Poilievre Vows to Cut Average Worker’s Income Tax by 15 Percent
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is pledging to cut income taxes by 15 percent for the average worker, equating to $900 in savings per year.
the lowest
income-tax bracket of
$57,375 or less,
reducing the rate from 15 percent to 12.75 percent. A
two-income family earning $114,000 would save about $1,800 annually, he announced.
“This is a tax cut for everyone who has tirelessly worked early mornings to contribute to our country,” Poilievre stated in Brampton, Ont., on March 24.
In his remarks, Poilievre referred to income tax as “the penalty paid for the effort of working hard,” highlighting that many Canadians are burdened by “one tax after another.”
Poilievre explained that decreasing the income tax in the lowest bracket would result in reduced taxes for other employed Canadians.
“By reducing the lowest bracket, every single Canadian taxpayer will see a decrease in their tax burden,” Poilievre stated. “Lower-income individuals will experience a relatively greater reduction in taxes proportionate to their total income.”
The Conservative leader positioned this initiative as part of his “bring it home tax cut” strategy, which also includes eliminating the carbon tax for consumers and businesses, exempting the GST on new homes, and lowering investment taxes.
When questioned by journalists about how his administration would reduce taxes while simultaneously addressing Canada’s deficit, Poilievre emphasized that the Conservatives intend to restrict foreign aid, slash expenses on external consultants in the federal government, and streamline federal operations.
Liberals and NDP Plan
Liberal Prime Minister Mark Carney, who called a snap election on March 23, also
proposed a modification
to Canada’s tax policy if reelected. Carney announced a 1 percent decrease in the lowest-income tax bracket, potentially saving a two-income household up to $825 annually.
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh criticized the tax strategies of both Poilievre and Carney, labeling them as “tax breaks for the wealthy” and asserting that these plans would predominantly benefit millionaires rather than families.
Speaking to reporters in Montreal on March 24, Singh argued that the proposed income tax reductions would confer the same financial benefits to a Canadian earning $57,375 as to someone with significantly higher income. “Why should we award an equal amount of money to a millionaire and to someone making $30,000? That’s an illogical approach,” Singh remarked.