moved for leave to introduce Bill C-296, An Act to amend the Income Tax Act (tax credits for dependants).
Mr. Speaker, today I am very pleased to be able to rise in the House to introduce a bill that would amend the Income Tax Act to help those who take care of families abroad by allowing them to benefit from the same tax credit as Canadians who have family in Canada. I would like to thank the member for Esquimalt—Juan de Fuca for seconding this bill, which will bring justice and equality to our Income Tax Act.
According to a 2008 report from Statistics Canada, in the two years after arriving in Canada, immigrants begin taking care of their family by sending anywhere from $1,000 to $5,000. Many of these newcomers have modest incomes. We are talking about after-tax dollars. The World Bank estimated that in 2005 $167 billion American was sent to developing countries.
I am asking for justice and equality in our laws for all Canadian citizens who are responsible for aging members of their family. Even if their family is overseas, they still have obligations and commitments.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)