FACTBOX: Key provisions of Canada coalition agreement
(Reuters) - Following are key provisions of an agreement signed on Monday by Canada's three opposition parties to form a coalition which they hope would displace the minority Conservative government.
HOW THE COALITION WOULD WORK
- The Liberals and New Democratic Party would adhere to the agreement through mid-2011 and the separatist Bloc Quebecois would adhere to it through mid-2010 unless renewed
- During this time, none of the parties will support any non-confidence motions and they will support the government position on financial matters and on the overall policy direction laid out in the Speech from the Throne
- Only the Liberals and the New Democrats would have ministers (18 and six, respectively), but the Bloc says it would help build the budget speech and the throne speech
- Liberal leader Stephane Dion would be prime minister until a new leader for his party is chosen in May
FISCAL PRINCIPLES
- Stimulus would be provided over the next two years, with budget deficits likely
- A return to budget surpluses within four years
ECONOMIC STIMULUS
- Accelerate infrastructure funding and make substantial new investments
- Spend on housing construction and retrofitting
- Invest in key sectors, including manufacturing, forestry and automotive, with any aid contingent on a plan to return these industries to profitability
OTHER FINANCIAL MEASURES
- Cut the minimum required withdrawal from retirement funds by 50 percent, for 2008
- Reform bankruptcy and insolvency laws to better protect pensions Continued...
Taliban may wait out Washington's "endgame"
Washington's hint of an Afghanistan endgame in saying U.S. troops won't still be there in 2017 might help win over a war-weary public, but there is no guarantee a notoriously patient Taliban won't just wait the Americans out. Full Article | Full Coverage



