SoVote

Decentralized Democracy

House Hansard - 272

44th Parl. 1st Sess.
January 31, 2024 02:00PM
Context: House Hansard - 272 - Jan/31/24
Mr. Peter Julian (New Westminster—Burnaby, NDP)
Madam Speaker, I am pleased to present a petition signed by several dozen petitioners in British Columbia. They are raising concerns about the volunteer firefighter tax credit. As we know, with climate change, volunteer fire departments across the country are increasingly being called upon to intervene. That is over 70% of Canada's total firefighting essential first responders. The current tax code only gives the equivalent of just over $2 per hour for those volunteer firefighters who give so amply of their time. The petitioners are calling upon the Government of Canada to support Bill C-310, which is in the name of my colleague from Courtenay—Alberni, and to enact amendments to subsections of the Income Tax Act, in order to increase the amount of the tax credit for volunteer firefighting and search and rescue volunteer services from the current $3,000 to $10,000. This will make a difference, and we certainly hope that the government will hear this petition and act accordingly.
166 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
Context: House Hansard - 272 - Jan/31/24
Mr. Peter Julian (New Westminster—Burnaby, NDP)
  • Jan/31/24 6:51:38 p.m.
  • Watch
Madam Speaker, I have two questions for my colleague and friend. First off, Stephen Harper, in the dismal decade when he was in power, put in place a series of sweetheart tax haven treaties that the Parliamentary Budget Officer says cost us over $30 billion a year. That is $300 billion over the last decade. Are Conservatives prepared now to finally apologize for having gutted the federal budget in that way? My second question is regarding all the votes we saw in December, where Conservatives voted to cut food safety, air safety, health care, affordable housing, national defence and the RCMP. There were 120 votes to slash and gut all the services Canadians depend on. Have Conservatives finally realized it was a mistake to make those proposals and to have those votes to gut all of those important Canadian programs?
140 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border