Mr. Speaker, after nine years of the Liberal government, rents have doubled, mortgage payments have doubled and the amount needed for a down payment has doubled. The dream of home ownership has slipped away from Canadians.
That is why common-sense Conservatives have announced that we will axe the federal sales tax on all new home sales under $1 million. That means that for a $800,000-house, there will be a one-time savings of $40,000, and then $2,200 of annual mortgage payment savings.
People agree this is great. Eric Lombardi, a housing advocate, said that he is glad to see this and that it is a much-needed change. Richard Lyall of the Residential Construction Council of Ontario said, “We commend [the Conservative leader] and his party for putting forward this plan.”
Home ownership should not come with a GST-sized surprise. Only Conservatives will build homes and make sure they are more affordable. Conservatives will axe the tax, build the homes and bring it home to Canadians and their families.