OTTAWA, ON – The Hon. Erin O’Toole, Leader of Canada’s Conservatives and the Official Opposition, today released the following statement on the Conservative Opposition Day motion calling on the Trudeau Liberals for concrete economic supports to help businesses:
“Until rapid testing and vaccines can be fully rolled out across the country, the Liberal government should be doing everything it can to remove needless barriers to job creation.
“We need to reduce taxes and regulations on businesses and workers.
“So today we are calling on the Trudeau Liberals to take concrete action to help small businesses and workers before the holidays.
“We are asking for the complete details on the Highly Affected Sectors Credit
Availability Program (HASCAP) to be shared by December 16. This must include the criteria for which businesses can apply, which sectors are eligible, when repayment will be required, and how much forgiveness will be offered.
“Heading into Christmas, Canadian business owners need clarity from their government in order to plan for their future.
“We are also calling on the Liberal government to fix the Large Employer Emergency Financing Facility (LEEFF) by reducing restrictions and amending the interest rate schedule.
“And finally, we are calling on the Liberal government to postpone the increase of CPP payroll taxes set for January 1, as well as the increase of the carbon tax and the alcohol escalator tax planned for next year.
“Canadian small businesses and workers deserve certainty from this government.
“This is going to be a very difficult Christmas for many Canadians.
“We want all parties, including the Liberals, to work with us to ensure our small businesses and workers can head into the holiday season with a little bit of hope, knowing these important measures will help them in the new year.”
The Conservative Opposition Day motion is:
That, given that,(i) Canadian businesses are in distress and need help to survive as a rapid testing and vaccination plan rolls out, (ii) according to the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, 46% are worried about the survival of their business, (iii) the federal government must support employment by removing barriers to job creation, such as taxes and regulation, the House call on the government to:(a) provide complete details on the Highly Affected Sectors Credit Availability Program by December 16, 2020, including criteria, when businesses can apply, which sectors are eligible, when repayment will be required, and how much forgiveness will be offered; (b) fix the Large Employer Emergency Financing Facility by reducing restrictions and amending the interest rate schedule; (c) postpone the increase of the Canada Pension Plan payroll taxes planned for January 1, 2021; and (d) postpone the increase of the carbon tax and the alcohol escalator tax planned for 2021.
The motion can also be found here.
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For more information:
Chelsea Tucker
chelsea.tucker@parl.gc.ca
(613) 219-3790
Axel Rioux
axel.rioux@parl.gc.ca
(613) 291-7125
