moved for leave to introduce Bill C-296, an act to amend the Income Tax Act (allowances paid to elected officials).
Mr. Speaker, this private member's bill seeks to enforce into law recommendations made by the independent commission on compensation for parliamentarians, which conducted its business three years ago. I note that a similar commission is now engaged in a similar review.
The bill would eliminate from the Income Tax Act those provisions that exempt from taxation allowances paid to elected officials, and not just members of parliament but all elected officials, for expenses incidental to the discharge of their duties. This would end the very disturbing practice of parliamentarians exempting themselves from the same tax laws they impose on all other Canadians.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)