Chrystia Freeland said Thursday while speaking on the bill at the Senate Committee.“This relief is really needed by people. That’s why I am very grateful to all the MPs in the House of Commons who decided to support the measure,” added Freeland, who sponsored the bill.The enactment amends the Income Tax Act in order to double the Goods and Sales Tax/Harmonized Sales Tax (GST/HST) credit for six months.
This would increase the maximum GST/HST credit amounts by 50 per cent for the 2022-2023 benefit year, the bill says.The maximum increase will be $467 for single individuals without children, $612 for single parents or married and common-law couples, and $161 for every child under the age of 19.“We believe that right now we need to strike a balance – a balance between fiscal responsibility and compassion,” said Freeland.“We knew that people needed some support with elevated inflation.”During the Senate Committee meeting, Sen.
Dennis Glen Patterson asked if the government would consider putting in measures to provide accessible services to help encourage unilingual Canadians to file their taxes, specifically speaking of the Indigenous residents he represents.
Patterson also noted lower income families are less likely to file their taxes.Freeland agreed that there is a “significant downside” to the relief and said Patterson’s question was “duly noted.”The first reading of the relief bill was completed on Sept.