Liberals to hike GST rebates, help with rent payments in new affordability plan
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is set to announce an affordability-focused plan that includes new details about the first phase of a national dental care plan, a top up to a housing benefit for renters, and a doubling of the federal GST rebate, sources confirm to 愛污传媒.
While the announcement was scheduled to happen on Thursday, it has been postponed due to Queen Elizabeth II鈥檚 death.
Following through on these commitments would satisfy planks of the government's confidence-and-supply agreement with the New Democrats that were due by the end of the year, and provides the government under pressure to respond to Canadians' affordability concerns something to point to as it wraps up a three-day cabinet meeting in Vancouver.
The plans to unveil these measures were confirmed on the heels of federal ministers stating that the cost of living, and what the federal government could do to address concerns, had been a central topic of the retreat. Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland indicated Wednesday that the government understood that "the most vulnerable in our society need to be supported," while being mindful of not exacerbating inflation.
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh was expected to speak to this plan in a press conference from his party's caucus meeting in Halifax, following the prime minister. However, that has also been postponed.
Singh had signalled that the NDP had been pushing behind the scenes to see these measures implemented, telling reporters that his party was planning to "force" action on dental care, getting more help to people, and housing.
"We've been fighting for this, and we forced the government to deliver," he said on his way into Thursday morning's caucus meeting. "We'll be having more to say afterwards."
DENTAL CARE DETAILS
When the plan is revealed, the prime minister is expected to offer new information about the promised first phase of a national dental care plan, focused on coverage for kids under the age of 12 with a family income of less than $90,000.
The 2022 federal budget earmarked $5.3 billion to Health Canada over the next five years to oversee implementation of the dental care plan.
While only those under 12 years old will get first access, the program will expand to under-18 year olds, seniors, and people living with a disability in 2023. By 2025, it would be available to all Canadian families with incomes of less than $90,000 annually, with no co-pays for anyone earning less than $70,000 in annual income.
With just a few months left before the end of the year and the government already struggling to improve service delivery under pre-existing programs, questions have been raised about how exactly this plan will work. Additional details about this are expected later today.
Asked about the status of this commitment on Wednesday, Singh said he was confident it would come to fruition, and had been working throughout the summer with the government on it. He noted that because they were aware of the tight timeline for the first phase of dental care, the NDP were "open to the way that it's delivered."
"But functionally what should happen by the end of this year, kids that need to get their teeth looked after should be able to do that," Singh said.
HOUSING BENEFIT
The announcement was also expected to include mention of plans to top up the $500 one-time rental support program called the Canada Housing Benefit, for those already receiving it.
Inked into the NDP-Liberal deal, it was included in the 2022 federal budget with promise of details "at a later date."
It is slated to cost $475 million, going to those eligible this year. However, the NDP had suggested it could be renewed in coming years "if cost of living challenges remain."
This pledge was just one of several housing affordability-related commitments made as part of the
GST/HST TAX CREDIT
While not part of the NDP-Liberal deal, Singh has been calling for a GST rebate hike for some time. The coming hike is expected to be temporary, potentially lasting six months.
Adjusted to inflation, the GST/HST credit is a non-taxable payment made four times a year to individuals and families with low and modest incomes, meant to help offset the goods and services tax/harmonized sales tax they pay.
As the , single Canadians with a maximum income of just over $49,000 receive $467 a year. Those who are married or common-law receive a maximum of $612 and an additional $161 is provided for each child under 19, depending on income.
TRUDEAU PLANS TO STICK AROUND
In moving ahead with these plans the Liberals appear to be further securing their deal with the NDP poised to keep Trudeau's government in power until the end of the current Parliament in 2025 with the scheduled general election call. It also comes ahead of a new Conservative Party leader being named this weekend.
According to one senior government source, during Wednesday's cabinet confab, Trudeau reaffirmed his plans to lead the Liberals into the next federal election, as part of remarks about how he was looking forward to getting through and beyond some of the challenges Canada and the world are currently facing, the source said.
This reiteration follows remarks he's made publicly previously, including in March when he announced the confidence-and-supply agreement with the NDP.
"As I鈥檝e said a number of times, I鈥檓 planning on continuing to serve Canadians through and beyond the next election," Trudeau said at the time.
With files from 愛污传媒' Kevin Gallagher and Mike Le Couteur
IN DEPTH
Jagmeet Singh pulls NDP out of deal with Trudeau Liberals, takes aim at Poilievre Conservatives
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh has pulled his party out of the supply-and-confidence agreement that had been helping keep Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's minority Liberals in power.
'Not the result we wanted': Trudeau responds after surprise Conservative byelection win in Liberal stronghold
Conservative candidate Don Stewart winning the closely-watched Toronto-St. Paul's federal byelection, and delivering a stunning upset to Justin Trudeau's candidate Leslie Church in the long-time Liberal riding, has sent political shockwaves through both parties.
'We will go with the majority': Liberals slammed by opposition over proposal to delay next election
The federal Liberal government learned Friday it might have to retreat on a proposal within its electoral reform legislation to delay the next vote by one week, after all opposition parties came out to say they can't support it.
