Harper will repeal current Income Tax Cuts

[MMMike]

Re: See-saw Governments

Having only ever had three parties govern the House of Commons in our history, I must say that it seems as if the strategy seems to be:

1. Become the Government.
2. Undo the work of the previous Government.
3. Lose, and return to the Opposition.
4. Defeat the new Government or wait until the people get tired of them.
5. Rinse, lather, and repeat.

:!: Edit Forget a step in my list. lol

Well, yes and no. Any new party coming into government will be tempted to roll back policies they do not agree with. Keep in mind, though, that the only thing that matters more to politicians than their ideology is voter opinion. They can roll back policies of the previous government only if they have the support of the people.

 

[paulmartin]

Harper promised tax cuts. We will get them. If he don't keep his word we can boot them out just like when Paul Martin And Jean Cretien promised to kill the GST. :?

 

[FiveParadox]

Tax Cuts Negated

Would the tax cut not be negated by the simultaneous tax increase?

 

[paulmartin]

In case you missed it.

* Taxes would be drastically lower under the Conservatives than under the Liberals.
* Our tax plan will include cuts to the GST, and large cuts to personal income taxes and business taxes.
* Under our plan, all Canadians will pay lower taxes.
* Only the Conservative plan will cut taxes for the lowest-income Canadians – the 32% of Canadians whose income is too low to pay any income tax.

 

[FiveParadox]

If there are apparently large cuts to income taxes, then why is the Hon. Stephen Harper proposing an income tax increase from fifteen to sixteen percent?

 

[Citizen]

Re: RE: Harper will repeal current Income Tax Cuts

In case you missed it.

* Taxes would be drastically lower under the Conservatives than under the Liberals.
* Our tax plan will include cuts to the GST, and large cuts to personal income taxes and business taxes.
* Under our plan, all Canadians will pay lower taxes.
* Only the Conservative plan will cut taxes for the lowest-income Canadians – the 32% of Canadians whose income is too low to pay any income tax.

Do you see a huge deficit on the horizon? :lol:

 

[Breakthrough2006]

I don't see how a GST tax that is going to benefit a upper-middle class family more than will benefit all of Canada when a full income tax cut would.

Simple.

32% of Canadians pay NO/ZERO/NADA income tax. These people are on social assisitance, students, retirees, underemployed or disabled. All of which would be considered "poor".

The Liberals plan to reduce income taxes does absolutely NOTHING for these people.

On the other hand, EVERYONE pays GST no matter what income level. Thus it is very easy to see that the Conservative tax cuts would benefit the poor and the Liberal plan will not. To say otherwise would be getting sucked in by the Liberal spin.

If there are apparently large cuts to income taxes, then why is the Hon. Stephen Harper proposing an income tax increase from fifteen to sixteen percent?

Lets put things into perspective shall we? The average income in Canada is about $30,000 per year. The first 10K are tax exempt and the next 20K is taxed at 16%. As part of the Liberals plan, the 16% has been reduced to 15%. 1% tax cut on 20K equals 200 dollars per year.

Many people arguing in favour of this tax are the same people that belittled the CPC plan on child care stating that 25/wk will not make any difference in someones life. Not only that, but the Liberals believe that parents would just spend that money on "beer and popcorn".

Well this tax cut will save the average Canadian $3.85/wk.

I have already stated that the CPC plan equals $32 Billion dollars in tax cuts compared to $29 Billion dollars in tax cuts from the Libs. Plus, the CPC has yet to reveal their full tax cut plan.

I never thought I would find myself defending tax cut rollbacks with leftists but it appears some of you would argue anything for partisan purposes.

 

[the caracal kid]

Mulroney knew the GST was a move forward in taxation. Chretien realized and admitted this as well once he secured the PM's office. Martin continues to recognize the GST as a necessary and progressive tax.

Then we have harper saying the opposite for political gain. hmmm.... those people not paying taxes are spending their money mostly on GXT exempt goods! Yep, reducung the tax sure will save lots of money on groceries, won't it? <sarcasm>

 

[Breakthrough2006]

How typical.

It was the scrapping of the GST that got the Liberals elected in 1993. Back then it was an evil regressive tax grab that the Liberals would abolish. Still waiting for that one. :wink:

18 months ago, Martin said that any tax cut would be irresponsible and plunge our country into debt. Today, his tax cut policies are almost identical to the CPC's.

Martin governs by which way the polls are blowing.

GST exempt goods only eh? I guess phone bills, heating costs, clothes, cleaning supplies, tuition fees, books, gasoline, bus passes, cable, internet connection, second hand vehicles, etc are all GST exempt in your world.

Grasping at straws.

 

[FiveParadox]

If the Liberals' tax policies are indentical to those of the Conservatives, then why are we having this discussion? You can't have it both ways.

The G.S.T. should be retained until such time as the federal debt no longer exists. Until such a time, I oppose any tax cuts proposed by any of the parties.

 

[the caracal kid]

how typical?

i said exactly what happened, no political favours.

Grasping at straws? not at all. a look at the economics behind the GST shows it to be a sound tax system. Canada should be continuing to collect the tax at the current rate to pay down debt, not reducing it. Of course, we have heard not a word from Harper on Debt, interestingly enough.

My world? Since when are people making under 10K buying all these goodies you list? People making that kind of money are still living at home where their parents are helping to support them.

 

[Breakthrough2006]

If the Liberals' tax policies are indentical to those of the Conservatives, then why are we having this discussion?

