Mike Lake

Slower phase-down, production first

The other end of this axis: Faster fossil phase-down

Repeatedly criticizes Liberal environmental record and opposes carbon tax.

Today, faced with at least $60 billion in scattered spending promises they have no idea how to pay for, the Liberals appear set to announce guess what? A carbon tax. Meanwhile, Canadians from coast to coast will be asking the same question: “Honey, what's that guy with the green scarf doing to our milk cow?”

Higher spending and more capability

The other end of this axis: Restrain spending and deployments

Supports Arctic sovereignty operations, training facilities, and rebuilding the Canadian Forces with new equipment.

The government is committed to implementing the Canada first defence strategy to ensure that the Canadian Forces have the people, equipment infrastructure and readiness necessary to defend Canada and Canadian interests now and well into the future. Canadians can take pride in having one of the most professional and best-trained militaries in the world.

Expand production and export

The other end of this axis: Restrict new oil and gas

Highlights positive economic impact of oil sands across Canada.

One of the issues that gets brought up fairly regularly in our area is the impact the oil sands have, and maybe more broadly the oil and gas sector, not just in northern Alberta but across the country in terms of economic impact. Maybe you could speak to that for a moment in terms of jobs created across the country and in terms of economic impact.

Provinces lead

The other end of this axis: Ottawa leads

States that funding treatment programs like autism is a provincial responsibility.

When it comes to the funding of treatment programs, like autism or any other health related disorders or diseases, they are provincial responsibilities. The role the federal government plays is what we are doing in terms of correcting things like the fiscal imbalance that has been allowed to grow over the last few years and to clarify the roles of the provinces versus the roles of the federal government.

Lower taxes and tighter spending

The other end of this axis: Higher taxes and public spending

Repeatedly advocates tax relief, debt paydown and opposes new spending promises.

The bottom line is this: since taking office we have paid down the debt by $22.4 billion and at the same time provided $37.8 billion in tax relief for families and individuals. When it comes to tax relief, Canadians finally have a leader and a government that knows how to get the job done.

Assertive alliances and sanctions

The other end of this axis: Alliance restraint

Supports foreign investment, FIPAs, and stronger measures against foreign interference.

Canada has signed foreign investment promotion and protection agreements, or FIPAs, with numerous countries, including a recent agreement with the People's Republic of China, which help connect our firms to the rest of the world and create a stable, secure environment for two-way investment between Canada and other countries. FIPAs accomplish their objectives by setting out the respective rights and obligations of the countries that are signatories to the treaty with respect to the treatment of foreign investment.

More flexibility for employers

The other end of this axis: Stronger unions and standards

Opposes bans on replacement workers and stresses balance favoring employer options in strikes.

I take a little bit of contention with the overall terminology that I hear regarding labour in general, like the term “workers”.

Enforcement and sentencing

The other end of this axis: Prevention and restraint

Calls for treating serious crime seriously with mandatory minimum sentences.

It is time to treat serious crime seriously. It sounds so ridiculously simple and yet we are constantly hearing about violent criminals receiving short or conditional sentences, often only to reoffend when they should still be in prison. That is clearly unacceptable.