NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh says he “expects” the Liberals will split their promised multi-billion-dollar affordability package into two bills to guarantee Canadians a GST holiday next month — as he and other opposition leaders push the government to increase the number of Canadians who are eligible for planned $250 rebate cheques.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau last week announced a multi-billion dollar affordability package aimed at alleviating cost-of-living pressures. The first element is a proposed GST holiday on some goods and services — including children’s toys, beer and wine and restaurant meals — from Dec. 14 until just after Valentine’s Day.
Trudeau also announced a plan to send $250 cheques to the 18.7 million people in Canada who worked in 2023 and earned $150,000 or less.
That’s angered some retirees who say they feel abandoned by the government’s latest inflation relief measure.
After first pledging support for the bill, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh now says his party won’t support it unless the cheques are also sent to retirees and people with disabilities who aren’t working.
WATCH: Singh gives Liberals an ultimatum over affordability package
This week he’s been demanding that the GST holiday legislation be separated from the proposed Working Canadians Rebate.
Singh, who ended his governance agreement with the Liberal government earlier this fall, said that while he expects that’s what the Liberals will do, as of Wednesday afternoon he didn’t have confirmation.
“We’re saying let’s get the GST holiday done and people need relief right now. If the Liberals don’t do this, they’re jeopardizing it,” he said.
“We have cleared the path. The steps are in place now to pass the GST holiday right away. Do that and then fix the cheques.”
Bloc Quebecois Leader Yves-François Blanchet also said this week his party will not support the proposal unless the benefit portion is expanded to include seniors.
WATCH | ‘A slap in the face’: NDP says seniors should be eligible for rebate cheques
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has said he wanted to see the specifics of the bill and would discuss it with his caucus Wednesday.
“Our priority is not to save you 10 cents on a bag of potato chips right before quadrupling the carbon tax on your heat, housing, gas and groceries,” he said on Tuesday.
Without another party’s support, the minority Liberal government won’t have enough votes to pass the bill.
‘Canadians are depending on this relief’: Gould
Stopping before the Liberal caucus meeting Wednesday, Liberal House leader Karina Gould would not comment on the plan for the bill before the House, citing parliamentary privilege.
She also did not answer reporters’ questions about whether the government is considering Singh’s demand to deal with the GST break in a separate bill and expand the number of Canadians who would be eligible to receive $250 cheques.
“What I can say is there is very important legislation before the House and I think it’s incumbent upon all members of Parliament to support [it],” Gould said.
“Canadians are depending on this relief over the holidays.”
WATCH | GST holiday: How much are you actually saving?
Liberal MP Ken McDonald, who represents the Newfoundland and Labrador riding of Avalon, said he agrees the bill should be expanded but he’ll still vote for it.
“We’re missing a group that really could use help and that’s those seniors,” he said before caucus on Wednesday.
“The other side of it is, if you vote against it, you’re hurting everybody else that’s supposed to receive it.”
Scarborough—Guildwood Liberal MP John McKay called the bill a “good faith attempt” and said the government has to draw a line when doling out billions of dollars.
“If you can design the policy, I’m interested in talking to you,” he said.
“Every policy that’s designed by any government is going to be imperfect. That’s the nature of the beast.”
The tax holiday would cost the federal treasury an estimated $1.6 billion in foregone revenue. As is, the $250 cheques will cost about $4.68 billion, a Finance official told CBC News.
