Canadian Legislative News
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The Ontario Progressive Conservative (PC) party has released its election platform, dubbed the "People’s Guarantee." The platform arrived on November 25 during the party's Election Readiness and Policy Convention which took place in Toronto.
One of the biggest announcements which came out of the convention was the party’s initiative to reduce tax rates on middle income earners. The PC party also intends to further reduce hydro rates to levels lower than what the Liberal party has promised. Most importantly for NAFA members, however, is a promise to reduce the small business tax rate by an additional 28.5 percent.
The Progressive Conservatives also stated that it would raise the minimum wage from $14 an hour to $15 an hour over a span of four years, rather than one year as promised by the Liberals. This policy has gained widespread criticism from businesses and political pundits who believe that the rapid rise of the minimum wage will negatively effect business.
Furthermore, the PC party has promised it will complete ongoing transit projects and commit an additional $5 billion to build new subways in the Greater Toronto Area. Of interest to fleet administrators in Ontario may also be plans to scrap the drive clean program, which puts older vehicles through mandatory emissions testing, costing administrators and individual drivers thousands of dollars every year.
Additionally, the PC party plans on dismantling Ontario’s cap-and-trade system in favor of a carbon tax that is revenue-neutral. All funds raised by the government through the new tax would go back to Ontarians through forms of tax relief. The PC party has also committed to developing a smooth transition for businesses that may be affected by the carbon tax.
While the PC party has not presented drastic changes, many of the offered developments could help fleet administrators in Ontario by way of savings on taxes, slowing down the minimum wage hike, and scrapping the drive clean program.
One of the biggest announcements which came out of the convention was the party’s initiative to reduce tax rates on middle income earners. The PC party also intends to further reduce hydro rates to levels lower than what the Liberal party has promised. Most importantly for NAFA members, however, is a promise to reduce the small business tax rate by an additional 28.5 percent.
The Progressive Conservatives also stated that it would raise the minimum wage from $14 an hour to $15 an hour over a span of four years, rather than one year as promised by the Liberals. This policy has gained widespread criticism from businesses and political pundits who believe that the rapid rise of the minimum wage will negatively effect business.
Furthermore, the PC party has promised it will complete ongoing transit projects and commit an additional $5 billion to build new subways in the Greater Toronto Area. Of interest to fleet administrators in Ontario may also be plans to scrap the drive clean program, which puts older vehicles through mandatory emissions testing, costing administrators and individual drivers thousands of dollars every year.
Additionally, the PC party plans on dismantling Ontario’s cap-and-trade system in favor of a carbon tax that is revenue-neutral. All funds raised by the government through the new tax would go back to Ontarians through forms of tax relief. The PC party has also committed to developing a smooth transition for businesses that may be affected by the carbon tax.
While the PC party has not presented drastic changes, many of the offered developments could help fleet administrators in Ontario by way of savings on taxes, slowing down the minimum wage hike, and scrapping the drive clean program.
