On Tuesday, Stephen Harper’s Conservative Government encouraged all Members of Parliament to stand up for law-abiding farmers, hunters and rural Canadians by voting in favour of the “Ending the Long-Gun Registry Act.”

The Harper Government has long-opposed the wasteful and ineffective long-gun registry.

We’ve known all along that it needlessly and unfairly targets law-abiding Canadians while doing nothing to reduce crime or strengthen efforts to keep guns out of the hands of criminals.

Since it was first created, the long-gun registry has wasted taxpayer dollars. This money could have been better spent cracking down on real criminals, not law-abiding farmers and hunters.

Canadians gave the Harper Government a strong mandate to scrap the registry which is why we introduced this legislation.

The Harper Government will continue to take action to help make our streets and communities safer by getting tough on real criminals and not law-abiding farmers, hunters and rural Canadians. To learn more, visit www.scrappedtheregistry.ca.

In a context when the economy is the top priority for Stephen Harper’s Conservative Government, the Harper Government reaffirmed support for Canadian sealers and the sealing industry on Thursday.

By participating in ‘Seal Day on the Hill,’ the Harper Government expressed solidarity with the people who work in this industry.  It is clear that Canada’s seal industry remains a vital and important economic activity for many communities.

That’s why, now is not the time to undermine this industry — especially when there are no reasons from a conservation or commercial standpoint to end the hunt.  Our Conservative Government will continue its record of support for this vital industry.

On Thursday’s ‘Seal Day on the Hill,’ our Government’s Ministers, Senators, and Members of Parliament proudly wore seal pins as a sign of support.

Meanwhile, some Opposition members have been voicing their beliefs on the matter — stating their opinion that the seal hunt is dead.  In doing so, the Opposition is only serving the interests of those who oppose this traditional, sustainable and humane hunt, undermining the livelihoods of thousands of Canadian families.

Canadians can count on our Conservative Government to continue to defend our sealing industry and promote its products domestically and internationally.

On Thursday, Stephen Harper’s Conservative Government reiterated its support for seniors and the future of the Old Age Security (OAS) program — ensuring that seniors will maintain all the benefits they currently receive.

When necessary, any changes to the OAS program will be done with substantial notice, an adjustment period, and in a way that does not affect current retirees or those close to retirement.  Doing so will give Canadians plenty of time to adjust and plan for their retirement.

As for the long-term future of the OAS program, the facts are clear.  A Standard and Poor’s report stated that “...age-related costs — pensions, health care, unemployment insurance and long-term care — would push Canada’s net debt to grow by 260 per cent from 2030 to 2050.”

And a report from the Macdonald-Laurier Institute calculated that “...by 2040 Canada would face a $67 billion deficit (in today’s dollars) based on current policies and demographic change.”

If we do nothing, the OAS program will become too expensive and unsustainable for future generations.

That’s why our Conservative Government is taking action to review the measures now so that retirement income programs, and the seniors who rely on them, are protected in the long-term.

Meanwhile, the Opposition’s irresponsible, reckless, and dangerous approach to Canada’s finances would put the entire OAS program at risk.

Canadians can count on our Government to take a prudent, balanced and responsible approach to make sure OAS remains sustainable for future generations of Canadians.