The HST: Taxing everyday essentials
The HST: Taxing everyday essentials
House of Commons
HANSARD Blues
September 18, 2009
Ms. Libby Davies (Vancouver East, NDP) : Mr. Speaker, increasing taxes on everyday essentials is like to trying to dig oneself out of a hole.
Yet the government is pushing forward with its HST scheme, raising taxes on items like school supplies, home heating and even funerals.
Harmonization will create more harm than good.
Can the government explain how paying higher taxes will help Canadians who are struggling with this recession?
Hon. Tony Clement (Minister of Industry, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, I encourage the hon. member, if she feels very strongly about this, to run for a position in the British Columbia legislature. This is the place that makes these kinds of decisions, as well as the Ontario legislature. Our place is merely to facilitate decisions that have already been made by provincial legislatures. That is our place in this.
Her party, however, whenever it gets a chance, wants to increase taxes, wants to increase the burden on businesses, as well as individuals. That is her record. Thank goodness it is not this government’s record.
Ms. Libby Davies (Vancouver East, NDP) : Mr. Speaker, it is that sort of twisted logic that feeds the cynicism of the public.
The finance minister lobbied B.C. for years to harmonize its sales tax with the GST. Now the minister is trying to convince us that his government has nothing to do with this unpopular tax shift, but Canadians see the $1 billion trail leading to his door.
I would like to ask the finance minister, exactly what date did negotiations with B.C. begin? The people of B.C. would love to know that.
The HST: Taxing everyday essentials
Libby speaking out on fairness for students with disabilities – Libby Davies
Libby speaking out on fairness for students with disabilities
Postsecondary students with disabilities are getting shortchanged with the new income-reporting procedure in applications for federal grants, according to NDP Vancouver East MP Libby Davies. In a letter to the Human Resources and Skills Development Minister Diane Finley (https://libbydavies.ca/parliament/openletter/2009/09/02/fairness-students-disabilities), Davies noted that in the past these students were required to state only their projected income and expenses. However, they are now being asked to cite their gross income as reported in their previous year’s tax return, and that includes grants received from the federal government.
The original article, Federal government reduces grants to disabled students was published on September 16, 2009 in Straight.com. Author(s): Carlito Pablo
Fairness for students with disabilities
Libby and the NDP speaking out against the HST
Libby and the NDP speaking out against the HST
Ms. Libby Davies (Vancouver East, NDP) : Mr. Speaker, it is said there are two certainties in life, death and taxes. This finance minister wants to hit both with his HST scheme.
The B.C. Liberals have foolishly signed on. Now British Columbians will have to pay 7% more for essentials like food, haircuts, vitamins and even funerals.
Why is the Conservative government hellbent on raising taxes at a time when many British Columbians are struggling to pay their bills every day? Why are they foisting this tax on the people of British Columbia?
Hon. Jim Flaherty (Minister of Finance, CPC): Mr. Speaker, the decision by any particular province of whether or not to harmonize is a decision for that provincial government to take. It is not a decision made by the federal government.
The proposal with respect to harmonization has been in the budgets repeatedly. Years ago under the Liberal government, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and other provinces chose to harmonize. Some additional provinces are now making that decision. It is a decision for them to make.
Ms. Chris Charlton (Hamilton Mountain, NDP) : Mr. Speaker, the finance minister wants people to believe that he had nothing to do with raising their taxes, and yet he offered the McGuinty Liberals of Ontario $4.3 billion if they harmonized their sales tax.
That bribe worked and Ontario families will now be paying 8% more on vitamins, transit tickets, power bills and, yes, even funerals.
Increasing the tax burden on hardworking families is simply the wrong approach. Will the finance minister stop playing Ontarians for fools and end this Liberal-Conservative tax grab?
Petition for Libby's National Housing Strategy Bill C-304
Petition for Libby’s National Housing Strategy Bill C-304
Petition for Libby’s National Housing Strategy Bill C-304
Earlier this year, I introduced Bill C-304, a bill for a National Housing Strategy that will bring all levels of government together to enact a plan to increase safe, affordable housing across Canada. The Bill could be voted on as early as this fall. I’m encouraging everyone who supports this bill to download and sign my petition. Together, we can work to end homelessness and housing insecurity in Canada.
Libby