NDP, Conservative leaders launch election campaigns in Hamilton

Federal NDP and Conservative party leaders were in Hamilton Wednesday, both making promises for if they become the next prime minister.

They each promised tax cuts and relief for seniors.

In the meantime in Windsor, Liberal Leader Mark Carney faced questions about potential tax evasion.

Campaigning started early at the Hamilton Airport as Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre unveiled his new plane and greeted supporters alongside his wife and children.

He said, “we need to put Canada first for a change with a new conservative government.”

In Quebec, the federal conservatives are promising to allow working seniors to earn up to $10,000-a-year more tax free while raising the age for using Registered Retirement Savings Plans by two years.

It comes as NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh unveiled a series of tax breaks in Hamilton as well, including cutting taxes for workers and families by raising the basic personal amount to $19,500 and scrapping the GST permanently on essentials like groceries and internet bills.

“Our plan helps the middle class folks the most,” he said.

Liberal Leader Mark Carney promised measures to help Canada’s auto sector while speaking in Windsor – this as Singh and Poilievre accused him of tax evasion.

After a Radio-Canada story said that he co-chaired two investment funds registered in Bermuda, a known tax haven, while he worked at Brookfield Asset Management.

“He chose to register those two funds, even though they are Canadian – he chose to register them in Bermuda for the sole reason of avoiding paying taxes,” said Singh.

Poilievre said, “all while the Liberals force Canadians to pay higher taxes, Mark Carney dodges the bill himself.”

Carney said the funds are structured to benefit the Canadian pension funds that invest in them.

“The beneficiaries of those pension funds, teachers, retirees, municipal employees, they pay the taxes on their pension,” Carney said.

A Leger poll released this week suggests that 44 per cent of decided voters will vote Liberal in the upcoming election, ahead of the Conservatives at 38 per cent.

The poll had the NDP at just six per cent.

WATCH MORE: WATCH: Jagmeet Singh announces tax cut plans at press conference in Hamilton