They're almost identical in amount but very different in their implementation.

The G.S.T. should be retained until such time as the federal debt no longer exists.

The GST was supposed to be a temporary tax introduced to get rid of the deficit. We no longer have a deficit but the Liberals don't want to give up this cash cow.

I oppose any tax cuts proposed by any of the parties.

Correct me if I'm wrong but I recall that you are a student at which time you are likely not paying any tax. I'm sure it would make you happy if they taxed us at 100% since it would not make one iota of difference in your life.

a look at the economics behind the GST shows it to be a sound tax system.

Kudos to the Conservatives that implemented it.

Since when are people making under 10K buying all these goodies you list? People making that kind of money are still living at home where their parents are helping to support them.

Heating, electricity and water are goodies? Do you live in Ethiopia?

People on welfare, those that are disabled and retirees living on a fixed budget do not have the luxury of living in their parents basement.

Lets take a retired couple living on 20K (10K each). Under the Liberals, they will receive 0 dollars in tax relief.

That same couple would spend about $300 and change per month or about $4,000 per year on food which is "mostly" GST exempt. The remaining 16K would go on other household utilities, gas for their car etc. The GST cut would save them $320 in less taxes.

If they made 15K each or 30K total, they would save $100 under the Liberals plan and $520 under the Conservative plan.

Now. Please explain to me how this particular couple will benefit more from the Liberals tax cut?

This exact same scenario can be played out for wefare familes, underemployed individuals, students and disabled people. You refuse to understand that 32% of all Canadians pay no tax at all because they make less than 10K per year.

 

[Breakthrough2006]

The above would also include stay at home moms and parents on maternity leave.

 

[FiveParadox]

The taxes that my parents pay make a huge difference in my life.

Furthermore, I wasn't referring to a "deficit" — I was referring to a "debt." We have had several surplus budgets in a row, yes; and the surpluses, as required by the Ministry of Finance, were used to contribute to the payments on the principle of the federal debt. There is $499 900 000 000.00 outstanding in the debt, and decreasing G.S.T. is not going to help that number get any lower.

I would appreciate it if the generation in the House of Commons would pay some respect to young people, and cease the practice of deferring their financial obligations to us.

 

[Breakthrough2006]

Your parents paying taxes is not the same as you yourself paying taxes. There is something to be siad after a tough 40 plus hours of work to get your paycheque and notice that a huge chunk of what you worked for is already gone in income taxes.

Then you have to move on with your life and still pay PST, GST, property tax, vehicle tax, gasoline tax, EI, CPP, etc.

 

[FiveParadox]

All of which are required and integral to the payment of the debt.

And I do pay taxes; I pay into EI and CPP on every paycheck. I pay G.S.T. and P.S.T. on a constant basis. Granted, it may not seem like a lot, but to a student and part-time employee it can seem a substantial sum. Nonetheless, I am more than happy to pay my part for the payment of the debt and for the progams set up to help myself and the less fortunate citizens of Canada.

:!: Edit Added tax categories to the list.

 

[the caracal kid]

breakthrough,

the biggest cost these folks you refer to would be housing, which is not hit with the GST (unless these people are somehow buying a new home). You may want to recalculate your GST savings for these people.

Now, as to the use of the GST: it is of greater benefit that that 1% difference goes to debt reduction, or else those people are really going to feel the pinch when increased debtloads force more service cuts. Speaking of service cuts, there is something else we have to consider from Harper. Just how much will these people lose as a result of Harper's "small government" agenda?

 

[Breakthrough2006]

Nonetheless, I am more than happy to pay my part for the payment of the debt and for the progams set up to help myself and the less fortunate citizens of Canada.

You're contradicting yourself. Are you in favour of tax cuts or not? On one hand you criticize the Conservatives from reversing a tax cut and on the other hand you want them to increase taxes to pay off the debt. Let me guess, Liberal good, Conservative bad.

people are really going to feel the pinch when increased debtloads force more service cuts. Speaking of service cuts, there is something else we have to consider from Harper. Just how much will these people lose as a result of Harper's "small government" agenda?

Fearmongering not required. Constant massive surpluses and Billions wasted and/or stolen by the Liberals will give lots of room for the Conservatives to cut taxes without cutting services.

Once again, your partisanship is apparent. The Liberals tax cut is similar to the CPC tax cut in dollars yet Harper should be feared because he might cut services while Martin gets a free ride.

Neither of you answered my question that I've asked several times. How is someone on welfare or on disability going to benefit from the Liberal tax cut? It's okay to admit that 32% of the poorest Canadians would not benefit one iota from their plan. You won't be beaten into voting against them for admitting the obvious.

 

[the caracal kid]

my partisanship?

i would like to see how somebody who does not support the liberals or the conservatives is showing partisanship.

If Harper has this fiscal plan then why does he not show it? Simple request to Harper: Put Up or Shut Up.

The reason the libs are not getting as hammered is because the libs do not plan on cutting services where Harper is on record as saying he favours such actions.

The ball is in Harper's court to show fully and honestly his platform, but he does not. He would rather harp on about the sponsorship scandal to keep the eyes of of him, wouldn't he?

I don't endorse the liberal tax cuts either, for the record. The money should go into paying down the debt while the economy is strong.

 

[Jersay]

It is extremely funny he hasn't presented his platform. Is he waiting for the last day so when he unveils it, when it leads to deficits it wouldn't effect his party too much.