Conservatives get things done in productive Spring Sitting of Parliament
by Hon. Peter Van Loan, MP York-Simcoe

Back in January, Canada's New Government laid out the priorities for the spring sitting of parliament.

We promised a budget that would continue to reduce taxes, keep spending focused on results, and restore fiscal balance.

We said we would continue tackling crime to improve public safety;

Continue reforming our political institutions to make them more democratic and accountable;

Continue working to restore Canada's role as a major contributor on the world stage;

And continue developing a comprehensive and realistic plan for controlling and reducing air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.

And at the end of the spring sitting, I'm pleased to say we have made progress on all those priorities.

We passed 26 bills into law this spring, including 13 that received royal assent.

The centerpiece of the Government's spring agenda was the 2007 Budget. Its passage marked the first time in 40 years that a minority government has passed a second consecutive budget.

Budget 2007 restores fiscal balance in Canada, cuts taxes for working families, implements the tax fairness plan including $1 billion in tax relief for seniors, reduces the national debt, and invests in key priorities like improving health care and environmental protection.

We've also made progress on criminal justice reform:

We have eliminated house arrest for people who commit serious, violent crimes;

Created stiff sentences for street racers who hurt innocent bystanders; and

Made it harder for gangsters and terrorists to launder dirty money and finance their criminal operations.

Unfortunately, the unaccountable, Liberal-dominated Senate refused to pass several important crime bills and effectively killed Bill S-4, legislation that would reduce maximum terms of Senators from 45 years down to eight years.

Canadians want safe streets and accountable legislators, and they won't stand for an institution that stands in their way.

Canadians want this minority parliament to continue getting things done for Canadian taxpayers and for all our families.

Our country is more prosperous, stronger and more united than it's been in 30 years.

My job, and the job of all of us in parliament, is to keep building on this success.