OTTAWA – Cathy McLeod, Member of Parliament for Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo issued the following statement following the tabling of Budget 2017:
“Canadians were hoping for a better outcome from the Liberal budget announced last week. At a time when Liberals are making life more expensive, Justin Trudeau could have offered lower taxes and a job creation plan that actually works.
“Instead, Canadians are getting nickel-and-dimed by this Prime Minister so he can continue to fund flawed Liberal ideas.
“Instead of raising taxes, Justin Trudeau should focus on supporting policies that will create jobs for young Canadians. In the last year Canadians aged 15-24 lost 42,000 full time jobs.
“Sadly, Liberal programs won’t help the vast majority of Canadian workers and businesses who now face much more intense competition from a low-cost, low-tax United States.
“Canadians deserve solutions to the challenges they face right now, not expensive programs for years down the road.
“Further some of the programs they did eliminate will significantly affect certain sectors in our riding. For example, tour operators have had the Goods and Services Tax rebate payable to non-resident tourists and non-resident tour operators in respect of the accommodation portion of tour packages will now be repealed.
“As well, they have eliminated the income tax exemption for insurers of farming property, which was introduced in 1954 to encourage the provision of insurance in rural districts.
“Conservatives will continue to be the voice of the taxpayer and we will not stay silent while Justin Trudeau nickel-and-dimes Canadians.”