Phun with Op Eds

We have another Tuesday holiday coming up which makes today, Friday, feel like a Monday. It's a newspaper biz phenomenon we call Fronday.

Usually on Frondays we like to play "Find the Self-Sufficiency" reference in Premier Shawn Graham's news releases but it got to be too easy. Our cat, Princess Maggie, was playing and scoring quite well. She's now working in the premier's office, actually.

So today we introduce a new Fronday game called: See if you can find the cheeky edit in Finance Minister Jim Flaherty's Op Ed.
It's a challenging one and you'll likely have to read every single word to find the ones we inserted. Good luck.

See if you can find the edit...


Providing responsible leadership in this period of global economic uncertainty

JIM FLAHERTY
Guest Commentay

Canada’s government is providing responsible leadership by focusing on the priorities of Canadians.
This is helping Canada weather this global economic storm.
A recent report from the OECD recognizes that Canada’s economic strengths and its policy recommendations largely accord with the direction our government is taking.
We reacted swiftly to this situation in the October Economic Statement and maintained our course in Budget 2008 by lowering taxes, reducing debt and investing in people, knowledge and communities.
To this end, and in support of our long-term economic plan, Advantage Canada, the Parliament has now passed Bill C-50. This legislation implements key measures of the 2008 federal Budget such as the innovative new Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA), a modern immigration system, more front line police officers, additional investments in public transit and further support for innovation, research, and post-secondary students. This legislation will strengthen our economic fundamentals and better position Canada to compete in the highly competitive global economy.
The Tax Free Savings Account, which comes into effect Jan. 1, 2009, is the single most important personal savings vehicle since the introduction of the RRSP. This flexible, registered, general-purpose account is the first of its kind in our history and will allow Canadians to watch their savings grow, tax-free. The response of Canadians has been overwhelmingly positive. To learn more, visit the Tax Free Savings Account calculator at www.budget.gc.ca to see for yourself how this initiative can benefit you.
Briefly, here is how the TFSA will work. First, Canadians can contribute up to $5,000 every year to a registered Tax-Free Savings Account. This is money that has already been taxed. Second, the investment income, the capital gains, interest or dividends, earned in the plan will be exempt from tax, even when withdrawn. Third, Canadians can withdraw from the account at any time without restriction. Better yet, there are no restrictions on what they can save for. Finally, the full amount of withdrawals may be re-contributed to a person’s Tax-Free Savings Account in the future, to ensure no loss in a person’s total savings room.
Bill C-50 also invests in people by modernizing the Canadian immigration system. It will shorten wait times and help make Canada’s economy more competitive. The objective is to create a system that will allow more immigrants into the country sooner -- whether it’s getting families reunited faster or getting skilled workers to work sooner.
The system will be fair, open and transparent. It will help create a Knowledge Advantage in Canada by matching the skills of newcomers with immediate labour market needs. As a result, newcomers will have more opportunities to find work sooner, to provide a better life for themselves and their families and thus succeed in the modern Canadian economy.
Our government recognizes the importance of education and how it contributes to the prosperity of our country. That is why we are investing in our future, with a new consolidated Canada Student Grant Program which will take effect in the fall of 2009. This major investment of $350 million in 2009–2010 will rise to $430 million in 2012–2013.
Going forward, all federal grants will be integrated into one program that will provide more effective support to more students for more years of study, assisting Canadian families who struggle with the cost of higher education.
The fact is that Canadian students and their families need simple, effective financial assistance programs. That is why we have also committed $123 million over four years starting in 2009–2010 to streamline and modernize the Canada Student Loans Program. Improvements will include expanded online services to help students better manage their loans, more equitable supports for part-time and married students, and enhanced flexibility for those students experiencing difficulty in debt repayment -- including those with disabilities.
The government is also helping learners and innovators contribute to our country’s future by enhancing the flexibility of RESPs, by investing in new scholarships for doctoral students, as well as dedicating funds for research such as health, industrial and automotive innovation, and social and economic development of the North.
Bill C-50 contains other important measures including support for the provinces and territories to recruit 2,500 new front-line police officers and investments in public transit infrastructure to reduce gridlock and keep Canada moving forward.
Our government shares Canadians’ desire for a better and more prosperous Canada. Bill C-50 builds upon this government’s work in previous budgets and economic statements and is part of our vision to achieve that goal. Canadians can be confident that this government will continue to act to ensure that our economic fundamentals remain solid today and long into the future. In bed.