CBC Global Header Navigation

 
CBCnews
Story Tools: EMAIL | PRINT | Text Size: S M L XL | REPORT TYPO | SEND YOUR FEEDBACK | Bookmark and Share

Harper promises tax cuts for seniors

Last Updated: Friday, December 9, 2005 | 9:02 PM ET

Conservative Leader Stephen Harper promised to give senior citizens a tax break Friday, saying that his government would allow low and middle income seniors to keep more of their pension income.

Harper, who was campaigning at a seniors' recreational centre in Guelph, Ont., said the Tories would double the amount of pension money seniors can shelter from taxes.

That amount would go up to $2,000 in 2006, he said, and would be raised to $2,500 over time.

"What is happening is that seniors who have very modest private pensions or private retirement savings are losing that because of the Guaranteed Income Supplement clawback and other marginal clawbacks," Harper said.

"This benefit is primarily targeted at those seniors who earn revenue that's starting to get a little above the GIS," said Harper.

He said his measures would save low-income seniors "hundreds of dollars," while costing the federal treasury $2.2 billion over five years.

To fend off possible Liberal attacks, Harper promised to keep the current programs for seniors – the Canada Pension Plan, Old Age Security, and the GIS.

"The Liberals will try their usual scare tactics in this campaign; I find it reprehensible to scare seniors for political purposes, but the Liberals resort to this tactic in every election," said Harper.

Harper said he would also create a national seniors council to act as a sort of go-between to pass seniors concerns along to the government.

  • This story is now closed to commenting.
Story Tools: EMAIL | PRINT | Text Size: S M L XL | REPORT TYPO | SEND YOUR FEEDBACK | Bookmark and Share
 

Canada Headlines

Quebec student talks collapse and more protests loom
The Quebec government has pulled out of talks with student leaders meant to end the province's tuition crisis, with students saying the government is reluctant to lose face.
new Body-parts suspect believed to be in France video
Police in France are searching for a Canadian porn actor suspected of murder and sending dismembered body parts in the mail.
Toronto police deny ignoring body parts case tip video audio
Toronto police deny they ignored a tip about a graphic online video that appears to depict the stabbing and dismemberment of a man days before law enforcement agencies began their search for Luka Rocco Magnotta.
New duty-free limits will challenge Canadian retailers
Cross-border shoppers may welcome increased duty-free limits that kick in Friday, but those changes will magnify problems Canadian retailers are having with the noticeable price gaps between Canada and the U.S.
Ontario calls joint inquest in aboriginal student deaths video
Ontario's chief coroner will hold a joint inquest into the deaths of seven First Nations teenagers from remote reserves who were living in Thunder Bay to attend high school.

Top CBCNews.ca Headlines

Headlines

new Body-parts suspect believed to be in France video
Police in France are searching for a Canadian porn actor suspected of murder and sending dismembered body parts in the mail.
Owner defends 'gore' site connected to Luka Magnotta
The owner of a website that showcases grisly videos says that his site should be praised for helping identify Luka Rocco Magnotta, who is alleged to be in a video believed to be depicting the stabbing and dismemberment of a man.
Quebec student talks collapse and more protests loom
The Quebec government has pulled out of talks with student leaders meant to end the province's tuition crisis, with students saying the government is reluctant to lose face.
Diamond Jubilee: Your photos of royal encounters
The CBC Community team asked you to submit your best photos of the Queen's visits to Canada, or visits by any member of the Royal Family. The result was tremendous!
How manhunts work audio
A nation-wide manhunt, like the one being undertaken to find suspected killer Luka Rocco Magnotta, is a highly co-ordinated exercise that isn't quite as gritty or dramatic as it may seem in TV police shows.