Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has pledged that if he becomes prime minister, individuals and businesses selling assets won’t pay capital gains tax if they reinvest the proceeds in Canada. This proposal would allow companies that reinvest in active Canadian businesses to defer any capital gains tax, as stated in a
press release by the Conservative Party of Canada on March 30.
The release mentioned that investors won’t be taxed until later when they either cash out or move the money out of the country.
Named the Canada First Reinvestment Tax Cut, this proposed tax break will be applicable to any capital gains reinvested between July 1, 2025, and Dec. 31, 2026.
Poilievre believes that this tax break will act as “rocket fuel” for the Canadian economy and encourage investors to “reinvest and build things here.”
“The current capital gains tax locks up investment in old assets because selling them would incur a big tax bill,” said the Tory leader in a statement. “Therefore, they do not sell and reinvest in homebuilding, small businesses, technology, manufacturing, and more.”
“Allowing reinvestments without tax will unlock billions to immediately begin building, hiring, investing, and growing,” he added.
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The Conservative leader also highlighted that his proposal ensures that the government will eventually receive its share, but at a later and larger scale.
“The extra investment resulting from this policy will create more jobs and growth, compensating for much of the government’s short-term lost revenue,” he noted.
‘Economic Fortress’
Poilievre’s recent announcement builds upon what he promised in January when he said he would eliminate the capital gains tax hike if his party assumes power.
Ottawa proposed this
hike in
Budget 2024 in April last year under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s leadership. Previously, individuals were only taxed on half of the total capital gains earned in the year from selling their assets. under the proposal, this 50 percent inclusion rate would apply only to people’s initial $250,000 in capital gains, while two-thirds of any capital gains exceeding $250,000 would be taxable. For Canadian companies, two-thirds of their total capital gains would now be taxed, up from half.
The measure, set to come into effect on June 25, 2024, was
approved through a ways and means motion in the House of Commons in June 2024 but was not formally implemented through legislation. Furthermore, it faced
strong resistance from
businesses, economists, and the Conservatives, who warned that the measures could drive investors away from Canada.
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