The holiday consumer relief package promised by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has been split in half.
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh says his party is only willing to support passage of the two-month goods and services tax/harmonized sales tax (GST/HST) portion of the affordability policy announcement. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Chrystia Freeland introduced the bill on Wednesday. We are trying to enact such measures.
“We urge the Liberal government to first introduce a separate GST holiday, then amend the checks to include seniors and people with disabilities,” NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh said ahead of question period. I am asking you to support that.”
Bill, C-78, only 5 pages long It seeks to amend the excise tax law “to implement a temporary GST/HST holiday” on items such as children’s clothing and diapers, beer and wine, restaurant and prepared meals, and common stocking stuffers. December 14 and February 15, 2025.
The concession comes after Singh, who was briefed on Trudeau’s major affordability announcements before they were announced last week, said that not all seniors, students and other non-working Canadians This was done after he stated that he was not aware of it and withdrew his full support. Eligible for the Working Canadian Rebate.
The move also leaves Trudeau’s promise to pay new $250 benefits to 18.7 million workers in limbo, as it still needs to be enacted into law.
“The people desperately needed relief, and the NDP won them a little help,” Singh said in a statement after introducing the bill. “The GST/HST holiday will be passed tomorrow night…The NDP also supports giving $250 checks to people, but the Liberals are determined to include the most vulnerable people who need it. If we agree, we will pass it at a later date.”
All eyes on the House of Representatives
The NDP said it is prepared to take the necessary steps to expedite passage of the package in the otherwise stalled House of Commons if the Liberals choose this route.
NDP House of Commons Leader Peter Julian told reporters Wednesday that if the Liberals introduced a bill of their choice, it would help clear the way in the House of Commons.
“One gate is about the order of the day. The second gate holds the privilege motion for a day. The third gate is the second privilege motion. The fourth gate is about the order of the day. “And the fifth gate is the actual motion of the special motion itself,” Julien said.
That process began Wednesday night. Government House of Commons Leader Karina Gould tabled a motion that, if passed, would allow the bill to pass quickly.
The motion itself is currently under debate and could take some time. The Liberals and NDP have already given MPs the power to do so by potentially burning the midnight oil and sitting late on Wednesday and Thursday.
The motion stipulates that only one MP from each recognized political party and the Green Party can speak on the GST bill for up to 10 minutes during second reading. Voting will then take place.
If Bill C-78 passes that stage, it will be immediately referred to the full committee, reported without amendments, agreed at reporting stage, and sent to the House of Lords for third reading.
Brock also wants expanded eligibility.
In recent days, it has become clear that the NDP is not alone in wanting changes to the checks, and without support from other parties the Liberals won’t have the votes they need to pass that part of the package. .
Expressing similar concerns, the Bloc Quebecois took retirees to the Hill on Wednesday, reversing course after the premier ignored separatist demands for $3 billion in expanded retirement security payments. I put pressure on him.
“We do not like the policy of giving $250 checks to people with incomes as high as $150,000…This money should be used in other ways,” said block leader Yves-François Blanchet. said Wednesday.
As for the GST element, Blanchett said he did not meet anyone at last week’s caucus who agreed with this.
“People, businesses, citizens, elders all seem to be saying this is a policy that is fundamentally based on the idea that the Liberal government can buy votes,” he said.
The GST and HST holiday costs are estimated to be $1.6 billion, and the checks sent out to Canadians who earned less than $150,000 last year will cost $4.7 billion.
The Conservatives have been able to achieve little due to a privileged filibuster linked to fraudulent spending by the now-defunct Green Technology Fund, which they say is inflationary and supports affordability. The government is opposed to the project, saying it is too small to do so.
“Why not have a real election on taxes? He can run with a little tax trick in two months, but I’m running with a common-sense plan to abolish taxes,” Conservative Party leader Pierre Poièvre said during a question-and-answer session. ” he said.
In the ensuing exchange, the premier called on the NDP to change course.
“We know the situation is tough for workers. We must not take anything away from the support we are giving to the elderly and young people. We want to be there for workers, but suddenly the NDP “I don’t understand why,” Trudeau said.
Unable to find a dance partner to back the entire package, the Liberals found themselves in this predicament with plenty of time to cut taxes, as the rebate payments weren’t promised to be implemented until April.
In addition to the pressure on the prime minister and his deputy, several Liberal MPs have also begun to voice their desire for the government to do more to support seniors, if it can afford it.
“We cannot support an affordability package that does not include support for older people.” [and] People with disabilities,” he said. Liberal MP Chad Collins on social media.
Freeland’s office is trying to argue that seniors and disabled Canadians, many of whom are working, are not being unilaterally excluded.
