Bill C-8

Economic and Fiscal Update Implementation Act, 2021

An Act to implement certain provisions of the economic and fiscal update tabled in Parliament on December 14, 2021 and other measures

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 amends the Income Tax Act and the Income Tax Regulations in order to
(a) introduce a new refundable tax credit for eligible businesses on qualifying ventilation expenses made to improve air quality;
(b) expand the travel component of the northern residents deduction by giving all northern residents the option to claim up to $1,200 in eligible travel expenses even if the individual has not received travel assistance from their employer;
(c) expand the School Supplies Tax Credit from 15% to 25% and expand the eligibility criteria to include electronic devices used by eligible educators; and
(d) introduce a new refundable tax credit to return fuel charge proceeds to farming businesses in backstop jurisdictions.
Part 2 enacts the Underused Housing Tax Act . This Act implements an annual tax of 1% on the value of vacant or underused residential property directly or indirectly owned by non-resident non-Canadians. It sets out rules for the purpose of establishing owners’ liability for the tax. It also sets out applicable reporting and filing requirements. Finally, to promote compliance with its provisions, this Act includes modern administration and enforcement provisions aligned with those found in other taxation statutes.
Part 3 provides for a six-year limitation or prescription period for the recovery of amounts owing with respect to a loan provided under the Canada Emergency Business Account program established by Export Development Canada.
Part 4 authorizes payments to be made out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund for the purpose of supporting ventilation improvement projects in schools.
Part 5 authorizes payments to be made out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund for the purpose of supporting coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) proof-of-vaccination initiatives.
Part 6 authorizes the Minister of Health to make payments of up to $1.72 billion out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund in relation to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) tests. It also sets out reporting requirements for the Minister of Health.
Part 7 amends the Employment Insurance Act to specify the maximum number of weeks for which benefits may be paid in a benefit period to certain seasonal workers.

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-8s:

C-8 (2020) Law An Act to amend the Citizenship Act (Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada's call to action number 94)

C-8 (2020) An Act to amend the Criminal Code (conversion therapy)

C-8 (2016) Law Appropriation Act No. 5, 2015-16

C-8 (2013) Law Combating Counterfeit Products Act

Votes

May 4, 2022 Passed 3rd reading and adoption of Bill C-8, An Act to implement certain provisions of the economic and fiscal update tabled in Parliament on December 14, 2021 and other measures

May 4, 2022 Failed Bill C-8, An Act to implement certain provisions of the economic and fiscal update tabled in Parliament on December 14, 2021 and other measures (recommittal to a committee)

May 4, 2022 Failed 3rd reading and adoption of Bill C-8, An Act to implement certain provisions of the economic and fiscal update tabled in Parliament on December 14, 2021 and other measures (subamendment)

May 2, 2022 Passed Concurrence at report stage of Bill C-8, An Act to implement certain provisions of the economic and fiscal update tabled in Parliament on December 14, 2021 and other measures

May 2, 2022 Failed Bill C-8, An Act to implement certain provisions of the economic and fiscal update tabled in Parliament on December 14, 2021 and other measures (report stage amendment)

April 28, 2022 Passed Time allocation for Bill C-8, An Act to implement certain provisions of the economic and fiscal update tabled in Parliament on December 14, 2021 and other measures

Feb. 10, 2022 Passed 2nd reading of Bill C-8, An Act to implement certain provisions of the economic and fiscal update tabled in Parliament on December 14, 2021 and other measures

Debate Summary

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-8 is legislation to implement measures from the fall 2021 economic statement, including tax credits for small businesses to improve air quality, a tax on underused housing owned by non-residents, and funding for COVID-19 rapid tests and proof-of-vaccination programs. It also sets a six-year limitation period for the Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) loan repayments and provides additional funding to provinces and territories for ventilation improvements in schools. The bill addresses housing affordability, supports businesses affected by the pandemic, and aims to ensure a safe return to classrooms.

