Must be a federal election. The Conservatives are promising tax credits again, and disguising them as tax cuts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
For example, they have announced tax credits for transit, arts classes, fitness lessons, and tutoring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To benefit from a tax credit, you first need to be able to afford to pay out of pocket for the qualifying service, then make enough money to need to pay income tax.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you can\u2019t afford art classes, fitness lessons, or tutoring to start with, you don\u2019t get access to those tax credits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you make less than $20,000\u2014the minimum amount of the lowest tax bracket\u2014you don\u2019t get access to any of these tax credits. 1 out of 3 people who file taxes in Canada don\u2019t make enough to have to pay income tax.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Instead of giving tax credits for arts and sports programmes, better fund these programmes, so they \u2019re more affordable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Instead of giving tax credits for tutoring, better fund education so students don\u2019t need tutors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Instead of giving tax credits for transit, better fund transit so transit users don\u2019t need to pay fares, just like drivers don\u2019t need to pay fares to use roads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tax credits are nothing but smoke and mirrors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n