FREELAND UNVEILS $8.9B PLAN TO HELP CANADIANS FIGHT INFLATION
Jun 16, 2022
By Bob Komsic
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The Trudeau government’s unveiled what Chrystia Freeland calls an ”affordability plan” to help Canadians fight inflation.
In a speech to the Empire Club, the finance minister outlined increased spending totalling nearly $9-billion.
The plan includes an extra $1.7-billion into an enhanced Canada Workers Benefit — a refundable tax credit that’s expected to put another $2,400 into the pockets of about 3-million Canadians starting this year.
A 10% hike to Old Age Security for Canadians over 75, that’s to provide up to $766 more this year for over 3-million seniors.
There will also be a one-time, $500-dollar payment this year to almost one-million low-income renters.
”We will take real and tangible steps to get inflation under control and to make life more affordable for Canadians,” Freeland told the business crowd.
The plan does not impress the NDP and Conservatives though.
The Tories say, in a statement, that her speech ”demonstrates a fundamental lack of understanding of the causes of inflation” and that the Liberals plan ”is only going to make things worse.”
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh says the government’s ignoring the concerns of ”everyday families” by simply re-announcing ”measures that were already planned” with ”nothing new” for those struggling.”