The leader of the New Democratic Party (NDP), Jagmeet Singh, was outraged on Monday to learn that retirees or people who do not work will not be entitled to the $250 check announced by Justin Trudeau.
• Also read: Violent demonstration in Montreal: “consequences” are needed, says Trudeau
• Also read: GST holiday: an announcement that “stuck” Pierre Poilievre?
“It’s a real slap in the face. Why are the Liberals excluding the most vulnerable people? he asked in the House.
Jagmeet Singh asks the Liberals to reconsider their proposal if they want the NDP to support the aid measures they are proposing.
“If he wants to go right away with the TPS holiday, we are ready to do that right away, but we have to pay the checks,” declared the leader of the NDP at a press briefing.
The ceiling established at an income of $150,000 to have access to the check was already criticized by the opposition parties.
“It is possible that members of the House of Commons will have a check for $250. It can’t be more poorly targeted than that,” lamented the leader of the Bloc Québécois, Yves-François Blanchet.
The latter also denounced the exclusion of retirees from this measure, especially since the Liberal government refused to increase the amount of pensions for seniors under 75 years old.
“The purchasing power of retirees aged 65 to 74 has been in a lamentable state for several years,” criticized the Bloc leader. The government expressly excludes them from its measure.
