This bill has received Royal Assent and is, or will soon become, law.
Summary
This is from the published bill.
This enactment amends the Income Tax Act in order to double the Goods and Services Tax/Harmonized Sales Tax (GST/HST) credit for six months, effectively increasing the maximum annual GST/HST credit amounts by 50% for the 2022-2023 benefit year.
Elsewhere
All sorts of information on this bill is available at LEGISinfo, an excellent resource from Parliament. You can also read the full text of the bill.
Bill numbers are reused for different bills each new session. Perhaps you were looking for one of these other C-30s:
C-30 (2012)
Protecting Children from Internet Predators Act
Votes
Oct. 6, 2022Passed 3rd reading and adoption of Bill C-30, An Act to amend the Income Tax Act (temporary enhancement to the Goods and Services Tax/Harmonized Sales Tax credit)
This is a computer-generated summary of the speeches below.
Usually it’s accurate, but every now and then it’ll contain inaccuracies or total fabrications.
Bill C-30 proposes amending the Income Tax Act to temporarily double the Goods and Services Tax (GST) credit for six months, aiming to provide financial relief to low-income individuals and families. The increased credit would be delivered as a lump-sum payment through the existing GST system. Concerns have been raised regarding its limited scope and effectiveness in addressing the broader structural issues contributing to the rising cost of living, including inflation, housing affordability, and supply chain challenges.
Liberal
Supports GST credit increase: The Liberal party supports Bill C-30, which would double the GST credit for six months to provide targeted support to Canadians struggling with the rising cost of living. This measure aims to provide additional disposable income to help Canadians deal with inflation.
Investing in middle class: The party emphasizes its commitment to supporting Canada's middle class and those aspiring to join it, viewing a healthy middle class as essential for a healthy economy. They believe in providing necessary supports to build a stronger middle class and improve the quality of life for Canadians.
Criticizes Conservative economic policies: The Liberal party criticizes the Conservative Party's economic policies, particularly their stance on the carbon tax and CPP contributions, accusing them of flip-flopping and prioritizing tax cuts for the wealthy over support for vulnerable Canadians. They contrast their targeted support measures with what they see as the Conservatives' detrimental approach.
Supports dental care benefit: Liberals support the Canada Dental Benefit, emphasizing the importance of providing dental care to vulnerable children. They express concern over the NDP's proposal for a fully federally administered program, suggesting that provinces and territories are better suited for delivery.
Conservative
Supports immediate relief: The Conservatives support the GST rebate as a form of immediate relief for Canadians struggling with the rising cost of living, but they also believe the government is not addressing the underlying structural issues of the Canadian economy.
Criticizes government spending: The Conservatives argue that the government's overspending and inflationary policies have led to the current affordability crisis. They criticize the government's approach of borrowing money to provide relief, stating that it will only exacerbate inflation.
Proposes alternative solutions: The Conservatives propose alternative solutions such as eliminating the ArriveCAN app and scrapping the Infrastructure Bank to find cost savings and reduce the burden on taxpayers. They also suggest cancelling planned tax hikes and providing tax relief to stimulate the economy.
Highlights affordability struggles: Conservative speakers emphasize the struggles of Canadians to afford basic necessities like groceries, gas, and home heating. They share stories of constituents who are cutting back on food, unable to enroll children in activities, and worried about the rising cost of living.
NDP
Supports immediate financial relief: The NDP supports Bill C-30 and Bill C-31 as immediate investments in the well-being of people. They are using their power to get the government to send financial support out to people. They view these bills as something that would never have come from the government without the pressure from New Democrats.
Need for systemic change: NDP speakers noted that consecutive Liberal and Conservative governments have eroded the social safety net by putting corporations above everyday people. While the NDP is acting on the immediate need, longer term change is needed. Canada needs a fair taxation system that would close corporate loopholes in order to recover the reported $30 billion lost due to corporate tax avoidance.
GST rebate welcomed, but insufficient: The NDP has been calling on the government to double the GST credit for over six months. They welcome this move, but state that it is insufficient, and that this rebate should have come a lot sooner. The NDP will always put people first, but the Liberal government needs to start making real investments in people and their well-being in Canada.
Corporate greed is the problem: While fossil fuel companies and big corporate grocery chains are bringing in billions of dollars in profits, people are falling further and further behind. Speakers accuse corporations of using inflation as cover to drastically increase their profits and prices, and taking advantage of the current situation. The NDP believes corporations need to pay for their excess profits so that the money can to go to the government and it can use that money productively for Canadians.
Bloc
Support for Bill C-30: The Bloc Québécois supports Bill C-30, as it aligns with their earlier budget expectations. They see it as a small but necessary measure to address the current inflationary crisis and provide financial relief to those who need it most.
Need for comprehensive solutions: While supporting the bill, the Bloc emphasizes that a one-time GST-HST cheque is not a comprehensive solution to the broader problem of inflation and rising poverty. They advocate for a more strategic and sustainable approach that includes long-term measures to address the root causes of economic instability.
Targeted and intelligent measures: The Bloc calls for government intervention and support that is properly targeted, well thought out, and intelligent to avoid negative effects and waste. They suggest using government surpluses to rebuild the economy, insulate it from future crises, and invest in sectors facing challenges like labor shortages.
Focus on vulnerable populations: The Bloc Québécois expresses particular concern for seniors and low-income earners, who are disproportionately affected by inflation due to their fixed incomes. They advocate for measures to help seniors meet their basic needs and enable experienced workers to remain in the workforce.
Green
Supports the bill: The speaker supports Bill C-30 because Canadians need help, and the GST rebate will reach 11 million Canadians. The speaker also notes support for Bill C-31, which includes a one-time payment to low-income renters and the beginning of dental care coverage.
Bill is a band-aid: While supporting the bill, the speaker characterizes it as a "band-aid" solution that does not address larger economic problems or the potential for a recession. The speaker notes that a band-aid is good when one is bleeding, by the way, but it is not a long-term solution.
Global problems: The speaker believes both Conservatives and Liberals oversimplify the problems of inflation and cost increases, and that these problems are global in nature. They also highlight the impact of climate change and international crises like the war in Ukraine on the Canadian economy.
Need long-term solutions: The speaker believes that instead of short-term fixes, long-term solutions are needed, such as a wealth tax or a windfall tax on oil and gas profits, anticipating a potential recession.
