OTTAWA — On record as being dissatisfied with the Liberal’s GST holiday plan that they’ve already they’ve already voted for, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh said he will try to sweeten the offering in the House of Commons this week.
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Singh told a press conference Wednesday that he’ll attempt to expand the issuance of $250 relief cheques to include retirees and the disabled, while also seeking to permanently exempt some expenses from the GST.
He argued the plan presented by the Liberals, which passed the House of Commons last week, didn’t go far enough — particularly since only those who worked in 2023 are eligible for the promised $250 payouts next spring, and the temporary tax exemptions will only last until February.
The NDP will include the expansion of the measures in a motion which will be presented on Friday — an opposition day in the House of Commons.
“New Democrats believe that everyone in our country should have a good job that gets them a home, gets them a fridge full of groceries, they should be able to save up for those special treats for their families, but that’s not how things are right now,” he said.
“People are feeling so squeezed, they can barely get ahead.”
While an ongoing opposition-supported privilege motion has ground most business in the House to a grinding halt for months, House Speaker Greg Fergus intervened earlier this week to set aside four days for opposition motions, which need to take place before MPs break this month for Christmas.
The NDP’s opposition day will take place on Friday, while the Conservatives will have their days on Thursday, as well as Monday and Tuesday.
It isn’t clear on how successful Singh’s motion will be as opposition day motions aren’t binding, and the NDP’s distaste of forcing an early election makes it unlikely the motion would be crafted into a confidence vote.
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