Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau plans to temporarily lift the federal sales tax off a slew of items and send checks to millions of Canadians who are dealing with rising costs as a federal election looms.

Summary

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced measures to address the rising cost of living, including a temporary suspension of the federal sales tax (GST) on select goods from Dec. 14 to Feb. 15 and one-time checks of C$250 for 18.7 million Canadians earning up to C$150,000 in 2023.

The tax break covers items like children’s clothing, toys, restaurant meals, and beverages.

Critics view the move as a desperate political strategy ahead of a looming federal election, with Trudeau’s Liberals trailing Conservatives 39% to 26% in recent polls.

  • yeehawEnglish
    10•1 month ago

    He wants to cover half my next grocery bill as “relief” lol. Feels more like a slap in the face than anything.

    • @scarabicEnglish
      6•24 days ago

      “That comes to… $288, sir. Would you like to take advantage of today’s half off promotion, and pay just $144?”

      (Slaps cashier in the face)

      “How dare you!”

      • @KneeTittsEnglish
        3•1 month ago

        right wingers basically want everything both ways, they want full blown unrestricted capitalism till it bites them in the arse, then when that happens they will try to elect a dictator to install price fixing which is Literally communism, a word they have no clear definition of that they use to scare people into voting far right every single election cycle.

        • @[email protected]English
          1•1 month ago

          Man, if they invented a way to grab a pint together anonymously online I’d be glad to talk each other’s ears off about how misinformed the average person is about the economic and political functions of our society.

          I think it’s a little harsh to say this is only true of right wingers, but I’ve said much worse depending how spicy I’m feeling on any given day.

          If more people really understood what terms like capitalism, communism, socialism, and liberalism meant we could have more meaningful political debate across ideological boundaries when it comes to electing our government.

          I don’t blame individuals, though, it’s hard to ask someone to learn these things when everyone is just taking life day by day and trying to survive. Ironically this alienation is part of Marxist theory and the people that would most benefit from class consciousness are the ones that have the highest pressures keeping them heads down.

          That’s how politics turns into an emotional debate with teams and colors and brands.

          I think the left needs to embrace it moreso, people want to see their feelings reflected in their leaders, and Conservatives excel at this theatre.

      • yeehawEnglish
        1•1 month ago

        For starters, stricter policies on foreign ownership of housing, not to invite a bunch of immigrants to fill up what little housing we have, restrict corporate ownership of housing.

        Housing affordability is a large portion of our problems and why so many people have so little in their wallets.

        • @[email protected]English
          3•1 month ago

          Making immigration less attractive by turning them into second class citizens when we rely on immigration for economic growth is one thing. I can meet you in the middle on corporate ownership.

          I’m a leftist so I’m more inclined to say housing is a human right and we shouldn’t be allowing the market to handle it.

          Thanks for elaborating. I don’t see the connection between doing this and not doing that (two things can be good) but at least you’re criticising the Feds for things that are within their power unlike most people.