Report From Parliament's Hill: December 13th

By Prince George - Peace River M.P. Jay Hill

  The NDP Grinch That Tried to Steal Taxpayers’ Christmas

The story that unfolded in the House of Commons this week was not unlike the famous holiday tale of the Grinch Who Stole Christmas. 

In this case it was Jack Layton and the New Democratic Party who schemed to steal the tax cuts that our Conservative Government had all wrapped up to deliver to Canadian taxpayers beginning in the New Year.

The NDP said ‘bah humbug’ to Bill C-28, which implements measures to reduce taxes to the lowest levels in 50 years. The bill puts into effect the $60-billion in broad-based tax relief proposed in our October 30th Economic Statement, as well as some final measures from Budget 2007.  In the last sitting week before Christmas, NDP MPs engaged in some last minute antics to delay the legislation’s passage and deny Canadians tax breaks and more.

Actually, it may have been slightly more palatable had the NDP fashioned their behaviour after that other famous Christmas character, Scrooge.  Miserly though he was, at least Mr. Scrooge possessed some fiscal conscience.  The NDP however, want to block your tax cuts so they can ‘spend, spend, spend’ on any number of rash, poorly-planned social engineering schemes and boondoggle programs that have failed to actually improve the lives of Canadians.

Meanwhile, our Conservative strategy involves fostering our nation’s economic future by aggressively paying down our nation’s debt; investing heavily in the country’s infrastructure, education and job training; and, reversing the over-taxation of taxpayers that escalated through 13 years of Liberal governance.

So what did the NDP want to keep from you? 
For individuals:  a reduction in the lowest personal income tax rate to 15% RETROACTIVE to January 1, 2007; an increase in the basic personal amount to $9,600 RETRACTIVE to January 1, 2007 and a further increase in 2009; implementation of the Working Income Tax Benefit to help low-income Canadians; an expansion of the public transit tax credit; an enhanced child fitness tax credit to include special measures for children with disabilities; the implementation of the Registered Disability Savings Plan; and the elimination of income tax on scholarships.

For businesses:  a reduction in the small business income tax rate to 11% in 2008, a year earlier than previously planned; an increase in the lifetime capital gains exemption for small business owners, farmers and fishers; an increase in the deductible percentage of meal expenses for long-haul truck drivers; an extension of the mineral exploration tax credit; easier tax remittance and filing requirements for small businesses; and a reduction in the general corporate income tax rate to 15 percent by 2012.

ALL of these measures will ensure that Canadians can keep more of their hard-earned money to provide for themselves and their families.  And businesses will be able to invest more cash back into their operations so that they can grow and hire more workers.

This is what Jack Layton and the NDP worked so hard to deny the people of Canada this week … at least for the people of Whoville, the Grinch had a change of heart!
   

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