Canada's NDP

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May 11th, 2022

NDP calls on government to put more money back in Canadians’ pockets

OTTAWA — Gas prices across the country reached an all-time high yesterday. Big oil and gas companies are making record profits by gouging Canadians. Imperial Oil made their highest profit in 30 years and, yesterday, Suncor reported that their profits jumped more than threefold. Today, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh called on the Liberal government to make these corporations pay their fair share and get that money back to Canadians to help them with the skyrocketing cost of living.

“People are anxious. They’re very worried about covering the costs of the everyday things they need, like gas and groceries,” said Singh. “Canadians are paying record-high prices at the pumps so that these big oil and gas companies can make more and more profits. This is exactly what is wrong with the system designed by Liberals and Conservatives – in times of crisis, the rich and powerful win – Canadian lose. It doesn’t have to be this way. New Democrats are urging the federal government to act and make things fairer for everyday Canadians.”

New Democrats are proposing that the government double the GST tax credit and increase the Canada Child Benefit (CCB) for all recipients by $500. This would mean middle-class and low-income Canadians would get between $500 and $1000 to help them pay their bills. With these NDP proposals, at least 40 per cent of Canadians would get money back in their pockets to help with their growing expenses.

“Canadians are making hard decisions between what essentials they can and can’t afford while oil and gas companies make a fortune. It doesn’t have to be this way,” said Singh. “The government can choose to stop protecting the enormous profits of big companies and make them pay their fair share. They’re already asking huge banks to do this; they need to extend it to cover oil and gas companies and huge corporate grocery stores. Instead of taking the side of the ultra-rich, New Democrats are urging the government to stand up for everyday Canadians."