Harper offers tax breaks to tradespeople, students
Last Updated: Thursday, December 8, 2005 | 6:55 PM ET
CBC News
The plan includes giving workers a tax deduction of up to $500 for tools, Harper said Thursday while campaigning in North Bay, Ont.
As well, there would be a $1,000 grant for apprentices in their first two years, and a tax credit of 10 per cent of an apprentice's wages for two years, to a maximum of $2,000.
Post-secondary students would get a tax credit of up to $500 to help cover the cost of textbooks. The deduction could be claimed by students or their parents.
Harper also said the first $10,000 of a student scholarship or bursary income would be exempt from taxation.
A Conservative government would also work with the provinces to make it easier for children of middle-class parents to get student loans, the Tory leader said.
Voters go to the polls Jan. 23.
