OTTAWA — Conservative leadership candidates, including frontrunners Peter MacKay and Erin O’Toole, are slamming their own party for taking the federal COVID-19 wage subsidy that sees public funds cover 75 per cent of an employer’s payroll.
The federal Conservatives, Liberals and NDP have all said they applied for the wage subsidy due to a drop in political donations, and have already received funds. The Bloc Quebecois did not apply and does not plan to.
O’Toole came out first on the weekend to denounce the party’s use of the subsidy, and said he would ensure the money is eventually paid back.
“Canadians have sacrificed enough,” O’Toole said in a Twitter post. “They shouldn’t have to pay wage subsidies for political parties. Under my leadership the Conservative Party will not take the subsidy and over time will repay the amount it has taken. I call on all parties to do the same.”
MacKay also condemned the use of the subsidy, and noted it looked hypocritical for a party that ended the per-vote subsidy for political parties and opposes the Liberal government’s $600 million aid package for print media.
“Political parties should not qualify for a wage subsidy and Justin Trudeau’s law is flawed,” said MacKay. “As leader, I would have stopped the application in its tracks. We should not be bailed out by taxpayer money with millions unemployed and small businesses struggling to stay afloat.”
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See Also:
(1) It’s tough to pay taxes while struggling to cover rent
(2) Here’s those ‘experts’ again. Every time I hear that word I cringe.
(3) Trudeau backs paid sick leave plan to get NDP support for Liberals’ parliament proposal
Aren’t political party staffers eligible for the CERB program?
https://nationalpost.com/news/no-need-to-show-proof-of-work-permit-to-get-cerb-ottawa-tells-temporary-foreign-residents?video_autoplay=true
“The CERB program has wide support from all parties as a way to soften the blow for people left jobless or unable to find work by the pandemic and lockdowns. It provides $500 a week to people who “have stopped working” because of COVID-19, so long as they made $5,000 within the previous 12 months and did not quit voluntarily.”
Maybe the politicians should take a salary cut and that money could help out the political party staffers. After all, with Parliament working — if that’s the appropriate word — minimum hours …