Unaffordability isn’t just a bad vibe

GST holiday a tax 'trick'

Affordability remains a pressing concern that I consistently hear about from residents. Canadians are still facing a cost of living crisis, with more and more people unable to afford even basic necessities.

Now, the Liberal government has announced its solution—a two-month temporary GST “trick” reduction on select items, to be implemented by retailors the evening of Friday, Dec. 13. Despite the government’s fanfare, this measure is a band-aid solution that does not address causes of cost increases and has garnered little public support.

The finance minister claimed there’s a disconnect between “positive economic data” and how Canadians feel, leading to people talking about a “vibecession.” I’m not sure what people she’s referring to as I’ve not had one person mention this, nor know anyone who’s heard of this word before. The new temporary tax measures, she argues, will help bridge the gap between Canada’s economic picture and how Canadians interpret it.

Statistics Canada figures show food prices increased 35% since 2015, with grocery prices jumping 20% the past three years alone. Food prices rose 36% faster in Canada than in the United States – a gap that started when the federal government’s carbon tax came into effect, increasing costs across the agri-food supply chain. Families will spend $700 more on food this year than last year. Fuel costs have soared and housing costs have doubled. More than two million people are going to Canadian food banks in one month and reports of child poverty and scurvy are increasing in Canada. It isn’t just a “bad vibe” people are feeling.

Canada’s GDP per capita has fallen by 3% over the last four years. That means there’s less money to go around to more people and Canadians’ quality of life has decreased. As a comparison, the GDP per capita of the United States increased by 7% in the same period.

The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development expects Canada to have the slowest growth in per capita GDP among its 38 member countries over the next 40 years without fiscal and economic policy changes in Canada.

The Canadian dollar has dropped to the lowest it’s been in five years and is now hovering around 70 cents, compared to the U.S. dollar. Our weak Canadian dollar makes buying anything from the U.S. more expensive.
Unfortunately, the worst is still yet to come. Government MPs, supported by NDP MPs, don’t want to talk about the fact they voted to increase taxes on the very same products they claim they’re giving a temporary tax reduction to. On April 1, 2025, the excise tax on all liquor will increase and the carbon tax will also increase 19%, on the way to be 61 cents per litre (of gasoline).

Additionally, I’ve heard from many local small business retailers who are upset with the confusing GST tax removal for a couple of months. There are business organizations across the country who say the changes will cause significant logistical consequences for small businesses.

The Canadian Federation of Independent Businesses stated the tax measures “may add confusion and complexity for general retailers with both taxable and new exempt items,” and “Canadians need permanent, not temporary tax relief.”

Ian Tostenson, president of the B.C. Restaurant and Food Services Association, said the tax relief will likely have little effect in stimulating the restaurant economy, noting he thinks “it’s a misguided policy.”

These organizations are correct in stating we need real policies to combat rising unaffordability. As such, Conservatives will axe the carbon tax to reduce costs of fuel, food, construction and everything shipped, which has increased the cost of almost everything.

Conservatives will axe the carbon tax on everything, for everyone, forever and cut the GST on new homes sold under $1 million, to build more homes. The will save families up to $50,000 on their home purchase. These are real solutions to combat unaffordability.

Feel free to reach out to me if you have thoughts to share on the so-called “vibecession,” the government’s temporary tax reprieve on select items or the impending tax increases on April 1.

Please reach out to 250-470-5075 or [email protected] if have any thoughts to share–on this issue or others—or if you need assistance with any federal programs.

Tracy Gray is the Conservative MP for Kelowna-Lake Country.

This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.

Conservative MP says Tories would be tough on crime

Hard line on crime

Canadian crime statistics are dire when compared to 2015.

Homicides are up 28%, sexual assaults are up 75% and gang murders have nearly doubled. Auto thefts are up 46% and extortion is up a shocking 357%. Crime – especially violent crime – is also on the rise.

Legislative changes by the Liberal government, supported by the NDP, serves to put the welfare of perpetrators (often violent ones), over the welfare of victims. Law enforcement and policy experts are calling for reform.

Bill C-75 directed judges to act with restraint when imposing bail conditions, even with violent repeat offenders. It has been a driving force behind the catch-and-release nature of Canada’s bail system.

Bill C-5 removed mandatory minimum sentences for 14 Criminal Code sections - including serious crimes related to firearms or drugs.

Bill C-83 changed the correctional system, in part, to ensure those convicted and sentenced to penitentiaries are provided with the least restrictive environment for that person. Many believe it is that legislation that allowed serial killers, like Paul Bernardo, to move to a medium security prison environment, despite committing heinous crimes.

Across Canada, law enforcement experts and associations have made it clear they’re fed up with the government’s legislative agenda, which increased crime and chaos in many of our neighbourhoods.

Recently, the Police Association of Ontario, the Ontario Provincial Police Association, and the Toronto Police Association issued a joint release following an intense shoot-out in Toronto that led to 23 arrests and 16 firearms seized.

It stated, “Our members are increasingly frustrated and angered as they continue risking their lives to apprehend repeat violent offenders.”

It went on to say the incident “should serve as a call to action for the federal government to fix our bail system so repeat and violent offenders can’t continue to harm our communities while out on bail.”

The Vancouver Police Union stated how Liberal justice reforms are “doing little to address actual crime and violence.” They also said Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is "not aware of the ongoing gang war in B.C., which is putting both our members and public at risk on a daily basis.”

The Surrey Police Union said the pressing current issue is “the surge of illegal firearms coming across our borders and ending up in the hands of violent criminals.”

