Increase the Age Credit to help our seniors get ahead

Today, Andrew Scheer, the Leader of Canada’s Conservatives, announced that a new Conservative government will increase the Age Credit by $1,000. This measure is part of the Conservative plan to put more money in the pockets of all Canadians to help them get ahead.

“The increase will benefit seniors with low or medium incomes most,” said Scheer. “Many seniors live on a fixed income and they are at the mercy of governments like Justin Trudeau’s, which has increased the cost of living and the price of everyday essentials.”

Since the Age Credit is income-tested, it will benefit low to middle income seniors.  With this measure, an individual aged 65 could receive up to $150 more per year and a couple could receive up to $300 more per year.

“Our commitment is clear: it’s time for you to get ahead. This $300 tax relief for senior couples is on top of our Universal Tax Cut for all Canadians. We will also eliminate the GST from home heating costs and introduce the Green Public Transit Tax Credit. Seniors will benefit from all those tax cuts and file a single tax return in Québec, as we committed to do,” concluded Mr. Scheer.

This increase will be the third of its kind made by a Conservative government. In 2006, and again in 2009, Canada’s Conservatives increased the Age Tax Credit by $1,000.

SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION:
– Backgrounder
– Independent Parliamentary Budget Officer Costing

Trudeau still hasn’t delivered on key promises for seniors he made in 2015

Justin Trudeau is planning to raise taxes on Canadian seniors and he still hasn’t delivered on key promises he made to seniors during the 2015 election.

Trudeau has raised taxes on seniors by hiking CPP premiums, cancelled tax relief for seniors that use public transportation, and will add 31 cents per litre to the price of gasoline.

He’s raised taxes all while failing to introduce the senior’s price index which has put even more financial pressure on Canadian seniors.

Unlike Justin Trudeau, Andrew Scheer has a plan to put more than $700 back in the pocket of seniors by reducing income taxes on pensions, taking GST off home heating, and cancelling the carbon tax.

Trudeau is making promises to seniors now because he needs your vote. But just like in 2015 he will break his promises because he is not as advertised.

Only an Andrew Scheer government can be trusted to stand up for seniors and help you get ahead.

BACKGROUND

That’s not even including the carbon tax, which will cost households (N.B. not individuals):

• In Ontario, the five-fold increase to the carbon tax would cost you $1,151.
• In New Brunswick, the five-fold increase to the carbon tax would cost you $959.
• In Manitoba, the five-fold increase to the carbon tax would cost you $1,116.
• In Saskatchewan, the five-fold increase to the carbon tax would cost you $1,930.
• In Alberta, the five-fold increase to the carbon tax would cost you $2,002.

Conservatives to review and eliminate taxpayer handouts to wealthy executives, shareholders, and foreign companies

A new Conservative government will cancel hundreds of millions of dollars in corporate welfare handouts to wealthy executives, shareholders, and foreign companies and instead put that money in Canadians’ pockets so they can get ahead, Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer announced today.

Scheer said a new Conservative government will conduct a review of all business subsidy programs in order to eliminate $1.5 billion in corporate handouts that don’t create jobs and support economic growth in Canada.

Those savings would instead go towards new measures to help hard-working Canadians.

“Under Justin Trudeau, Canada’s wealthiest and most politically connected have received billions of dollars from Canadian taxpayers, who are working harder than ever and just not getting ahead,” Scheer said. “I will put an end to handouts to wealthy executives, shareholders, and foreign companies and instead put that money in Canadians’ pockets so they can get ahead.”

A new Conservative government will also review innovation programs to ensure that they are supporting Canadian companies with patents, technologies, and economic benefits that remain in Canada. Conservatives believe that government support should help Canadians by creating jobs and opportunities.

Conservatives will make sure that funds spent on research and development will benefit Canadian companies, so that the intellectual property, technology, and resulting profits will benefit Canadians.

Conservatives will also strengthen regional development agencies and mandate them to focus on economic development, small- and medium-enterprises, and community-based projects.

“Hard-working Canadians are rightly offended when they see their tax dollars going to further the interests of the wealthy and well-connected friends while Justin Trudeau makes them pay more for gasoline, groceries, and home heating,” Scheer said. “That’s why I’ll get rid of these unfair handouts and use those savings to help Canadians get ahead.”

As Prime Minister, Andrew Scheer will:

• Cancel Trudeau’s Carbon Tax
• Remove GST from home heating, saving households $107
• Make maternity benefits tax-free, providing up to $4,000 in tax savings
• Bring in a Green Public Transit Tax Credit, saving families hundreds – potentially thousands – of dollars
• Bring in the Universal Tax Cut, saving a working couple $850
• Bring in the Children’s Fitness Tax Credit, saving parents up to $150
• Bring in the Children’s Arts and Learning Tax Credit, saving parents up to $75
• Boost the RESP, giving parents hundreds more for their children’s education

FACTS:

• Corporate welfare costs Canadian taxpayers billions of dollars every year.
• The Trudeau Liberals’ long list of corporate welfare handouts includes:
  • $18 million to a private jet airport, which was only cancelled because of media attention
  • $12 million taxpayer dollars to purchase fridges for Loblaws (net 2018 earnings: $719 million)
  • Two multi-million loan write-offs for the Irving family, one of Canada’s wealthiest
  • $40 million for Blackberry (The company’s CEO even said they didn’t need it)
  • $49 million for Canada-Kuwait Petrochemical
  • $20 million of a $743 million project by Maple Leaf Foods
  • $35 million for Nova Chemicals, announced at Davos with no results
  • $4.5 billion dollar Kinder Morgan pipeline nationalization
  • $72 million to Canadian National and Titanium Corp for clean technology upgrades (which companies would have to pay for themselves under our Conservative environment plan)
  • And many more…

A new Conservative government will expand RESP so parents can get more for their kid’s education

A new Conservative government will boost the Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP), putting more money in the pockets of hard-working Canadian parents trying to save for their children’s education, Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer announced today.

Under the Conservative plan, the government’s contribution to an RESP will rise from 20 per cent to 30 per cent for every dollar invested up to $2,500 a year. This change will boost the maximum annual grant from $500 to $750.

“For most parents, sending their kids to college, university, or trade school is the culmination of years of scrimping and saving,” Scheer said. “By boosting the RESP, a new Conservative government will put more money in the pockets of parents working hard to help their children get ahead.”

Under the Conservative plan:

• A couple who begins contributing $25 a month to an RESP right after their child’s birth will receive $1,620 by age 18. That’s $540 more than they would receive currently.

• Another couple that is able to invest $50 a month will receive $3,240 in government contributions by age 18. That’s $1,080 more than they would receive currently.

• Low-income parents will receive 50 per cent on the first $500 they invest every year. Today, they only receive 40 per cent.

“RESPs are the most effective way parents can save for their children’s education and more and more working families are investing in RESPs every year,” added Scheer. “A new Conservative government will help you and your family get ahead. We will make sure that Canadians can give their kids a smart start.”

Andrew Scheer’s Conservatives know that Canadians are paying too much in taxes. That’s why Andrew’s Universal Tax Cut will cut income taxes for every Canadian.

Andrew Scheer was doorknocking in Laval and met this Liberal supporter who is very disappointed in Justin Trudeau. He hears the same thing everywhere he goes across Canada. #NotAsAdvertised

Four years ago, Justin Trudeau stood right here on this very spot and lied to Canadians. He said he would be different. But as the last four years have shown, Justin Trudeau is #NotAsAdvertised. Andrew Scheer has a plan to help all Canadians get ahead.

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