Trudeau Says No Plan to Expand $250 Cheque Eligibility After GST Bill Clears Commons

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he will not expand the proposed $250 cheques to include more Canadians like seniors and those with disabilities, after the NDP set this condition to support any related legislation.
Trudeau made the comment the day after the House of Commons passed Bill C-78, which seeks to enact a two-month sales tax holiday. The bill, which didn’t include the $250 cheque provision, passed with NDP support and will go to the Senate for review.
Speaking at a press conference in Prince Edward Island on Nov. 29, Trudeau accused the NDP of not recognizing the challenges faced by working Canadians in the decision not to support the proposed $250 cheques.
Trudeau told reporters on Nov. 29 that the government wants to “be there to recognize and invest in” Canadians who helped the economy bounce back after the COVID-19 pandemic, which he said led to higher inflation. The prime minister added that the government has other measures to support seniors and disabled persons like increasing Old Age Security and implementing the Canadian Dental Care Plan.
“We realized that everyone needs a little extra support right now, and specifically those folks who’ve been working really, really hard over the past years,” he said.
Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre and his party voted against the sales tax break, calling it an “inflationary” measure and a “temporary two-month tax trick.” The Bloc Québécois also voted against, calling it politically motivated in order to gain votes.