Fall Economic Statement Implementation Act, 2022

An Act to implement certain provisions of the fall economic statement tabled in Parliament on November 3, 2022 and certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on April 7, 2022

This bill is from the 44th Parliament, 1st session, which ended in January 2025.

Sponsor

Status

This bill has received Royal Assent and is now law.

Summary

This is from the published bill. The Library of Parliament has also written a full legislative summary of the bill.

Part 1 implements certain measures in respect of the Income Tax Act by
(a) providing that any gain on the disposition of a Canadian housing unit within a one-year period of its acquisition is treated as business income;
(b) introducing a Tax-Free First Home Savings Account;
(c) phasing out flow-through shares for oil, gas and coal activities;
(d) introducing a new 30% Critical Mineral Exploration Tax Credit for specified mineral exploration expenses incurred in Canada and renounced to flow-through share investors;
(e) introducing the Canada Recovery Dividend under which banks and life insurers’ groups pay a temporary one-time 15% tax on taxable income above $1 billion over five years;
(f) increasing the corporate income tax rate of banks and life insurers’ groups by 1.5% on taxable income above $100 million;
(g) providing additional reporting requirements for trusts;
(h) providing rules applicable to mutual fund trusts listed on a designated stock exchange in Canada with respect to amounts that are allocated to redeeming unitholders;
(i) providing the Minister of National Revenue with the discretion to decline to issue a certificate under section 116 of the Income Tax Act in certain circumstances relating to the administration and enforcement of the Underused Housing Tax Act ;
(j) doubling the First-Time Homebuyers’ Tax Credit;
(k) expanding the eligibility criteria for the Medical Expense Tax Credit in respect of medical expenses incurred in Canada related to surrogate mothers and donors and fees paid in Canada to fertility clinics and donor banks;
(l) introducing the Multigenerational Home Renovation Tax Credit;
(m) allowing access to the small business tax rate on a phased-out basis up to taxable capital of $50 million;
(n) modifying the computation of income as a result of the adoption of a new international accounting standard for insurance contracts;
(o) introducing a new graduated disbursement quota rate for charities;
(p) providing that the general anti-avoidance rules can apply to transactions that affect tax attributes that have not yet been used to reduce taxes;
(q) strengthening the rules on avoidance of tax debts;
(r) modifying the calculation of the taxes applicable to registered investments that hold property that is not a qualified investment;
(s) modifying the tax treatment of certain interest coupon stripping arrangements that might otherwise be used to avoid tax on cross-border interest payments;
(t) clarifying the applicable rules with respect to audits by Canada Revenue Agency officials, including requiring taxpayers to give reasonable assistance and to answer all proper questions for tax purposes; and
(u) extending the capital cost allowance for clean energy and the tax rate reduction for zero-emission technology manufacturers to include air-source heat pumps.
It also makes related and consequential amendments to the Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation Act , the Excise Tax Act , the Air Travellers Security Charge Act , the Excise Act, 2001 , Part 1 of the Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act and the Income Tax Regulations .
Part 2 amends the Excise Act, 2001 and other related texts in order to implement changes to
(a) the federal excise duty frameworks for cannabis and other products by, among other things,
(i) permitting excise duty remittances for certain cannabis licensees to be made on a quarterly rather than a monthly basis, starting from the quarter that began on April 1, 2022, and
(ii) allowing the transfer of packaged, but unstamped, cannabis products between licensed cannabis producers; and
(b) the federal excise duty framework for vaping products in relation to the markings, customs storage and excise duty liability of these products.
Part 3 amends the Underused Housing Tax Act to make amendments of a technical or housekeeping nature. It also makes regulations under that Act in order to, among other things, implement an exemption for certain vacation properties.
Division 1 of Part 4 authorizes the Minister of Finance to acquire and hold on behalf of His Majesty in right of Canada non-voting shares of a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Canada Development Investment Corporation that is responsible for administering the Canada Growth Fund and to requisition the amounts for the acquisition of those shares out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund.
Division 2 of Part 4 amends the Bretton Woods and Related Agreements Act to increase the maximum financial assistance that may be provided in respect of foreign states.
Subdivision A of Division 3 of Part 4 enacts the Framework Agreement on First Nation Land Management Act .
Subdivision B of Division 3 of Part 4 contains transitional provisions in respect of the enactment of the Framework Agreement on First Nation Land Management Act and makes consequential amendments to other Acts. It also repeals the First Nations Land Management Act .
Division 4 of Part 4 amends the Government Employees Compensation Act in order to fulfil Canada’s obligations under the Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of Canada and the Government of the United States of America concerning Cooperation on the Civil Lunar Gateway.
Division 5 of Part 4 amends the Canada Student Loans Act to eliminate the accrual of interest on guaranteed student loans beginning on April 1, 2023.
It also amends the Canada Student Financial Assistance Act to eliminate the accrual of interest on student loans beginning on April 1, 2023.
Finally, it amends the Apprentice Loans Act to eliminate the accrual of interest on apprentice loans beginning on April 1, 2023 and to clarify when the repayment of apprentice loans begins during the interest suspension period from April 1, 2021 to March 31, 2023.

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-32s:

C-32 (2021) An Act for the Substantive Equality of French and English and the Strengthening of the Official Languages Act
C-32 (2016) An Act related to the repeal of section 159 of the Criminal Code
C-32 (2014) Law Victims Bill of Rights Act
C-32 (2012) Law Civil Marriage of Non-residents Act

Votes

Dec. 8, 2022 Passed 3rd reading and adoption of Bill C-32, An Act to implement certain provisions of the fall economic statement tabled in Parliament on November 3, 2022 and certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on April 7, 2022
Dec. 7, 2022 Passed Concurrence at report stage of Bill C-32, An Act to implement certain provisions of the fall economic statement tabled in Parliament on November 3, 2022 and certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on April 7, 2022
Dec. 7, 2022 Failed Bill C-32, An Act to implement certain provisions of the fall economic statement tabled in Parliament on November 3, 2022 and certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on April 7, 2022 (report stage amendment)
Nov. 22, 2022 Passed 2nd reading of Bill C-32, An Act to implement certain provisions of the fall economic statement tabled in Parliament on November 3, 2022 and certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on April 7, 2022
Nov. 22, 2022 Failed 2nd reading of Bill C-32, An Act to implement certain provisions of the fall economic statement tabled in Parliament on November 3, 2022 and certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on April 7, 2022 (reasoned amendment)
Nov. 21, 2022 Passed Time allocation for Bill C-32, An Act to implement certain provisions of the fall economic statement tabled in Parliament on November 3, 2022 and certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on April 7, 2022

Debate Summary

line drawing of robot

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-32, implementing measures from the fall economic statement, includes provisions to increase corporate income tax rates for banks and life insurance groups, eliminate interest on federal student and apprentice loans, and enact the First Nations Land Management Act framework agreement. It also introduces measures related to housing affordability, such as a tax-free first home savings account, an anti-flipping rule, and a tax credit for multi-generational home renovations. The bill aims to provide targeted support to lower-income individuals and families, including increasing the GST tax credit and providing a one-time payment to top up the Canada Housing Benefit.

Liberal

  • Supports Bill C-32: The speaker rises to support Bill C-32, which implements key measures from the government’s fall economic statement to help Canadians in need.
  • Addressing inflation's impact: The bill aims to alleviate the burden of rising costs on families, especially in communities like Scarborough, by providing targeted assistance to those most affected by inflation.
  • Targeted financial relief measures: The bill includes measures such as doubling the GST tax credit, topping up the Canada housing benefit, and launching the Canada dental benefit to provide direct financial relief to lower-income families and seniors.
  • Easing housing affordability: Bill C-32 seeks to address housing affordability through an anti-flipping rule, the new tax-free first home savings account, changes to the tax on non-resident owned property, and doubling the first-time homebuyer's tax credit.
  • Reducing student debt burden: The bill eliminates interest on federal student loans and defers repayment until graduates earn at least $40,000 per year, providing significant relief to young Canadians burdened by student debt.

Conservative

  • Lacks confidence in government: Conservative members expressed a lack of trust in the government due to concerns over financial management, rising debt, and broken promises, making it difficult to support confidence measures like the fall economic statement.
  • Criticizes government spending: The Conservative party criticizes the Liberal government for excessive spending and increasing the national debt, which they argue will burden future generations. They advocate for prudent spending and question the effectiveness of current financial policies.
  • Impact of carbon tax: The Conservatives oppose the carbon tax, arguing that it increases the cost of home heating, gasoline, and food production, disproportionately affecting Canadians. They advocate for its removal, especially on home heating fuel, to provide relief to struggling families.
  • Government is out of touch: The Conservative speakers accuse the Liberal government of being disconnected from the realities faced by average Canadians, citing examples of extravagant spending and tone-deaf responses to economic hardships. They contrast this with their focus on supporting industries like energy, fishing, and agriculture.

