Jagmeet Singh asks premier to match his promise to remove VAT from daily items

On By Littum

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh says he has written to Canada’s premiers asking them to match his promise to remove the GST from daily necessities by doing the same with their provincial sales taxes.

“Working people are being ripped off every time they pay their cell phone bill or stop at the grocery store to get something for dinner,” Singh said in a statement Wednesday.

“My promise of tax-free essentials, plus tax relief in the province, would go a long way in giving people a breather.”

Last week, Singh promised that an NDP government would remove the GST from grocery store meals, diapers, children’s clothing, home heating, cell phone and internet bills.

Singh said an NDP government would pay for the tax cut by imposing a “surplus tax” on big businesses, which he says raise prices to boost profits.

In September, Singh announced he would terminate the supply and confidence agreement his party had entered into with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Liberal government.

The agreement, reached between the two parties in March 2022, committed the NDP to support the minority Liberal government on confidence votes in exchange for legislative commitments on NDP priorities.

SEE | The NDP leader promises to remove the GST from daily necessities

The NDP leader promises to remove the GST from daily necessities

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh says he has written to Canada’s premiers asking them to match his promise to remove the GST from daily necessities by doing the same with their provincial sales taxes.

While the end of that deal means the prospect of an early federal election has increased, Singh has so far been reluctant to back efforts by the Conservatives and the Bloc Quebecois to oust the Liberals in a no-confidence vote.

“I will not let (conservative leader) Pierre Poilievre, ‘King Cut’ or the Bloc take over,” Singh said last month.

“We’re going to look at any bill that comes out, any proposal that comes out, and if it’s going to help people in these difficult times, we’re going to look at it.”