal Party, and the reckless promises of the Conservative Party,” Layton said. “Canadians have a better choice. You have a third option. You can vote for change that puts working families first. You can vote NDP.” NUPGE

More information:
Full Details - The NDP Platform [1]