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Bonnie Brown -- Liberal

Canadians can be proud of our respected banking sector and prudent regulatory framework.

Nonetheless, we are at economic risk from a faltering American economy.

The Liberal election platform addresses this threat on many fronts.

First, a Liberal government under Stéphane Dion is committed to fiscal responsibility with no deficit financing. Government spending has increased by an average of $11 billion over each of the past two years, so our top priority will be to restore fiscal prudence. We will bring spending back under control and set aside a $3-billion rainy day fund as a cushion against unforeseen events.

To ensure that Canada is an attractive place for business to invest, our Green Shift Plan delivers tax cuts to small businesses and corporations and introduces an Accelerated Capital Cost Allowance for green technologies. It also creates a $1-billion Advanced Manufacturing Prosperity Fund to help this struggling sector.

Our proposed Infrastructure program will keep thousands of Canadians employed during downturn, will assist municipalities with their critical needs and thereby reduce pressure on property tax payers.

Diversifying our economic ties is another strategy to insulate Canada from American economic difficulties. To this end, the Liberal Party will re-engage the economic super powers of China and India and pursue a balanced approach to international trade discussions.

Strong social programs are at the heart of the Liberal platform because we recognize their impact on the daily lives of all Canadians. Our strong social safety net also enabled Canada to emerge from the last recession ahead of the United States.

Liberal governments have steered us through difficult times in the past and we are well prepared to do so again.

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Blake Poland -- Green

No country is completely immune from the impact of this credit crunch, as it has rippled from the U.S. through the global economy.

Although we hold many common values with our largest trading partner, and value a strong relationship with the U.S., we also value our sovereignty.

This credit crisis provides a clear example of the need for Canada to protect the independence of our financial regulatory system, along with our progressive social and health programs.

The Green Party strives for stronger local economies with a small business focus, increased national and regional self-sufficiency, economic diversification, more "fair" trade, more value-added manufacturing of resources, more green-certified production and a rapid shift to more renewable energy to create local economic opportunities.

Investing in the future will make us more resilient than investing in the past.

This generation has the potential to capitalize on the single biggest business opportunity human history - the shift to a low-carbon economy.

Whether this is driven by high energy prices, dwindling oil supplies, strategic geo-political threats to foreign oil, the climate crisis, or all of them combined, the country that mobilizes resources to develop and commercialize low carbon technologies (e.g. alternate fuels, renewable energy and energy efficiency) will survive the price shocks of fossil fuel's last gasps and emerge with a thriving economy.

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Terence Young -- Conservative

Over the last two years, the Stephen Harper government has adopted a disciplined and balanced economic approach.

Through lowering taxes, like the GST, the average family now pays $3,000 less in taxes each year -- money it can save or invest back into the economy.

We've also paid down $39 billion in national debt. We are reinvesting billions in infrastructure and strategically in the auto industry and green technologies to create and preserve jobs.

As a result, the Canadian economy remains stable despite global economic uncertainty. Our budget is balanced, our employment rate is still high and interest rates are stable.

As your MP in a re-elected Conservative government, I will work with my caucus colleagues to ensure that Canada's economy remains strong without introducing billions of dollars in new taxes.

We will cut the federal excise tax on diesel fuel in half in order to reduce transportation costs and keep the price of consumer goods down and offer a tax break for first-time homebuyers for up to $5,000 of the closing costs on the purchase of a new home, to boost the construction industry.

Recognizing that small businesses create hundreds of thousands of jobs, a Stephen Harper government will increase the amount of income eligible for the reduced federal small business tax rate to $500,000.

This will allow more small businesses to grow without being bumped into a higher tax bracket. We'll also make it possible for small business owners to opt into the Employment Insurance program to gain benefits such as parental and maternity leave.

Small business owners should be able to follow their dreams as entrepreneurs and as parents. We are offering Canadians economic stability vs. risk.

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Michelle Bilek -- NDP

In the short term, New Democrats will cancel further corporate tax giveaways and save billions being squandered in Afghanistan.

We will invest that money to help Canadians and encourage companies that provide training, energy innovation and green collar jobs; we will also undertake an immediate review of how financial institutions are regulated.

Canadians have been duped. NAFTA is not a "free trade" agreement -- it is a charter of rights for corporations. NAFTA allows Americans and Mexicans to sue us if our governments pass laws that affect their profits. With NAFTA, thousands of Canadian firms have fallen into foreign hands -- wiping out hundreds of thousands of good jobs and eroding national control over key sectors.

New Democrats will re-open NAFTA and work for a fair trade deal to: