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

Sponsor

Status

This bill has received Royal Assent and is, or will soon become, 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

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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 is an act to implement provisions from the fall economic statement and budget 2022. It aims to address slow economic growth and high inflation by providing targeted support to Canadians, particularly students and first-time homebuyers. The bill includes measures such as making Canada student loans interest-free, creating a tax-free first home savings account, and promoting investment in clean energy and critical minerals, while also introducing taxes on large financial institutions and share buybacks.

Liberal

  • Helping with affordability: The Liberal party is focused on affordability measures to help Canadians deal with the increased cost of living. This includes targeted support for those most affected by rising prices and ensuring that investments are made to make Canada more sustainable and prosperous.
  • Supporting students: A key measure in the bill is the elimination of interest on federal student loans and Canada apprenticeship loans. This aims to provide financial relief to young Canadians, making post-secondary education more accessible and reducing the burden of student debt.
  • Addressing housing affordability: The bill includes measures to address housing affordability, such as the tax-free first home savings account, doubling the first-time homebuyers' tax credit, and cracking down on house flipping. These initiatives are designed to help young Canadians and first-time homebuyers enter the housing market.
  • Investing in Clean Economy: The Liberal government is focused on building a robust industrial policy and investing in the net-zero economy. This includes expanding tax deductions for business investments in clean energy equipment, introducing a critical mineral exploration tax credit, and creating the Canada growth fund to attract private capital for clean growth and job creation.

Conservative

  • Out-of-control spending: Conservatives argue that the Liberal government has engaged in excessive spending and has not been fiscally responsible. They point to the increase in national debt and express concern over the rising interest rates. They also believe that a significant portion of the spending was unrelated to pandemic measures.
  • Impact of the carbon tax: Conservative members oppose the planned tripling of the carbon tax, arguing that it increases the cost of goods and services for Canadians. They say that the carbon tax impacts home heating costs, the cost of gas, and the cost of food, making it difficult for individuals and families to afford necessities.
  • Ineffective government programs: Members cite inefficiencies in government services, such as delays in passport processing, backlogs in immigration applications, and failures in various departments. They express concern that despite increased spending and a larger bureaucracy, Canadians are not receiving adequate value or quality of service from the government.
  • Opposition to specific measures: The Conservatives oppose specific measures outlined in the bill, such as interest relief on student debt and the dental care plan, questioning their effectiveness and cost. They argue that these programs are not well-targeted and do not address the root causes of the issues they aim to solve.

NDP

  • Supports some measures: The NDP supports measures such as the removal of interest on student and apprenticeship loans and the Canada recovery dividend. These are seen as wins that the NDP fought for and were able to achieve in the fall economic statement, but they are simply not enough.
  • More action needed: The fall economic statement is seen as a lost opportunity because it does not go far enough to address the needs of Canadians. The NDP believes the government should be doing more to curb overseas tax evasion by big corporations and the ultrarich.
  • Tax fairness: The NDP emphasizes the need for a tax system that ensures everyone pays their fair share, including big corporations and the ultrarich. They call for an excess profits tax and a windfall profits tax to address the issue of greedflation.
  • Additional support: The NDP advocates for policies that support working Canadians, such as employment insurance reform and a permanent surtax on the profits of the oil and gas industry. They also want to tackle issues like housing affordability, health care, and the rising cost of food.

Bloc

  • Supports bill C-32: The Bloc has taken stock of the government's actions and while they do not find them particularly impressive, they will support the bill because the measures are not so bad.
  • Disappointed with economic update: Bloc members stated that Bill C‑32 does not include any measures to address the new economic reality brought on by the high cost of living and a possible recession. They view this as a completely missed opportunity for the federal government and will not sing its praises.
  • More health transfers needed: The Bloc Québécois is asking the federal government to agree to the unanimous request of Quebec and the provinces to immediately, permanently and unconditionally increase health transfers. They state that ER doctors are warning that our hospitals have reached breaking point, but the federal government is not acting.
  • Seniors need more support: The Bloc stated that people between the ages of 65 and 74 continue to be denied the increase to old age security, which they need more than ever before. Seniors live on fixed incomes, so they cannot deal with such a sharp rise in the cost of living in real time.
  • Reform employment insurance: The Bloc stated that employment insurance is an excellent economic stabilizer in the event of a recession. They believe the government seems to be backtracking on the comprehensive employment insurance reform that they promised last summer.
  • Accuses government of racketeering: A member stated that the government told Quebeckers that they had two years left to submit projects, but now they only have six months and they just have to deal with it, because the federal government is the boss. He said that the federal government is acting like the mafia, like gangsters, and that there is a word for what it is doing, and that word is racketeering, meaning extortion through threats.

Green

  • Supports some measures: The Green Party supports measures in Bill C-32 that make housing more affordable, such as reducing speculation in the housing market and increasing the first-time homebuyers' tax credit. They are also pleased with the cuts on interest rates on student loans and the phasing out of flow-through shares for oil, gas and coal activities.
  • Bill lacks ambition: The Green Party finds the bill lacks the ambition needed to address the climate crisis, especially when compared to the scale of transformation required. They argue that the bill does not reflect the urgency and fundamental change needed to meet climate obligations.
  • Need climate action: The Green Party believes that Canada needs to stop increasing greenhouse gas emissions and accept the end of dependency on fossil fuels. They are disappointed that Canada rejected the language of phasing out oil and gas at COP27.
  • Climate and Inflation: The Green Party emphasizes the links between inflation and climate action, noting that food costs are rising due to climate-related interruptions in growing seasons and extreme weather events. They argue that the government needs to prepare for extreme weather events and fund infrastructure grants for First Nations communities.
Was this summary helpful and accurate?

(The House divided on the amendment, which was negatived on the following division:)

Vote #219

Fall Economic Statement Implementation Act, 2022Government Orders

November 22nd, 2022 / 3:25 p.m.

The Speaker Anthony Rota

I declare the amendment lost.

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

Fall Economic Statement Implementation Act, 2022Government Orders

November 22nd, 2022 / 3:25 p.m.

Liberal

Mark Gerretsen Liberal Kingston and the Islands, ON

Mr. Speaker, I would request a recorded division, please.

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

Vote #220

Fall Economic Statement Implementation Act, 2022Government Orders

November 22nd, 2022 / 3:40 p.m.

The Speaker Anthony Rota

I declare the motion carried. Accordingly, the bill stands referred to the Standing Committee on Finance.

(Bill read the second time and referred to a committee)

I wish to inform the House that because of the deferred recorded divisions, Government Orders will be extended by 24 minutes.