This bill was last introduced in the 43rd Parliament, 2nd Session, which ended in August 2021.
Chrystia Freeland Liberal
This bill has received Royal Assent and is now law.
This is from the published bill.
This enactment amends the Income Tax Act to revise the eligibility criteria, as well as the level of subsidization, under the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) as part of the response to the coronavirus disease 2019. It also extends the CEWS to June 30, 2021. The enactment further amends the Income Tax Act to introduce the Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy (CERS) in order to support those hardest hit by the coronavirus disease 2019. This subsidy provides relief in respect of rent and interest on debt obligations incurred to acquire real property used by businesses, charities and not-for-profit organizations in the course of their businesses or other activities. The rent subsidy is effective as of September 27, 2020.
All sorts of information on this bill is available at LEGISinfo, an excellent resource from the Library of Parliament. You can also read the full text of the bill.
Chrystia Freeland Liberal University—Rosedale, ON
Madam Chair, we are being kept in suspense too. The Conservatives need to decide what they stand for.
Pierre Poilievre Conservative Carleton, ON
Madam Chair, we stand for common sense. The question is, how would a 1% increase in interest rates affect the national debt?
Income Tax ActGovernment Orders
November 5th, 2020 / 10:25 p.m.
University—Rosedale Ontario
Liberal
Chrystia Freeland LiberalDeputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance
Madam Chair, the question is, what is the Conservative Party's policy? Is it a policy of austerity, or is it a policy of supporting businesses?
Pierre Poilievre Conservative Carleton, ON
Madam Chair, earlier the minister called this a hypothetical question. There is nothing hypothetical about the debt. How would an increase in interest rates affect the $1-trillion national debt?
Chrystia Freeland Liberal University—Rosedale, ON
Madam Chair, it is actually a question of policy, a question of philosophy.
Our philosophy is to support businesses. I want to know what the Conservatives' policy is.
Pierre Poilievre Conservative Carleton, ON
Madam Chair, the minister will be able to ask lots of questions once I am on the other side of the House and she is in the opposition. That will be soon.
She is unable to answer questions. Let's try another one. The Auditor General asked for more money so she can audit this government's massive spending. Will the minister give the Auditor General the money she asked for, yes or no?
Jean-Yves Duclos LiberalPresident of the Treasury Board
Madam Chair, I am very happy to say that, in contrast to pre-2015 cuts, the Auditor General's budget was increased in 2018.
That increase made it possible to hire 38 new employees. We are collaborating with the Auditor General and are in constant contact with her.
Pierre Poilievre Conservative Carleton, ON
Madam Chair, will the government give the Auditor General the money she asked for, yes or no?
Jean-Yves Duclos Liberal Québec, QC
Madam Chair, I want to mention that the budget went up by $8.3 million in 2018 compared—
Pierre Poilievre Conservative Carleton, ON
Madam Chair, when the Conservatives were in power, the Office of the Auditor General conducted 28 audits per year, compared to 14 now. Government spending has doubled, yet the number of audits has dropped by half.
Here is a simple question dealing with the present, not the past. Will the government give the Auditor General the funding she asked for, yes or no?
Jean-Yves Duclos Liberal Québec, QC
Madam Chair, I have great respect for my colleague, and even a bit of fondness.
I must tell him that, on this too, he needs to pick a lane. Does he support increasing the budget as we did, or does he want to cut the budget, like he did before 2015?
Pierre Poilievre Conservative Carleton, ON
Madam Chair, I thank the hon. minister for his fondness.
I appreciate him very much, but I would appreciate an answer to my question even more. If he is so fond of me and our caucus, can he tell us whether he will hand over the money the Auditor General is asking for?
Jean-Yves Duclos Liberal Québec, QC
Madam Chair, to love someone completely, one must understand them completely.
Unfortunately, I am having a hard time understanding my colleague. I do not know if he is in favour of an increase like we did in 2018 or in favour of a cut like he did before 2015.
Pierre Poilievre Conservative Carleton, ON
Madam Chair, the government is in favour of increasing the number of audits of small and medium-sized businesses, but not of a government that is spending this year like never before in the history of Canada.
Why does the government accept major audits of our small businesses that create jobs, but not audits of Liberal spending?
