Boost to GST credit, rent support and dental benefit to be first bills when Parliament returns: Trudeau
2022. 9. 14. 07:11ㆍ■ 국제/CANADA
Boost to GST credit, rent support and dental benefit to be first bills when Parliament returns: Trudeau (msn.com)
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Boost to GST credit, rent support and dental benefit to be first bills when Parliament returns: Trudeau
Anja Karadeglija - 1h ago
OTTAWA — The Liberal government will introduce legislation to double the GST credit for six months, provide direct payments for dental care for uninsured children under 12, and give a one-time $500 top-up to the Canada Housing Benefit for low-income renters.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau delivers a speech during the Liberal summer caucus retreat in St. Andrews, N.B., Monday, Sept. 12.© Provided by National Post
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau insisted the measures, targeted to low-income Canadians, won’t contribute to rising inflation.
“These are things that will make a difference in people’s lives right now. But they are also sufficiently targeted, that we are confident that they will not contribute to increased inflation,” he said, speaking at a press conference Tuesday from Saint Andrews, N.B., where the Liberal caucus is meeting this week. He said the new initiatives would affect “millions of Canadians.”
The announcement comes after months in which Pierre Poilievre — who became Conservative leader Saturday — has been attacking Trudeau over rising inflation, while the NDP has been calling for the Liberals to implement the measures, with the NDP-Liberal supply and confidence agreement as leverage.
Poilievre said Tuesday the “problem is the money will be vaporized by inflation.” He gave the example of the housing benefit, which will provide a one-time payment of $500 when average rents in big cities can be more than $2,000 a month. Poilievre said the government should be taking measures to counter inflation rather than “trying to spend more money to make the problem worse.”
The Liberals were wary of introducing too much money into the economy to avoid driving up demand and inflation. They were warned against it by several economists, including just last week by CIBC World Markets chief economist Avery Shenfeld.
Inflation appears to have peaked in June, reaching a 40-year high of 9.1 per cent. It fell to 8.3 per cent in August, largely as a result of lower gas prices.
The Liberals initially planned to unveil the new announcements last week, but postponed it following the death of Queen Elizabeth II on Thursday.
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Trudeau outlines $4.5B affordability plan that includes dental care