Conservative House Leader Andrew Scheer said Pierre Poilievre’s caucus will support the Liberal government’s bill to temporarily double the GST credit.
After days of Tory MPs making comments suggesting they would support the bill, in a CTV Question Period interview, Scheer confirmed that would be the case, saying that “putting taxpayers’ money back in the pockets of Canadians is something that Conservatives have always supported.”
The legislation – Bill C-30, Cost of Living Relief Act No. 1 (Targeted Tax Relief) – was one of two bills introduced by the Liberals last week to implement implementing measures that the government says will help low-to-moderate income families make ends meet in the face of continued inflation and cost-of-living issues.
The bill amends the Income Tax Act to allow the GST credit to be doubled for six months. The government says about 11 million individuals and families would benefit from a boost through the GST rebate hike, which is expected to administer $2.5 billion in additional funding to current recipients before the end of the year. year, if the bill is passed in time.
Adjusted for inflation, the credit is a tax-free payment made four times a year to low- and modest-income individuals and families to help offset the Goods and Services Tax/Harmonized Sales Tax they pay , the amount reimbursed depending on income. .
According to the government, increasing the credit would mean that single Canadians without children would receive up to $234 more; a couple with two children would receive up to $467 more; and seniors, on average, would receive $225 more.
“As we know, inflation is at 40 year highs and Canadian families are really struggling with these deficit fueled inflation numbers driving up the cost of just about everything. So when we looked at it, we said, if inflation keeps going up, it’s going to be another painful few months for Canadians,” Scheer said, explaining the Conservatives’ rationale for backing the project. of law.
“We will oppose new spending items, but support tax cuts,” he said, referring to their decision not to support a second affordability bill that would enact a benefit for dental care as well as a superior benefit. for tenants.
Debate has already begun on both bills, and initial votes to advance them to the next stage of legislative review could take place soon as the Liberals push for both to pass through the Senate and receive assent. royal before the end of the year. The ultimate test of Conservative support will be when they have to stand up in the House and vote for or against.
In a separate interview on CTV’s Question Period, Government House Leader Mark Holland defended the government’s affordability plans as helping those hardest hit by inflation, while criticizing the Tories for calling on the Liberals to cut taxes, suggesting it would increase inflation.
Reacting to the Tories’ refusal to back the dental plan, in a separate interview on Sunday’s show, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh said he was ‘rich’ that Poilievre was not helping more Canadians get dental coverage.
“I’m not surprised the Tories are against it. You know, it’s going to be rich for someone like Pierre Poilievre to stand up for this when he’s been getting free dental care, paid for with public money, since the mid-20s,” Singh said. said. “And he thinks it’s wrong for the rest of the Canadians who don’t have coverage to have coverage? I’d like to see him try to defend that.”