Finance Minister Bill Morneau is putting the squeeze on federal New Democrats, chiding them for failing to support his proposals to end what he calls unfair tax advantages for some wealthy small business owners.
In a letter to three New Democrat MPs, Morneau says he was surprised to receive a letter from them indicating that the NDP 香蕉视频直播� normally a champion of reducing income inequality 香蕉视频直播� supports 香蕉视频直播漜ontinued tax advantages for the wealthiest Canadians.香蕉视频直播�
And he says he香蕉视频直播檚 disappointed by the NDP opposition to his 香蕉视频直播減rogressive proposal,香蕉视频直播� which he contends is designed to 香蕉视频直播渆nsure a level playing field for the middle class.香蕉视频直播�
The letter is in response to a letter sent to Morneau on Sept. 7 by Windsor-area MPs Brian Masse, Cheryl Hardcastle and Tracey Ramsey, in which the trio of New Democrats urge the finance minister to 香蕉视频直播渉eed the voices香蕉视频直播� of doctors, dentists, orthopedists and others who are vehemently opposed to the proposed tax changes.
They urge Morneau to 香蕉视频直播渞econsider香蕉视频直播� his proposals and concentrate instead on 香蕉视频直播漷ax cheats香蕉视频直播� who hoard their money in illegal offshore accounts, robbing the federal treasury of some $6 billion per year.
In his response, Morneau notes that his proposed changes are supported by a number of organizations with which the NDP would ordinarily be aligned 香蕉视频直播� the Canadian Labour Congress, the Canadian Nurses Association, Canadians for Tax Fairness, the Canadian Association of Social Workers, the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives and the Broadbent Institute.
香蕉视频直播淭hey understand that hard-working middle-class Canadians are not the focus of our proposed changes,香蕉视频直播� Morneau writes the three MPs.
香蕉视频直播淨uite the contrary, we want to ensure that as our economy grows the benefits of that growth are shared with the middle class and those working hard to join it.香蕉视频直播�
Morneau said the government is in 香蕉视频直播渓istening mode香蕉视频直播� as consultations on the proposed changes continue until Oct. 2 and said he wants to hear from New Democrats and their constituents if they believe the changes will inadvertently hurt middle-class families.
香蕉视频直播淚 can assure you that our focus is on ensuring the wealthiest do not get tax advantages over and above what is available to other Canadians 香蕉视频直播� and I would have hoped to count on your support on such a crucial issue of fairness and equity.香蕉视频直播�
His letter was sent Sunday as Liberals brace for today香蕉视频直播檚 resumption of Parliament. Conservatives are promising to pummel the government over the proposed tax changes, which have raised the ire of doctors, lawyers, tax planners and other small business owners who香蕉视频直播檝e used incorporation to reduce their income tax burden.
The changes would restrict the ability of incorporated business owners to lower their tax rate by sprinkling income to family members who do no work for the business. They香蕉视频直播檇 also limit the use of private corporations to make passive investments in things like stocks or real estate and limit the ability to convert a corporation香蕉视频直播檚 regular income into capital gains taxed at a lower rate.
In his letter, Morneau says the current tax system allows someone earning $300,000 to use a private corporation 香蕉视频直播渢o save about as much as the average Canadian earns in a year.香蕉视频直播�
香蕉视频直播淭his leads to situations where an incorporated doctor can be taxed at a lower rate than a nurse practitioner or police officer.香蕉视频直播�
In their earlier letter to Morneau, the three NDP MPs argued that the proposed changes 香蕉视频直播渕ay negatively impact the availability of health services in Canada.香蕉视频直播�
The Canadian Medical Association and provincial medical societies have spearheaded opposition to the reforms, contending among other things that they香蕉视频直播檒l result in doctors moving to the United States.
However, some doctors across the country are putting their signatures on a letter to be sent to Morneau this week in support of the reforms. They argue that the changes will promote tax fairness and give the government more money to spend on health care.
A copy of the open letter was obtained Sunday by The Canadian Press.
Joan Bryden, The Canadian Press
