moved for leave to introduce Bill C-308, an act to amend the Income Tax Act.
Mr. Speaker, I wish to thank my seconder, the hon. member for Winnipeg—Transcona, for supporting this very important bill.
I am sure that after careful consideration this bill will sweep the nation and the House of Commons like no other private member's bill ever has.
The basic purpose of the bill is to allow members of community service groups a tax credit in respect of their annual membership dues. I am thinking in terms of Lions Clubs, Rotary Clubs, Kinsmen Clubs, et cetera, that now face pressure because of government downloading from all federal, provincial and municipal governments.
The pressure on volunteer and service groups is ever-mounting. Many of these volunteers have volunteer burnout. Enrolment is down in a lot of the service groups across the country because of the burnout. This bill shows the volunteers of this great country of ours that parliament does care and that their membership dues should be fully tax deductible.
I am thankful for the opportunity to present the finest bill the House of Commons has ever seen.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)