Ottawa, ON – Marty Morantz, Member of Parliament for Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia—Headingley, this week introduced Bill C-240, the Supporting Canadian Charities Act. During COVID-19 many charities have continued to step up and provide much-needed services to those in need including food banks, homeless shelters, and those providing counselling. There are other charities that have had to suspend or limit their operations, including children’s programs, disability programs, and many others. “Many Canadian charities are struggling to raise much-needed funds during this pandemic,” said Morantz. “Their traditional fundraisers aren’t an option, and many of their traditional donors can no longer afford to make a monthly donation. All this is leaving charities across Canada struggling.” This legislation will help charities by waiving the capital gains tax on an arm’s length sale of private shares or real estate when the proceeds of the sale are donated to a charity. According to reports tabled at the Special Senate Committee on the Charitable Sector, Bill C-240 will generate up to $200 million a year in new donations and help charities offer their much-needed services. This legislation will empower Canadians to decide where their money should go and choose the charities, large or small, that make a difference in their communities. “This common-sense legislation is a way to help struggling charities and allow Canadians to give back,” said Morantz. “My hope is that all parties can work together to pass this important legislation.”

Ottawa, ON — Kevin Waugh, Conservative Member of Parliament for Saskatoon—Grasswood, and Chair of the Conservative Saskatchewan Regional Caucus, and Warren Steinley, Conservative Member of Parliament for Regina-Lewvan and Shadow Minister for Prairie Economic Development, issued the following statement on the passing of today’s Conservative Opposition Day Motion to amend section 24 of the Saskatchewan Act: “The success of today’s motion is welcome news to the people of Saskatchewan. Conservatives have said from the beginning that we will always respect the jurisdiction of our provinces and their right to amend their respective constitutions. “This is the second time Conservatives have asked the Liberal government to remove a longstanding deal imposed by a former federal government to give CP Rail a permanent tax exemption in Saskatchewan. “Today, the voice of Saskatchewan could no longer be ignored. The debate we brought forward resulted in the successful commitment by the Government of Canada to remove this unprecedented tax exemption that was granted before Saskatchewan became a part of Canada and has allowed a big profitable company to pass the tax burden to Saskatchewan citizens for more than a century. “We look forward to supporting efforts that ensure this commitment is carried out by the Trudeau Liberal government, and we will ensure the voices of the people of Saskatchewan are respected. “Conservatives will always be on Saskatchewan’s side, and we will be a voice for all Canadians.”

Ottawa, ON – The Conservative Party National Campaign today released the following statement on Justin Trudeau’s candidate in Spadina—Fort York: “Last night, media reported that Justin Trudeau’s candidate in Spadina—Fort York was charged with sexual assault in 2019 – a fact that Justin Trudeau, the Liberal Party of Canada, and the candidate hid from Canadians. “This pattern of cover-ups by Justin Trudeau and the Liberal Party must stop. Once again Canadians are left wondering how they can trust the Liberals. “Justin Trudeau must do the right thing and immediately fire this candidate and confirm that if elected, this candidate will not sit in the Liberal Caucus.”

Ottawa, ON – Today, the Hon. Erin O’Toole, Leader of Canada’s Conservatives, shared his plan to support parents. “The last thing I want new and expecting parents to worry about is their income or how they’re going to pay for essentials like cribs, car seats, and clothes when Justin Trudeau is driving up the cost of everything,” said O’Toole. “Canada’s Conservatives have a plan to help these parents keep more of their income and get relief when they need it most for these new costs.” Through Canada’s Recovery Plan, a Conservative government will: -- Improve Canada’s existing maternity and parental leave programs to allow new parents to earn and keep up to $1,000 per month without the government clawing back their maternity or parental leave. -- Provide expecting parents with the Canada Child Benefit starting in the seventh month of pregnancy to help them purchase essentials as they prepare for the arrival of their baby. -- Create a National Adoption Strategy that will include more generous benefits for adoptive parents, including an expanded EI benefit and an increase to the Adoption Expense Tax Credit from $15,000 to $20,000. “Making life more affordable for Canadians and ensuring our maternity and parental leave programs work for families in today’s modern workforce will remain top priorities for a Conservative government,” said O’Toole. “Only Canada’s Conservatives have a plan to secure the future for new and expecting Canadian families.”

