NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh has promised to remove GST from the list of “essential goods” if his party forms the next federal government.
“The new Democratic Party will waive basic necessities and monthly bills,” Singh told an audience at Toronto’s Canadian Club on Thursday.
“We will exempt GST from everyday expenses such as home heating, mobile phone bills, internet bills, supermarket groceries and children’s essentials.”
An accompanying statement from the party said the NDP government would remove GST from “grocery store meals” and “diapers.” GST will also be removed from children’s clothing, the statement said.
Singh said the NDP government would pay for the tax cuts by introducing an “excess profits tax” on large companies that jack up prices to increase profit margins.
“We must now make life more affordable for Canadians,” he said. “We’re going to make CEOs pay for it.”
In September, Mr. Singh announced that his party was ending the supply and confidence agreement it had with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Liberal government.
The agreement, signed between the two parties in March 2022, committed the NDP to supporting the minority Liberal government in a vote of confidence in exchange for legislative commitments on NDP priorities.
The end of the deal means an early federal election is now more likely, but Mr Singh has so far defeated efforts by the Conservatives and the Bloc Quebecois to unseat the Liberals in a no-confidence vote. reluctant to support.
Pharmacare, other programs are also at risk, Singh says
“I won’t let you [Conservative Leader] Pierre Poièvre, ‘King Kat’ or Brock will call the shots,” Singh said last month.
“We will look at every bill that is brought forward, every motion that is brought forward, and consider whether it will help people during this difficult time.”
The NDP’s statement Thursday said electing a Conservative government would jeopardize programs such as dental care, child care and pharmacy.
The NDP made passing the Pharmacare Bill one of the conditions of the Supply and Confidence Agreement.
And while the bill is currently being passed by Congress, no agreements have been reached between the federal government and the states.
It remains unclear whether Poilievre will scrap the plan if he forms a government after the next election.
According to CBC’s poll tracking tool; Currently, support for the Conservatives is 41.6%, the Liberals 23.3% and the NDP 18.4%.