Conservatives will stop the crime by first scrapping Bills C-75, C-5, and C-83 and have also put forward the following solutions:

• The Stronger Sentences for Safer Streets Act, Bill C-394— It would repeal changes to numerous minimum sentencing requirements regarding the production, importing, or exporting of dangerous drugs like meth, heroin, cocaine, and fentanyl.

• The Protection Against Extortion Act, Bill C-381— It would protect Canadians from becoming victims of extortion by increasing penalties for those convicted of extortion, including links to criminal organizations.

• On arson involving wildfires and places of worship, Bill C-411 would create an offence for causing a wildfire, causing damage by fire or explosion to a place of worship.

• On motor vehicle theft, Bill C-379 would have implemented tougher penalties for repeat car thieves across Canada but was voted down by NDP and Liberal MPs.

• On assaults against persons who provide health services and first responders, Bill C-321 would create an aggravating factor for assault committed against healthcare workers or first responders.

• The Safe Hospitals Act, Bill C-391 would ban dangerous weapons and drugs in hospitals and hold people accountable who harm doctors and nurses.

• An Act to Establish a Federal Framework to Reduce Recidivism, Bill C-228 would provide for the development and implementation of a federal framework to reduce recidivism.

My own Private Member’s Bill, The End the Revolving Door Act, Bill C-283 would have expanded justice system sentencing to people suffering from addiction through treatment and recovery in federal penitentiaries but was voted down by NDP and Liberal MPs.

These are Conservative efforts to stop crime and bring home safe streets, so residents and businesses can have safe neighbourhoods again.

The former Conservative government, which was tougher on crime, saw incarceration decreased by about 4%. Criminals knew there were consequences.
Let me know if you have any thoughts on some of the Conservative plans to stop crime.

If you have thoughts to share on federal policies or need assistance with any federal programs, please reach out to [email protected] or 250-470-5075.

Tracy Gray is the Conservative MP for Kelowna-Lake Country.

This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.

MP touts her party's housing tax cut promise

Axing some home taxes

Conservatives have made a major common sense housing policy announcement to axe the federal sales tax (or GST) on new homes sold under $1 million for first-time homebuyers.

That will bring down housing costs making it more affordable and build the homes Canadians need. For example, the tax cut will save families $40,000, or $2,200 per year in mortgage payments, on a $800,000 house.

Conservative Leader, Pierre Poilievre has also written to the provinces asking them to remove their sales taxes from new home sales, which would save even more for homebuyers.

If Canada’s premiers agree to match this sales tax cut, Canadian homebuyers will save tens of thousands of dollars more on the cost of new homes, further helping to build even more affordable homes for Canadians.

The state of housing in Canada for young adults today isn’t what it used to be. The House of Commons declared recently Canada is in a housing crisis. I hear often from residents in Kelowna-Lake Country who feel disappointed and helpless about the prospect of ever owning a home or affording a mortgage.

It’s time to address high government costs associated with housing. In many places in B.C., various charges from all levels of government add up to more than 30% of the cost of a new home. The GST alone adds $50,000 in costs to the cost of a $1 million home. That situation does not serve to build the homes Canadians need.

The Conservative proposal to axe the tax to build the homes was created as a result of listening to Canadians and home builders. Here are just a few organizations and policy experts who affirmed the merits and impacts of this plan:

• The senior director of policy and innovation at the Smart Prosperity Institute, stated, “[this] proposal to eliminate the GST for newly constructed homes selling for under $1 million is the boldest middle-class housing proposal released to date from any federal political party.”

• The Canadian Home Builders’ Association stated the tax cut will “make a big difference if enacted, especially for first-time buyers.”

• The Canadian Real Estate Association stated, “this proposed step is a positive move toward lowering building costs, increasing housing supply, and making homeownership more attainable for Canadians.”

• The founder, president and CEO of the Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness, stated it is “smart.”

• Habitat for Humanity said reducing GST would reduce associated costs.

Housing costs have doubled after nine years of the current Liberal government, rising faster than any other G7 country. The cost of a mortgage payment and a downpayment have both doubled. In 2015, it took 25 years to pay off a mortgage. It now takes 25 years to save for a downpayment for the average home.

Nine years ago, it took 39% of the median pre-tax household income to cover home ownership costs. It’s now nearly 60%. The situation is even worse in specific cities, especially in B.C.. In Vancouver, it takes 98.6% of the median pre-tax household income to cover home ownership costs.

Poilievre also committed to a “dollar-for-dollar” rule, where for every new dollar of spending, there has to be a dollar of savings.

The reduction in GST collected by the federal government as part of this plan would be reallocated from spending on current federal government programs that have not increased home building in Canada and hasn’t brought down housing costs.

That is why the Conservatives are putting forth common sense solutions to build homes, not bureaucracy, and bring home Canada’s promise of owning a home by putting savings directly into Canadians’ pockets.

I'd like to hear from you:

Do you have thoughts on the Conservative housing plan to axe the federal sales tax (or GST) on new homes sold for less than $1 million?

Please reach out to 250-470-5075 or [email protected] if have any thoughts to share – on this issue or others - or if you need assistance with any federal programs.

•••

Also, this Remembrance Day, I hope everyone in Kelowna-Lake Country will join me in taking a moment to recognize those who bravely served Canada in times of war, conflict, and peace.

We do this to honour and pay tribute to Canadians who made the ultimate sacrifice defending democracy and human rights around the world.

I hope everyone, who is able, visits the local Field of Crosses, attends a Remembrance Day Ceremony and gives a donation for a poppy.

You can view my Remembrance Day video tribute on my social media platforms or my statement in the House of Commons.

Lest we forget.

Tracy Gray is the Conservative MP for Kelowna-Lake Country.

This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.

MP says will of Parliament being thwarted by government

Accusations of corruption