The federal government’s five-page bill, which would enact two months of tax breaks on a variety of consumer goods over the holiday period promised by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, is expected to be passed by the House of Commons by the end of the day.
As parliament moves through a tortuous process to pass the bill, Conservative Party leader Pierre Poièvre has confirmed that MPs will vote against the bill, which he said is “not a tax cut”.
“Conservatives will vote against this irresponsible, inflationist…temporary two-month tax trick,” Poièvre told reporters Thursday. “Now is the worst time to spend $6 billion trying to save Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s political life.”
The minority Liberal Party tabled Bill C-78 on Wednesday afternoon, revealing its decision to split the affordability package in the face of political pressure and a ticking clock.
For now, the federal government is focused on suspending the Goods and Services Tax/Harmonized Sales Tax (GST/HST) through this bill, and the promised $250 “Working Canadians Rebate” checks are It remains suspended in the air.
“Today is a good day for the House of Commons, but it’s also a good day for Canadians. We’re voting, we’re debating…very important affordable policies that will make a difference in the lives of Canadians.” the general affairs official said. Karina Gould.
“Pierre Poièvre, leader of the Conservative Party of Canada, will oppose giving Canadians the next few months of furlough,” Gould said. “I think it’s really unfortunate and I think it’s unfair and a bit hypocritical for Conservative leaders to oppose this.”
The move to separate the two finances comes after the federal New Democratic Party threatened to withdraw votes that the Liberals are relying on to break a months-long privileges impasse to make the policy a reality.
“We urge the Liberal government to first introduce a separate GST holiday, then amend the checks to include seniors and people with disabilities, and then move on from that,” NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh told reporters Wednesday. We are asking you to support us,” he said.
In response to Conservative opposition to the bill, Mr. Singh called Mr. Poièvre a “billionaire predator” and “complained about middle-class families saving a little money over the holidays.” “There is,” he accused.
Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland’s office passed $1.6 billion in tax exemptions for items such as children’s clothing and toys, beer and wine, restaurants and prepared meals, and common stocking stuffers. The decision was made to give priority to – to ensure it could be enacted by the promised December 14 start date.
“Canadian families will be able to purchase many holiday purchases without paying GST,” Liberal MP Ryan Turnbull said during a debate on the bill Wednesday night.
“This is a really good thing for Canadian families who have been facing cost-of-living pressures.”
Rebates for workers – which the Liberals say they still intend to continue – aren’t scheduled to go into effect until April, and the current bill doesn’t include them, so the government will have to find a way to pass them. It will take some time. Support of other parties.
Currently, rebates are not available to some elderly people, students, and people with disabilities. Both the NDP and Bloc Quebecois are calling for that to change, saying non-working Canadians should be offered similar economic relief. However, doing so would significantly increase costs beyond the current estimate of $4.7 billion.
The bloc has also expressed concerns about the GST holiday, with Quebec Bloc leader Yves-François Blanchet telling reporters Wednesday that “this could basically allow the Liberal government to try to buy votes.” Everyone seems to be saying that this is a measure based on that idea.” ”
Thursday’s debate on two privilege motions, which have taken up nearly all of the House’s time in recent months, was suspended as the NDP helped clarify the necessary procedural path.
This will allow MPs to focus on the GST bill, first by debating the passed program motion (expected around 9pm ET), and then expediting the bill in the following hours. It will be possible to do so.
If Bill C-78 is to be debated later, it will be the first government bill to be debated in the House of Commons since late September.
When the debate begins, only one person from each officially recognized political party and one person from the Green Party will be allowed to speak during the second reading, and it is expected that they will be able to speak for no more than 10 minutes. After a shorter-than-usual round of questions and comments, voting will take place.
This vote will be the only vote on the bill itself. If passed, the motion provides that the bill be immediately referred to the committee of the whole, reported without amendments, agreed upon at reporting stage, and sent to the Senate for third reading.
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