The Conservative government unveiled its top priorities for the upcoming parliamentary session Tuesday night, promising major tax cuts, a vote to extend the Afghan mission until at least 2011 and new crime legislation.

In speech, the Tories called for multi-year tax cuts for individuals and businesses, and a one percentage point cut in the GST.

During the last federal election campaign, the Conservatives promised to cut two percentage points from the GST by 2010. The first cut took effect in June 2006.

The government pledged to “bring forward a long-term plan of broad-based tax relief for individuals, businesses and families.”

The speech said Canada should stay directly involved in Afghanistan until at least 2011.

The speech tied Canada’s exit strategy to the training of Afghan security forces, including the army and police.

The Conservatives will also introduce a new Tackling Violent Crime bill that will include measures on impaired driving, age of sexual consent, stricter bail conditions, and mandatory prison terms for gun crimes.

The speech marks the beginning of the fall session in Parliament, after a nearly four-month break that began June 21.

Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion has yet to announce whether he will support the speech – already opposed by NDP leader Jack Layton and Bloc Québécois Leader Gilles Duceppe.