The Editor,
Re: Opinion: Canada's holiday tax break will have winners and losers (Dec. 10, 2024)
As stated in the article, “The cost of living remains a challenge for many middle-class Canadians. That is why the federal government is introducing a two-month tax break on groceries and everyday essentials.”
It’s nice to know the government has its priorities right. Times are tough, so let's buy some middle-class votes and continue screwing those who are really struggling.
Basic groceries are already exempt from the GST, so let's say we’re helping Canadians save on their grocery bills without it actually really costing us anything.
Boy, does it sound good.
Game consoles, video games, books and newspapers. Really?
In justifying excluding seniors and the disabled from further support the government said they already had support in place for Canada’s seniors and the disabled.
Not one word about the poor mind you, one only has to look at the number of homeless camps to see the government is failing those most in need of support.
A two-month GST tax holiday is meaningless to those who can barely afford the basic necessities.
The people most in need this season are the poor, seniors on fixed incomes, and those struggling to get by on their disability payments.
The least fortunate don’t need a two-month GST tax holiday. What they need is food security — and by that I don’t mean more support for the food bank. I mean actual dignified food security.
They need the surety of affordable shelter now, not one, two or three election cycles from now.
Now, as in now.
If you can’t deliver affordable housing now then ensure people have the financial support to afford the current rent until such affordable housing comes online.
Societies are judged by how they treat the least fortunate in their communities and right now in this supposed season of peace and good will there is no peace and even less goodwill for the least fortunate.
A Merry Christmas, indeed.
- Rob Bottos, Coquitlam
