» Carney dismisses tax cuts while showcasing Liberal’s tax relief

Article content

OTTAWA — He came from away, but didn’t have much to say.

Article content

Article content

Article content

Liberal Leader Mark Carney landed in Gander on Monday — the city immortalized in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks — to lament the broken relationship between Canada and the United States, a campaign stop heavy on exposition but light on any new policy announcements.

“President Trump wants to break us, so America can own us,” Carney said from his second stop in Newfoundland — one day after a Sunday evening rally in St. John’s where he caught heat for locking out protesting fishermen he vowed to listen to.

No new policy announcements were made during his stopover, but Carney did spend time reiterating previous promises, including a middle-class tax cut that he says will save average families $825 annually — roughly a third of what the average Canadian pays monthly in rent.

Article content

Article content

When asked about the significantly larger tax cut unveiled by Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, Carney largely ducked the question and accused the Tories of being overly preoccupied with tax cuts.

“It’s an ‘Everyone for themselves’ approach, versus ‘We’re all in this together,’” Carney said, criticizing Poilievre’s promises to use counter-tariff revenue to cut Canadians tax burden.

“We have a balanced approach — yes we’re focused on affordability, yes we want Canadians to have more money in their pockets. That’s why we have a middle-class tax cut.”

Recommended video

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

Play Video

The Conservatives, in contrast, are promising families around $2,000 savings in their tax cut, dropping the lowest tax brackets from 15% to 12.75%.

Article content

Carney, likewise, sidestepped questions about a potential conversation with U.S. President Donald Trump and what the government is doing to prepare for the American leader’s April 2 tariff hikes, instead accusing Poilievre and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith of cozying up to the Trump administration.

“The president is waiting for the outcome of the election to see who has a strong mandate from Canadians,” he said.

“Is it someone who, to quote Danielle Smith, who’s ‘in sync’ with (Trump,) or is it someone who’s going to stand up for Canadians. I’m going to stand up for Canadians, I hope that Canadians will back me.”

In terms of preparing for the April tariffs, Carney reiterated Canada’s now weeks-old plan to possibly impose retaliatory tariffs, and changes to EI meant to help workers impacted by tariff-related job cuts.

He also referenced plans to provide government support for Canada’s “largest companies.”

bpassifiume@postmedia.com
X: @bryanpassifiume

Article content