April 30th marks the day that Canadians needed to file their tax returns with the Canada Revenue Agency. The day is a reminder of what we’ve earned, what we’ve spent and what we’re going to be able to spend in the coming year.

This coming year, in our community, families are coping with the challenges of the global economic downturn. That’s going to have a real impact on the choices we make and the investments we make.

The Conservative government has taken action in different ways to help families during this difficult time. With April being tax time, many families are seeing the benefits of our actions.

As Conservatives, we believe that Canadians pay too much tax. Since taking office, we have delivered a strong record of tax reductions. As promised, we lowered the GST from 7% to 6% to 5%. We also introduced pension income splitting to allow senior couples to divide their pension income between them for greater tax savings. ‘The tax reductions and benefits introduced by this Conservative government benefit the average Canadian family by more than $3,500.

Now, through Canada’s Economic Action Plan, we are taking further action on taxes. As a result, hardworking Canadians will keep even more of what they earn. This savings will help stimulate our businesses and community through increased spending.

All Canadians will benefit from our increase to the basic personal amount. Now, every Canadian can earn more before paying federal income tax.   And low-income Canadians will benefit most of all.

We are also doing more to deliver for Canada’s seniors. This year we increased the Age Credit by another $1,000. This builds on the previous increase to the age credit and other actions that reduce the tax burden on the most vulnerable in our community.

At the same time, we are taking action that benefits you and stimulates business in our community at the same time. The Home Renovation Tax Credit provides a 15% tax credit on projects over $1,000 up to a maximum of $10,000. Qualifying upgrades can get you a tax credit of up to $1,350. Targeted action like this will provide a real boost to businesses and workers in communities like ours across Canada.

Meanwhile, what we hear from Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff is that he wants to raise taxes. What taxes, by how much, and for who; we don’t know. He’s not saying. What we do know is that he won’t take raising the GST off the table. We also know about his longstanding support and job-killing Carbon Tax; a policy that was his idea in the first place.  According to the Kitchener-Waterloo Record, he even recently announced to a group of Ontario business leaders that “We will have to raise taxes."

That’s the sort of talk that makes Canadians dread April 30th.

In a time when Prime Minister Stephen Harper and the Conservative government are working to lower taxes for Canadians, Michael Ignatieff has plans to hike them back up again.

That is wrong for Canadian families and businesses.

Best regards,
Guy Lauzon, MP