Liberals vowed not to prorogue Parliament but have done so...twice

Proroguing Parliament

Photo: Contributed

Central Okanagan-Similkameen-Nicola MP Dan Albas

During the 2015 election campaign, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's Liberal Party platform included a promise not to use prorogation to "avoid difficult political circumstances."

Trudeau has broken that promise twice. The first breach occurred in August 2020, when he prorogued Parliament to halt Parliamentary committee investigations into the WE Charity situation—despite the House of Commons not even being in session at the time.

The second prorogation occurred on Jan. 6. Facing internal pressure from the Liberal caucus, Trudeau announced his resignation. The prorogation gives the Liberal Party time, and political cover, to select a new leader.

While this arrangement benefits the Liberal Party, it comes at a cost to Canadians. The House of Commons shutdown means there are no opportunities to officially question the government or hold it accountable. Additionally, all bills and legislation, including private members' bills, ground to a halt, preventing any progress in those areas.

Unfortunately, many important issues affecting Canadians cannot be addressed while the House of Commons is prorogued. Let me provide an example.
This week, we learned of an alarming situation involving international students with valid Canadian study permits.

According to data from Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada, nearly 50,000 international students failed to attend their enrolled college or university programs during a two-month period in spring 2024. That raises serious questions. If those international students who were approved to study in Canada are not attending their enrolled classes, what activities are they pursuing instead?

What's also troubling is the information only came to light because of a recent federal compliance requirement mandating post-secondary institutions report those numbers twice yearly. Without that mandatory reporting requirement, it appears few, if any, post-secondary institutions voluntarily (would have) disclosed this information or expressed concern about it.

The RCMP has acknowledged concerns about smuggling networks that exploit student visas for illegal border crossings.

What's particularly concerning is the new reporting system contradicts Statistics Canada's own numbers, which show a significantly larger population of foreign nationals studying in Canada than the IRCC has reported.

Those statistical discrepancies could be investigated by a Parliamentary committee, but since the House of Commons is prorogued, we lack any means to question the government or hold it accountable for the inconsistencies and other serious issues.

My question this week:

How concerned are you about the current prorogation of Parliament?

I can be reached at [email protected] or call toll-free 1-800-665-8711.

Dan Albas is the Conservative MP for Central Okanagan-Similkameen-Nicola.

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

New year, new federal tax hikes

Taxes rising in 2025

Photo: Contributed

Central Okanagan-Similkameen-Nicola MP Dan Albas

In this, my first column of the new year, I wish you all the very best in 2025.

Much ink has been spilt in the Ottawa bubble this week regarding the prime minister's decision not to lead the Liberal Party into the next election. There are many lingering questions that will, inevitably, be the subject of future reports.

As many Canadians are currently struggling to eat, heat and house themselves, I feel it best to start with information about what we do know will occur in 2025.

Unfortunately, the tradition that emerged under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is each new year brings federal tax increases across multiple areas. Here is a brief summary of where some Canadians may face higher costs.

Federal payroll tax increases will be the most significant change in 2025. For both employers and employees, the maximum CPP contribution will increase to $4,034 (for workers earning $71,300 or more).

There is also an increase to the second additional CPP contributions (CPP2) that Trudeau introduced and that is applied on income between $71,300 and $81,200. The maximum CPP2 will be increased to $396 in 2025. Keep in mind that CPP2 is over an above CPP contributions.

While the EI payroll tax rate remains unchanged, the increase in maximum insurable earnings threshold means many workers will pay more in 2025. Combined, CPP and EI payroll taxes will cost someone earning $81,200 or more a total of $5,507 in 2025, while employers will pay $5,938 for the same employee. Workers in this income range will see a combined increase of over $400 compared to last year.

While some point out employees may recover a portion of those contributions after retirement, that offers little comfort to young Canadians currently struggling to afford rent. Speaking with hospitality and tourism employers, many are struggling to maintain viable operations. Those small and medium-sized businesses traditionally provide youth with their first jobs—crucial employment that helps fund their higher education.