Vancouver, BC – Today, the Hon. Erin O’Toole, Leader of Canada’s Conservatives, announced his plan to support parents experiencing the trauma of a miscarriage, stillbirth, or loss of a child. “Every year, thousands of Canadian parents struggle with the loss of a child, but our current benefits system does not provide the proper support for grieving parents,” said O’Toole. “Canada’s Conservatives will end the stigma and ensure parents have access to the financial support and time they need to mourn.” Currently, employment insurance parental benefits end immediately following the death of a child. A Conservative government will reform this to extend EI parental leave for at least eight weeks following the death of a child, ensuring that parents are not abruptly cut off from their benefits. Canada’s Conservatives will also provide up to eight weeks of paid leave from employment in the event of a stillbirth. To promote healing and family wellness, a Conservative government will also provide parents with three days of paid bereavement leave in the event of a miscarriage. “We will be there for grieving parents when they need us most,” said O’Toole. “Only Canada’s Conservatives have a plan to support families and secure the future.”

Whitby, ON – Today, the Hon. Erin O’Toole, Leader of Canada’s Conservatives, released his plan to improve the lives of Canadians in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). Nearly one in five Canadians live in the GTA, but families in these communities are increasingly worried about finding a home they can afford, the rising cost of living, long commute times, gang violence, and overcrowded hospitals. “We need someone in Ottawa who personally knows and understands the challenges facing the families and communities in our region,” said O’Toole. “As someone who was raised in the GTA and now raising my family there, I will deliver a Conservative plan to build more homes, get shovels in the ground on transit, and cut hospital wait times.” Through Canada’s Recovery Plan, Canada’s Conservatives will: -- Get housing prices under control by building one million more homes over the next three years and banning foreign buyers if they have no intention of moving to Canada. -- Lower prices by introducing a GST holiday in December, cracking down on price-fixing, and getting inflation under control by stopping the Liberals’ endless deficits, and responsibly balancing the budget over the next decade. -- Reduce commute times by immediately getting shovels in the ground on transit projects across the Greater Toronto Area, including Ontario’s GTA transit plan and GO expansion. -- Cut hospital wait times by increasing health transfers by a minimum of six per cent annually, representing a historic $60 billion investment over 10 years in health care. -- Combat gang violence by hiring an additional 200 RCMP officers to help keep communities safe. “It’s time Canada had a Prime Minister from the 905,” said O’Toole. “As Prime Minister, I will secure the future for workers and families across the GTA and for all Canadians.”

Ottawa, ON — Today, the Hon. Erin O’Toole, Leader of Canada’s Conservatives, released his plan to secure human rights by banning products made with forced and enslaved labour. “For years, we’ve known Uyghur slave labour is being used by China’s Communist regime in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region to produce products like cotton, tomatoes, and solar panels for export,” said O’Toole. “As Prime Minister, I won’t hesitate to act against this disgusting practice and ensure that the worst human rights offenders don’t profit from these abuses.” A Conservative government will dramatically revise Canada’s supply chain legislation to meaningfully enforce the country’s commitment not to import products made with slave labour, including products the Chinese Communist Party forces Uyghur Muslims to make. “Canada’s Conservatives will always stand up for human rights,” concluded O’Toole. “We will stand with our allies around the world to confront evil and tyranny wherever it exists and promote greater freedom for all.” If you don’t care about standing up for human rights, you have three parties to choose from in this election. If you do, then there is only one choice – Erin O’Toole and Canada’s Conservatives.