Budget 2024 prioritizes housing while taxing highest earners, deficit projected at $39.8B
In an effort to level the playing field for young people, in the 2024 federal budget, the government is targeting Canada's highest earners with new taxes in order to help offset billions in new spending to enhance the country's housing supply and social supports.
'One of the greatest': Former prime minister Brian Mulroney commemorated at state funeral
Prominent Canadians, political leaders, and family members remembered former prime minister and Progressive Conservative titan Brian Mulroney as an ambitious and compassionate nation-builder at his state funeral on Saturday.
Opinion
opinion Don Martin: Gusher of Liberal spending won't put out the fire in this dumpster
A Hail Mary rehash of the greatest hits from the Trudeau government鈥檚 three-week travelling pony-show, the 2024 federal budget takes aim at reversing the party鈥檚 popularity plunge in the under-40 set, writes political columnist Don Martin. But will it work before the next election?
opinion Don Martin: The doctor Trudeau dumped has a prescription for better health care
Political columnist Don Martin sat down with former federal health minister Jane Philpott, who's on a crusade to help fix Canada's broken health care system, and who declined to take any shots at the prime minister who dumped her from caucus.
opinion Don Martin: Trudeau's seeking shelter from the housing storm he helped create
While Justin Trudeau's recent housing announcements are generally drawing praise from experts, political columnist Don Martin argues there shouldn鈥檛 be any standing ovations for a prime minister who helped caused the problem in the first place.
opinion Don Martin: Poilievre has the field to himself as he races across the country to big crowds
It came to pass on Thursday evening that the confidentially predictable failure of the Official Opposition non-confidence motion went down with 204 Liberal, BQ and NDP nays to 116 Conservative yeas. But forcing Canada into a federal election campaign was never the point.
opinion Don Martin: How a beer break may have doomed the carbon tax hike
When the Liberal government chopped a planned beer excise tax hike to two per cent from 4.5 per cent and froze future increases until after the next election, says political columnist Don Martin, it almost guaranteed a similar carbon tax move in the offing.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING
Canadian musician Jacob Hoggard has been found not guilty of sexually assaulting a young woman in northeastern Ontario eight years ago. The former Hedley frontman had pleaded not guilty to sexual assault.
Police have arrested a Toronto woman in connection with three recent homicides and investigators say that they believe two of the victims may have been 'randomly targeted.'
Following child's death in Ontario, here's what you need to know about rabies
An Ontario child died last month after coming into contact with a rabid bat in their bedroom, which was the first known human rabies case in Canada since 2019.
NDP house leader laments 'agents of chaos' in precarious Parliament
NDP House leader Peter Julian says there's more his party wants to do in Parliament before the next election, but if the current dysfunction continues it will become a factor in how they vote on a confidence measure.
Former Colorado county clerk Tina Peters sentenced to 9 years for voting data scheme
A judge ripped into a Colorado county clerk for her crimes and lies before sentencing her Thursday to nine years behind bars for a data-breach scheme spawned from the rampant false claims about voting machine fraud in the 2020 presidential race.
A northeastern Ontario jury has started deliberating in Canadian musician Jacob Hoggard's sexual assault trial, we can now tell you what they weren't allowed to hear.
A teen charged with the murder of another teen on Prince Edward Island last year has pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of manslaughter.
A French judge in a shocking rape case allows the public to see some of the video evidence
A French judge in the trial of dozens of men accused of raping an unconscious woman whose now former husband had repeatedly drugged her so that he and others could assault her decided on Friday to allow the public to see some of the video recordings of the alleged rapes.
At least two people are dead and others are injured after a fire ripped through a century-old building in Old Montreal early Friday morning, sources told Noovo Info.
Local Spotlight
Chantal Kreviazuk is set to return to Winnipeg to mark a major milestone in her illustrious musical career.
From the beaches of Cannes to the bustling streets of New York City, a new film by a trio of Manitoba directors has toured the international film festival circuit to much pomp and circumstance.
A husband and wife have been on the road trip of a lifetime and have decided to stop in Saskatchewan for the winter.
The grave of a previously unknown Canadian soldier has been identified as a man from Hayfield, Man. who fought in the First World War.
A group of classic car enthusiasts donated hundreds of blankets to nursing homes in Nova Scotia.
Moving into the second week of October, the eastern half of Canada can expect some brisker fall air to break down from the north
What does New Westminster's t蓹m蓹sew虛tx史 Aquatic and Community Centre have in common with a historic 68,000-seat stadium in Beijing, an NFL stadium and the aquatics venue for the Paris Olympics? They've all been named among the world's most beautiful sports venues for 2024.
The last living member of the legendary Vancouver Asahi baseball team, Kaye Kaminishi, died on Saturday, Sept. 28, surrounded by family. He was 102 years old.
New data from Greater Vancouver and the Fraser Valley shows a surge in supply and drop in demand in the region's historically hot real estate market.