Moving on, the federal carbon tax will increase from $80 per tonne (in 2024) to $95 per tonne on April 1. The B.C. NDP government has indicated it will raise the provincial carbon tax to match the federal increase, meaning British Columbians can expect the same increase on April 1. The B.C. government has stated plainly that, "The reality we face is the federal requirement is still in place. If that changes in the future, we will remove the carbon tax..."

Put simply, if the Conservatives win a majority government in the next federal election—my party is the only federal party pledging to eliminate the federal carbon tax—the B.C. government has committed to remove the provincial carbon tax as well.

In 2025, the federal Liberal government's excise escalator tax will implement an expected 2% increase on beer, wine, and spirits sold in Canada.

Despite the fact Trudeau’s announced capital gains tax program has not yet been passed in Parliament, the Canada Revenue Agency has indicated it intends to enforce this tax increase as well.

Additional tax changes for 2025 include new digital services taxes, which major streaming platforms have passed on to their consumers and will inevitably raise the ire of the Americans— whether in Congress or the White House.

This is just a basic summary of federal tax increases coming in 2025. Additional provincial taxes and municipal tax increases are not included in this list.

My question this week:

Do you feel you're getting good value for your tax dollars?

I'd love to hear your thoughts on why or why not. I can be reached at [email protected] or call toll-free 1-800-665-8711.

Dan Albas is the Conservative MP for Central Okanagan-Similkameen-Nicola.

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

Albas echoes his party leader's call for an immediate federal election

MP wants an election now

Photo: Contributed

Central Okanagan-Similkameen-Nicola MP Dan Albas

To say this has been a highly unusual and dramatic week in Ottawa would be putting it mildly.

The week's expected major news event was the federal finance minister's long-overdue fall economic statement. Instead, many in Ottawa awoke Monday morning to news that Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland had tendered her resignation from cabinet to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

This was no ordinary resignation. In her letter, the former finance minister revealed Trudeau fired her from the portfolio the previous Friday and offered her what many considered a demotion.

Even more alarming, Freeland expressed her strong disagreement with Trudeau's fiscal measures, stating that they were "costly political gimmicks, which we can ill afford and which make Canadians doubt that we recognize the gravity of the moment."

The development is widely attributed to Trudeau's plans for increased borrowing and spending on new initiatives—including the (current) temporary GST “holiday" and the proposed $250 worker rebate program—which have faced strong opposition from economists and other stakeholders.

Freeland's sudden resignation triggered chaos within both the government and Liberal caucus.

While there is internal and external pressure on the prime minister to resign, it remains unclear what he will do next. However, he has already appointed a new finance minister—his longtime personal friend and New Brunswick MP Dominic LeBlanc.

The Fall Economic Statement was, in a word, devastating for Canadians. Some speculate the former finance minister's refusal to endorse the document may have contributed to the tension between her and the prime minister.

In its previous fiscal updates, the government firmly guaranteed the deficit for the past fiscal year would not exceed $40 billion. The government referred to this $40 billion deficit limit as a "fiscal guardrail”.

Fast forward to this week and Canadians were shocked to discover the deficit for 2023-24 reached $62 billion—almost $22 billion more than the Liberals promised to spend last year.

Keep in mind last year's target deficit of $40 billion—the so-called "fiscal guardrail"—was neither imposed nor suggested by the Conservative official Opposition. It was designed to reassure markets and economists, despite blowing past its own previously designated fiscal “anchor.”

The $40 billion “fiscal guardrail” deficit was the spending limit imposed by the government on itself. The fact the government massively, and completely, failed to achieve even its own fiscal targets is evidence of a government completely out of fiscal control.

Pierre Poilievre, leader of the “common sense” Conservatives, called for an immediate vote on the Fall Economic Statement before Parliament rose for the Winter constituency break. Unfortunately, the prime minister and his house leader did not respond to this request.

