Liberals, Conservatives and Bloc side with wealthy instead of Canadian families

OTTAWA – At a time when Canadians are worried about who will pay for the pandemic and the recovery, the Liberals, Conservatives and the Bloc joined forces to vote against making the wealthy pay their fair share. Today, they voted against the NDP motion calling on the government to impose a one percent wealth tax on those who profited off the pandemic while families struggled to make ends meet.

“In the middle of a second wave, people across the country are worried about having their services cut by the government to cover the cost of the recovery. It shouldn’t be that way,” said the Leader of the NDP, Jagmeet Singh. “The Liberals and the other parties that voted against a wealth tax are not in it for everyday people. Those who made billions off this crisis should pay for the recovery. Not families struggling to pay their bills.”

The NPD motion called on Justin Trudeau’s Liberals to put in place a new one percent tax on wealth over $20 million. An excess profit tax on big corporations that have profiteered from the pandemic was also part of the NDP’s call. The billions of dollars gained from these measures would then be re-invested to meet the needs of Canadian families. This would include investing in pharmacare and dental care, income support programs to expand a guaranteed livable income and investments in housing so people can afford their homes.

“It is possible to expand health care by putting in place a national dental care program and universal, single-payer, public pharmacare," said Singh. "It is possible to help people afford their homes. But the wealthy must pay their fair share to make it happen. Today, the Liberals showed that they expect Canadian families to shoulder the burden of the recovery. They want to continue protecting their rich friends while families wonder how they’ll make rent by next month. We won’t. New Democrats will continue to fight for you.”