Ottawa, ON – Today, the Hon. Erin O’Toole, Leader of Canada’s Conservatives, released his plan to introduce a Dine and Discover program to support the tourism and hospitality sectors. “The COVID-19 pandemic has had a disastrous effect on Canada’s tourism and hospitality sectors,” said O’Toole. “A Conservative government will act quickly to recover the one million jobs lost during the pandemic and help these businesses get back on their feet.” Through Canada’s Recovery Plan, a Conservative government will introduce a Dine and Discover program to encourage Canadians to support these hard-hit sectors. This initiative will: -- Provide a 50 per cent rebate for food and non-alcoholic drinks purchased for dine-in from Monday to Wednesday for one month, once it is safe to do so, pumping nearly $1 billion into these sectors. -- Launch the Explore and Support Canada initiative with a 15 per cent tax credit for vacation expenses of up to $1,000 per person to encourage Canadians to vacation in Canada in 2022, helping the tourism sector get back on its feet. -- Eliminate the Liberal escalator tax on alcohol. “We will help Canadians deal with the rising cost of living, while supporting those who work in our hospitality sector,” said O’Toole. If you don’t care about securing support for Canada’s tourism and hospitality sectors, you have three parties to choose from in this election. If you do, then there is only one choice – Canada’s Conservatives.

Ottawa, ON – Today, the Hon. Erin O’Toole, Leader of Canada’s Conservatives, introduced his plan to lower cell phone and Internet bills and improve broadband access. Canadians pay some of the highest cell phone and Internet rates in the world. As the pandemic has shown, access to reliable cell and Internet service is critical for Canadians. “A big reason for pricey cell phone bills is a lack of competition,” said O’Toole. “A Conservative government will always stand up for consumers and promote more competition to help provide more affordable options for Canadians and lower bills.” As part of Canada’s Recovery Plan, Canada’s Conservatives will: -- Allow international telecommunications companies to provide services to Canadian consumers, provided that the same treatment is reciprocated for Canadian companies in that company’s home country. -- Build up digital infrastructure to connect all of Canada to high-speed Internet by 2025, ensuring that all Canadians have reliable access to the Internet regardless of where they live. -- Make investments in rural broadband and lowering prices a necessary criteria of winning spectrum auctions and apply “use-it-or-lose-it” rules that require telecommunication companies to immediately begin building infrastructure to connect customers. -- Empower local communities and businesses by promoting investment in their own wireless and broadband projects and reducing local and regional dependence on the national telecommunications giants. “Canada’s Recovery Plan will foster more competition, create jobs in rural communities, and ensure Canadians have access to affordable wireless choices,” said O’Toole. “We are the only choice to secure the future and ensure affordable cell phone service for you and your family.”

Ottawa, ON – Today, the Hon. Erin O’Toole, Leader of Canada’s Conservatives, released his plan to lift up Canadians by doubling the Canada Workers Benefit. “Canadians are struggling, and for too long our most vulnerable workers have been left behind without the proper support to provide for themselves and their families,” said O’Toole. “Canada’s Conservatives believe that it’s time to make work pay and help those most in need.” Canada’s Recovery Plan will double the Canada Workers Benefit up to a maximum of $2,800 for individuals or $5,000 for families, paying it as a quarterly direct deposit rather than a tax refund at year-end. This will help 3.5 million families pay the bills and put food on the table. For someone earning between $12,000 and $28,000 per year, it represents a $1/hour raise. A Conservative government will also double the disability supplement from $713 to $1,500, helping almost 90,000 workers with disabilities. “Increasing this benefit and delivering it every three months will make a huge difference in the lives of low-income workers and their families, including those who are earning minimum wage,” O’Toole said. “Together, we can secure the future for working Canadians.” If you don’t care about lifting up working Canadians, you have three parties to choose from in this election. If you do, then there is only one choice – Erin O’Toole and Canada’s Conservatives.