While Conservatives have consistently voted non-confidence in the government, the events of this week have changed minds, particularly the leader of the NDP. Despite Jagmeet Singh and his caucus supporting the government as recently as last week, granting the government an additional $26 billion in new spending, there has been a change of heart and (Singh) called for the resignation of Trudeau, inducing whiplash on the prime minister and his cabinet.

So what do I think?

With the government in such turmoil from this ministerial resignation, coupled with worsening economic conditions and impending trade threats from China and the United States, an election would give the winner a fresh mandate and stronger hand in dealing with a multitude of domestic and international challenges.

Simply put, the country is in trouble and half measures in Parliament would only amount to—as one constituent put it—"shuffling the deck chairs on the Titanic." That is why I rose on Tuesday and publicly called on the NDP leader to stop propping up the government and vote non-confidence at the earliest opportunity.

My question this week:

Would you prefer to see Prime Minister Trudeau resign—triggering an internal Liberal Party leadership process as suggested by Jagmeet Singh—or would you prefer a federal election?

I can be reached at [email protected] or call toll-free 1-800-665-8711.

Dan Albas is the Conservative MP for Central Okanagan-Similkameen-Nicola.

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

GST break and $250 Working Canadians Rebate 'fiscally unwise'

Politics over fiscal sense

Photo: Parliament of Canada

Central Okanagan-Similkameen-Nicola MP Dan Albas.

We are just days away from Dec. 14, the day when the Liberal government’s temporary expansion of select GST-exempt items is scheduled to take effect.

I mention this because Bill C-78, which enables the temporary expansion of GST-exemption on items between Dec. 14 and Feb. 14, still needs to pass in the Canadian Senate.

Does this mean the GST “holiday” will be delayed? While technically that is possible, despite the prime minister’s claim to have appointed “independent” senators, I expect the bill will be passed and will receive royal assent in time to meet the governments politically selected timeline.

Regarding GST exemptions, the House of Commons voted earlier this week on the Conservative’s plan to permanently exempt new homes under $1 million from GST. The tax policy would save Canadians up to $50,000 on the price of a new home and it is estimated it would stimulate the construction of 30,000 additional homes and apartments annually across Canada.

Surprisingly, the Liberal MPs voted against this measure. As noted by many experts and stakeholders, it appears contradictory to promote a temporary GST exemption on items like junk food, candy, select alcohol and video gaming systems while opposing a policy that would make new housing more affordable.

It is understandable why during its review of the bill, some senators said they found the Liberals' temporary GST exemption policy to be both "ill-considered" and "decidedly unserious."

Next week will be the final sitting week of the House of Commons before its winter break. On Tuesday, the government will present the long-delayed Fall Economic Statement, which will provide Canadians with a clearer picture of the country's current federal fiscal position.

The Fall Economic Statement will also provide an opportunity for the government to outline its future spending priorities. I am particularly interested in its projections, given the prime minister's promise to NATO allies to meet the 2% of GDP target by 2032. Further complicating the fiscal picture is his government's reliance on the NDP to maintain power. The recent credit downgrade of British Columbia from its triple-A rating demonstrates the risks of mismatched deficit spending and revenue.

Recent leaks to the media suggest this dynamic between deficits and revenue may explain rising tensions between the prime minister and his finance minister over the government’s Working Canadians Rebate, a proposed $250 payment planned for early spring 2025. The rebate would be distributed to 18.7 million Canadians who worked in 2023 and earned individual net incomes up to $150,000.

The reporting indicates finance officials consider both the GST break and $250 cheque pledge "fiscally unwise," while the Prime Minister's Office views these as important politically strategic spending measures.

My question this week:

Do you support the government's proposal to send $250 cheques to 18.7 million working Canadians who earned up to $150,000 in individual net income during 2023? Why or why not?

I can be reached at [email protected] or call toll-free 1-800-665-8711.

Dan Albas is the Conservative MP for Central Okanagan-Similkameen-Nicola.

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