NDP

  • Supports the bill's measures: The NDP supports the bill's increase to corporate income tax rates for banks and life insurance groups, the elimination of interest on federal student and apprentice loans, and the enactment of the First Nations Land Management Act framework.
  • Missed opportunities: The NDP believes the fall economic statement should have offered more to Canadians struggling with the rising cost of living, especially given record corporate profits and crippling inflation.
  • Windfall tax expansion: The NDP advocates for expanding the windfall tax to other profitable corporations, such as food companies and the oil and gas sector, to generate revenue for programs that would help Canadians with rising costs, such as eliminating the GST on home heating.
  • Free post-secondary education: The NDP has long advocated for the elimination of interest on student debt and believes post-secondary education should be free for the first four years as an investment in a more educated and prosperous society.

Bloc

  • Inadequate measures: The Bloc believes the government's measures are inadequate. They highlighted three examples from the economic statement that they see as either insufficient or counterproductive, demonstrating that the government has lost its way.
  • FHSA ineffective and unfair: The FHSA (tax-free first home savings account) is considered ineffective and unfair, as it primarily benefits higher-income individuals who already have money for a down payment, rather than helping those who genuinely struggle to access home ownership. A fairer approach would be to offer grants proportional to contributions, similar to registered education savings plans.
  • Lacking industrial policy: Canada lacks an ambitious industrial policy and is being overtaken by other countries, like the US. The government is not investing in key industries such as semiconductors, and is simply copying measures like stock buybacks without a clear plan or the ability to implement them effectively.
  • Supply chain vulnerability: The government acknowledges supply chain problems contributing to inflation but fails to propose any concrete solutions. The Bloc argues for investing in key or strategic industries to ensure supply chain resilience, especially in essential goods like medical equipment.
Was this summary helpful and accurate?

Fall Economic Statement Implementation Act, 2022Government Orders

December 7th, 2022 / 5:45 p.m.

Some hon. members

Question.

Fall Economic Statement Implementation Act, 2022Government Orders

December 7th, 2022 / 5:45 p.m.

The Assistant Deputy Speaker Carol Hughes

The question is on the motion.

If a member of a recognized party present in the House wishes that the motion be carried or carried on division or wishes to request a recorded division, I would invite them to rise and indicate it to the Chair.

The hon. parliamentary secretary to the government House leader.

Fall Economic Statement Implementation Act, 2022Government Orders

December 7th, 2022 / 5:45 p.m.

Liberal

Kevin Lamoureux Liberal Winnipeg North, MB

Madam Speaker, I would request a recorded vote.

Fall Economic Statement Implementation Act, 2022Government Orders

December 7th, 2022 / 5:45 p.m.

The Assistant Deputy Speaker Carol Hughes

Pursuant to order made on Thursday, June 23, the division stands deferred until Thursday, December 8, at the expiry of the time provided for Oral Questions.

Fall Economic Statement Implementation Act, 2022Government Orders

December 7th, 2022 / 5:45 p.m.

Liberal

Kevin Lamoureux Liberal Winnipeg North, MB

Madam Speaker, I suspect if you seek it you will find unanimous consent to see the clock at 6:01 p.m., so we can start Private Members' Business.

Fall Economic Statement Implementation Act, 2022Government Orders

December 7th, 2022 / 5:45 p.m.

The Assistant Deputy Speaker Carol Hughes

Is it agreed?

Fall Economic Statement Implementation Act, 2022Government Orders

December 7th, 2022 / 5:45 p.m.

Some hon. members

Agreed.

Fall Economic Statement Implementation Act, 2022Government Orders

December 8th, 2022 / 3:15 p.m.

The Speaker Anthony Rota

It being 3:18 p.m., pursuant to order made on Thursday, June 23, the House will now proceed to the taking of the deferred recorded division on the motion at third reading stage of Bill C-32.

Call in the members.

(The House divided on the motion, which was agreed to on the following division:)

Vote #237

Fall Economic Statement Implementation Act, 2022Government Orders

December 8th, 2022 / 3:45 p.m.

The Speaker Anthony Rota

I declare the motion carried.

(Bill read the third time and passed)

Fall Economic Statement Implementation Act, 2022Government Orders

December 8th, 2022 / 3:45 p.m.

The Speaker Anthony Rota

I wish inform the House that, because of the deferred recorded divisions, Government Orders will be extended by 12 minutes.