ONTARIO – Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the Liberal federal government were hoping that two new proposals aimed at those struggling with the cost of living would earn them some holiday goodwill with Canadians.
And while some are merry about the prospects of a forthcoming GST/HST holiday and a (now uncertain) one-time $250 cheque, many are greeting what is viewed as an “entirely political” move with a “bah humbug.”
New data from the non-profit Angus Reid Institute finds that 45 per cent of Canadians believe the announced tax holiday, set to take effect on Dec. 14, will help them at least a little over the next two months.
Fewer, approximately one-in-three (36%), say the same of a one-time $250 cheque from the government, an idea that was initially a part of the Liberal plan for Canadians but has now evidently been shelved like an elf, facing criticism from the NDP.
The lack of support from leader Jagmeet Singh and the NDP is due to the criteria for eligibility to receive a cheque.
The federal government announced The Working Canadians Rebate for those who worked in 2023 and earned less than $150,000. Singh argues that new graduates, people with disabilities, and seniors should be included.
These new data suggest that lower-income people are the least likely to say they are eligible for the rebate.
Two-in-five (38%) with incomes lower than $25,000 and 35 per cent of those earning between $25,000 and $49,999 say they would not be eligible.
So, while lower-income Canadians are most likely to say a payment would benefit them, they are also most likely to say the offering would miss them entirely.
For their part, 84 per cent of Canadians believe these policies are politically motivated, while far fewer (7%) say the government genuinely wants to help people.
