PEMBROKE, ONTARIO… MP Cheryl Gallant, (Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke), today came out strongly in support of workers in the home renovation business and homeowners who have budgeted on receiving the Home Renovation Tax Credit (HRTC) that was announced in the Conservative Government’s spring budget.
“My office has been inundated by calls from homeowners who have been saving their bills and tax receipts expecting to claim the HRTC on their 2009 income tax returns. They like the program and they do not want the time and expense of another federal election,” said MP Gallant.
The Conservative government introduced the Home Renovation Tax Credit in the January federal budget. The credit enables Canadians to receive a refund of as much as $1,350 when renovating their homes or cottages, such as overhauling their bathrooms or installing new floors. The credit covers work done or supplies acquired between Jan. 27, 2009, and Feb. 1, 2010.
“The Opposition in Ottawa is being petty and small-minded with their continual threats to force a 300 million dollar election,” remarked Cheryl Gallant, MP. “An election barely nine months after the last one will jeopardize our fragile economic recovery. This is pure political opportunism by a Toronto-centred party that is power-hungry.”
“Canadians should ignore campaign style promises to re-introduce the popular Conservative measure. In the past the Opposition campaigned on the promise to eliminate the GST. It was not until the election of a Conservative government led by Prime Minister Stephen Harper, was the GST tax reduced to 5%. People cannot trust a politician from Toronto when it comes to the levying of higher taxes and campaign promises.”
The Canada Revenue Agency has been administering the program on the assumption the credit has already passed into law. The credit has technically never been approved by Parliament, and is waiting to be formally enacted in a second budget bill to be tabled this fall. When the measure was introduced in January, all Parties claimed to support the home renovation tax credit. If the opposition votes against the credit, they vote against it. They can pretend it means whatever they want, but it means the credit would be defeated.
“Local employers tell me that the HRTC is responsible for the fact that Canada is the first nation coming out of the global economic slowdown. They see it in their own business. And they agree”, observed MP Gallant. “A forced election call now is wrong.”
