Singh Says He Doesn’t Support Liberals’ Proposed $250 Cheques, Wants More Support for Vulnerable

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh gives remarks during a press conference in Toronto on Sept. 5, 2024. The Canadian Press/Christopher Katsarov

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh said his party does not currently support the Liberals’ proposed $250 cheques for Canadians, saying it does not include the most vulnerable Canadians like seniors and those with disabilities.

“We were told it would be anyone earning less than $150,000 who would get this. We assumed that would include obviously seniors, people living with disabilities, and students,” Singh told reporters in the House of Commons on Nov. 25.

“Right now we have learned it is going to exclude the most vulnerable. That is wrong. The Liberals need to fix this.”

On Nov. 21, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced a two-month break for Canadians from the federal sales tax (GST), saying Canadians are “squeezed” during the holiday season amid the cost-of-living crisis. The tax break applies to items such as groceries, restaurant meals, beer, wine, certain pre-mixed alcoholic beverages, and certain items for children such as clothing, footwear, diapers, and toys. Trudeau also announced the government would give $250 cheques to 18.7 million Canadians who worked in 2023 and earned $150,000 or less.

The New Democrats initially said they would support the policy, and took credit for forcing the Liberals to adopt the party’s idea of a GST break on essential items. Singh said the party was “obviously” going to support “people getting a break,” but said the policy did not go far enough.

On Nov. 25, Singh said the initial briefing from the Liberals did not specify that the policy only applied to working Canadians, and the NDP had assumed Canadians earning no income would be supported.

In a subsequent document, the Department of Finance said the cheques would only be given to tax filers who worked as employees and reported Canada Pension Plan and Employment Insurance contributions on their 2023 tax returns. Singh said this would disqualify retired Canadians, those living on disability pensions, and students.

“It is a slap in the face,“ Singh said, adding that the Liberal Party needed to ”fix the cheque.”

Bloc Québécois leader Yves-François Blanchet also said he was confused by the initial proposal, telling reporters on Nov. 25 that he did not understand “how the Liberals got the NDP to support them on this.” Blanchet suggested the cheques should be expanded to include retirees, and said he is concerned the money would not be going to the people who need it most.

The Conservative Party criticized the Liberals’ announcement saying in a press release that the GST break and cheques would ultimately “do nothing to make life more affordable for working Canadians” in the longer term.

The party said with the federal carbon tax set to increase by 19 percent in April 2025, the government should “axe the carbon tax” if they are “serious about restoring affordability.”

The Canadian Press contributed to this report.