As the cost of everything continues to rise, with many people in our province feeling the pinch, NL NDP Leader Jim Dinn (St. John’s Centre) asked questions in the House of Assembly today prompting government to put into cash amounts how much will actually end up in people’s pockets.
Dinn pointed out that cutting the sugar and gas tax offers no real relief, since the gas tax was already frozen and the sugar tax had been eliminated months ago. These measures don’t put any new money back in people’s pockets.
With the cost of everything continuing to rise, Dinn says people need meaningful support, not recycled announcements. Government must take real action to address affordability and ensure people can keep up with the rising cost of everyday life.
“Speaker, the Minister of Finance stated several times that raising the basic personal exemption will put $91M into the pockets of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians,” Dinn said. “I ask the Minister how much can individual Newfoundlanders and Labradorians expect to see in their pockets?”
“Speaker, the answer is $332 annually, less than the price of a cup of coffee a day. By contrast individual Newfoundlanders and Labradorians received $596 from the Canada Carbon Rebate that the Minister’s party opposed, $715 if they lived in a rural area. A family of four received $1,192 or $1,430.40 if they lived in a rural area.”
“How does he expect individual Newfoundlanders and Labradorians to absorb the cost of living with so little?” Dinn asked.
An NDP cost of living budget that puts people first would have included:
- HST of all forms of home heating, HST off children’s clothes, footwear, car seats.
- A Guaranteed Basic Livable Income pilot program.
- Rent control, building more non-market homes, increase the First Time Home Buyers Program.
- Pay equity, sick days and pensions for ECEs, increase in minimum wage.