CPAC's Leaders' Tour follows the party Leaders as they campaign across Canada leading up to the federal election on January 23, 2006. In St. John's, N.L., Liberal Party Leader Paul Martin speaks to the St. John's Board of Trade. He discusses the strength of Canada's economy and the Liberal record; the clash of values between the Conservative and the Liberal Parties; the importance of Canadian unity; and the importance of regional development. After speaking, he takes questions from the media. In Ottawa, Conservative Party Leader Stephen Harper announces the Conservatives' childcare policy, which includes providing $1200 directly to parents per year per child under 6. He responds to questions after his announcement. Later in Ottawa, Allan Cutler, the Conservative candidate in the Ottawa South riding and the first whistleblower to bring the Liberal sponsorship scandal to light, introduces Harper. Harper says this election is the beginning of the end of a tired, directionless, scandal-plagued government, and the start of bright new future for Canada. The Liberals have helped themselves, but have not helped Canadians. The Conservatives, however, will bring real change to Ottawa with their “Stand Up for Canada” plan, which involves cutting the GST, cracking down on crime, helping immigrants use their credentials in Canada, offering parents choices in child care, protecting pensions, improving health care, settling the fiscal imbalance with the provinces, and standing up for Canada's trade interests. He also states that if elected Prime Minister, he will put forward a Federal Accountability Act. In Toronto, NDP Leader Jack Layton states that rather than cutting corporate taxes, Canada should invest in long term care, education and skills training, and health care improvements. The NDP candidate for the St. Paul's (Ont.) riding, Paul Summerville, outlines the NDP's three tax commitments in this election: no tax hikes, no broad-based corporate tax cuts, and a prudent, step-by-step approach to lower personal income taxes. Layton takes questions after this announcement. In Montreal, Bloc Quebecois Leader Gilles Duceppe apologizes for saying he hoped the Liberals would disappear from Quebec in this election, saying that he perhaps got carried away, and did not mean for his words to hurt anyone. He also reacts to Harper's daycare plan, saying that Quebec does not want that approach, and wishes Ottawa to honour its daycare agreement with the province. <125mn>
