An agressive anti-poverty plan

Submitted by
Ken Boshcoff M.P.

The Liberal Party’s Green Shift announced on June 19th marked the most aggressive anti-poverty program in 40 years. The ‘shift’ will transfer wealth from rich to poor, from the oil patch to the rest of the country, and from the coffers of big business to the pockets of low-income Canadians.
Roughly $9 billion of the $15.3 billion expected to be collected annually in carbon tax revenues would be returned to Canadians earning less than $40,000 annually. This would be done through a combination of income tax cuts and benefits targeted at children, low wage earners, rural residents, and individuals with disabilities.
In addition, this fiscal framework will work collaboratively with the Liberal 30-50 Plan to Combat Poverty. Together, I am excited by the prospect that this comprehensive strategy holds for both the environment and for the people of our riding.
As part of this plan, Liberals have committed to expanding and improving the Canada Child Tax Benefit. With the proposed ‘green shift’, Liberal have reaffirmed their pledge to introduce a $350 universal child tax benefit by backing it with $2.9 billion in carbon tax revenues.
The Green Shift will also increase support for low-income seniors. The Guaranteed Income Supplement would be increased by $600 a year over the course of a Liberal mandate. The cost would be met by $800 million in carbon tax proceeds.
Liberals have also committed to ensuring that work pays more than welfare. The Green Shift would enrich the Conservative government’s Working Income Tax Benefit and replace the employment tax credit with $1850 refund targeted at those earning less than $50,000.00. The $765 million cost would also be covered by carbon tax revenue.
I invite and encourage everyone to visit www.thegreenshift.ca to see how this comprehensive plan will benefit low-income Canadians. I will continue to work collaboratively with my Liberal colleagues towards a fairer, richer, greener Canada.