GST holiday tax break faces opposition before senate vote

The Liberal party’s proposed GST tax break bill is one step closer to becoming law after a day of debate at Parliament Hill.

Bill C-78 is before the senate after being passed in the house of commons, with the Liberals and the NDP voting for it.

The Bloc Quebecois and Conservative parties have voted against it.

Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre said he does not agree with the proposed tax break, saying “This isn’t a tax cut, this is an inflationary two-month temporary tax trick that will drive up the cost of living.”

The Liberal government announced the tax break as a way to ease affordability concerns during the holiday period.

At the time of break’s announcement, they also pledged to send $250 rebates to working Canadians in the Spring, but that particular measure was not included in the bill.

The legislation to enact the tax break was the first bill passed through the house of commons since late September, and required some procedural wrangling from the Liberals and the NDP to curtail the usual debate.

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