NDP joins business sector in calling on Conservatives to change course on budget bill

New Democrats are calling on the Conservatives to drop controversial sections of their omnibus Budget Implementation Act that have been roundly criticised by business groups, experts, and civil society organizations.

“We’re all used to the Conservatives ignoring experts and academics, but this time the criticism is also coming from major industry associations and from the Canadian Bar Association” said NDP Finance critic Nathan Cullen (Skeena—Bulkley Valley)

“Major concerns have been raised particularly about the sections that make sweeping changes to Trademark law, the merger of 11 formerly independent tribunals, and the handing over of personal financial information of up to 1 million Canadians to the IRS in Washington,” he said.

“This bill changes more than 60 pieces of legislation and runs over 360 pages long. It is a farce to suggest it has received adequate scrutiny,” said NDP deputy Finance critic, Guy Caron (Rimouski-Neigette—Témiscouata—Les Basques). “Because of this widespread opposition, we will be introducing amendments to try to fix some of the worst problems and will be calling on the Conservatives to split the worst sections out for further study” he said.