Liberal

Supporting Canadians through COVID-19: Liberal members emphasized that Bill C-8 contains measures to protect Canadians' health and safety, support businesses, improve ventilation in schools and commercial buildings, and address housing affordability during the COVID-19 pandemic. They highlighted the importance of ventilation in schools and commercial buildings to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission.
Economic Recovery Measures: The bill proposes measures to help businesses improve their ventilation and air quality systems, offering a refundable tax credit for eligible small business expenditures. They also highlighted the Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) program and extended repayment deadlines for CEBA loans to support short-term economic recovery and offer greater repayment flexibility to small businesses.
Addressing Housing Affordability: Bill C-8 seeks to address housing affordability through the implementation of a national annual 1% tax on the value of non-resident, non-Canadian-owned residential real estate in Canada that is considered to be vacant or underused. The goal is to curb foreign investment and support those struggling with rent increases and housing shortages.
Criticizing Conservative obstruction: Several Liberal members criticized the Conservative Party for stalling and filibustering Bill C-8, preventing important supports from reaching Canadians. They argued that the Conservatives' actions were politically motivated and lacked a clear rationale, as the bill contains numerous beneficial measures for farmers, teachers, and businesses.

Conservative

Opposes excessive spending: The Conservatives criticize Bill C-8 for allocating over $50 billion of taxpayer money, much of which is borrowed. They express concern that the Liberal government is attempting to push the legislation through without adequate oversight and accountability.
Inflation and interest rates: The Conservatives highlight the current inflation rate of 6.7% and the increasing interest rates. They feel that the Liberal government should taper off spending, but the budget released in 2022 included $56 billion in new spending.
Against vaccine mandates: The Conservatives express concerns about Part 5 of Bill C-8, which relates to COVID-19 proof-of-vaccination initiatives. They see the mandates as punitive towards those who have chosen not to be vaccinated, and express concern with federal mandates conflicting with provincial rules.
Carbon tax burdens farmers: The Conservatives believe the government should extend the carbon tax exemption to propane and natural gas for farmers, as they are essential for heating and grain drying. They propose exempting farm fuel from the carbon tax, allowing farmers to reinvest those dollars into their operations.

NDP

Critiques on inflation discourse: The NDP criticizes the focus solely on government spending as the cause of inflation. They highlight studies suggesting that up to 25% of inflationary pressure comes from companies increasing prices beyond their increased costs and argue for regulation to prevent businesses from exploiting Canadians.
Addressing wealth inequality: The NDP argues that addressing wealth inequality is crucial for solving the housing crisis, suggesting taxing the wealth of the richest Canadians to invest in priorities like housing, emissions reduction, and healthcare. They blame lowered corporate tax rates for enabling the wealthy to further accumulate wealth through real estate speculation.
Toxic drug crisis response: The NDP criticizes the government's inadequate response to the toxic drug supply crisis, pointing out the failure to acknowledge the public health emergency in the fall economic update and the insufficient funding allocated to address the crisis. They advocate for addressing the root causes of problematic substance use, investing in harm reduction, and ensuring access to treatment and recovery services.
Economic costs of drug policies: The NDP emphasizes the economic costs of the war on drugs, highlighting how criminalization leads to higher healthcare costs and burdens the health and criminal justice systems. They cite evidence suggesting that investing in addiction treatment yields significant returns in reduced crime and healthcare costs, advocating for a shift towards a health-focused approach.

Bloc

Opposes underused housing tax: The Bloc Québécois opposes the underused housing tax in Bill C-8, viewing it as a federal intrusion into provincial jurisdiction over property taxes. They argue that the federal government should collaborate with Quebec and the provinces on housing initiatives.
Calls for increased health transfers: The Bloc calls for a significant increase in federal health transfers to Quebec and the provinces, advocating for an immediate payment of $28 billion annually with a 6% transfer increase. They argue that the current 3% increase is insufficient to address the needs of the healthcare system.
Seeks improvements to CEBA: While acknowledging the extension of the CEBA loan repayment deadline as a positive step, the Bloc seeks further improvements to the program to better support small and medium-sized enterprises. They propose measures such as increased loan forgiveness and support for businesses in e-commerce.
More action on labour shortages: The Bloc believes more needs to be done to address the labour shortage, suggesting tax credits for seniors who continue to work and faster processing times for immigration applications. They also raise concerns about the impact of fertilizer taxes on farmers and the cost of groceries.

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