moved for leave to introduce Bill C-412, an act to amend the Income Tax Act (food expenses).
Mr. Speaker, very briefly the purpose of the bill is to allow people engaged in the bicycle courier business to deduct certain food expenses from their taxable income.
The amendment would allow recognition of the fact that couriers consume large amounts of extra fuel, so to speak, to perform their duties. Those who use their cars for business purposes can deduct expenses under certain circumstances. The bill is intended to extend such benefits to bicycle couriers.
The policy goal is to encourage greater use of bicycle couriers, given the health and environmental benefits of having fewer cars and more bicycles on our city streets. This measure is also intended to encourage bicycle couriers to file tax returns, resulting in increased tax revenues for the federal government.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)