MP Zimmer Questions Minister Duclos on Cost of Carbon Tax to Average Families

OTTAWA – Bob Zimmer, Member of Parliament for Prince George-Peace River-Northern Rockies and Deputy Critic for Families, Children and Social Development, questioned the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, today about the financial burden to middle class Canadian families the recently announced carbon pricing will have during a meeting of the Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities. The committee has just begun a study into Poverty Reduction Strategies.

During his questioning, Mr. Zimmer asked how the Liberal government expects the average taxpayer, who is already maxed, to shoulder the financial burden of having to pay approximately $1,200 in additional taxes that will come with carbon pricing when families are already stretching each pay cheque to make ends meet.

Minister Duclos responded by pointing to the Canada Child Benefit these families receive, as well as other initiatives introduced by the Liberal government.

“I find it difficult to understand how the Liberal government can promote themselves as being for middle class families when they are giving families these benefits with one hand and then taking them back with the other,” said Mr. Zimmer following the meeting. “This carbon tax will drastically increase the cost of living for taxpayers and stretch family budgets to the breaking point.”

According to the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, the average Canadian family could be paying almost $2,600 in new taxes each year by 2022 thanks to carbon pricing.

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