Last chance to save the Public Transit Tax Credit

OTTAWA – The NDP is making a final appeal to the Finance Minister to maintain the public transit tax credit. In the last federal budget, the government announced that the tax credit would end on June 30, 2017.

“Every day commuters face traffic congestion, pollution and the health problems related to the use of “solo cars”. Why are we still debating the importance of public transit?” said Alexandre Boulerice, Quebec Lieutenant for the NDP. “Hundreds of people have signed my online petition. What more will it take for the minister to listen to them?”

Middle class families and low income individuals are the ones who will pay the price. In 2018, 1.2 million Canadians will see an increase in their federal income tax once the public transit tax credit has been repealed. Each person will pay, on average, $150 to $200 more in federal taxes.

“Reducing accessibility to public transportation runs counter to the fight to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Clearly, the trademark of this government is incoherence” said Robert Aubin, NDP transport critic. “The Liberals could not care less about middle class families”.

If the government is really serious about fighting climate change and defending the middle class, it should immediately cancel the repeal of the public transit tax credit.