December 15th, 2024

Ottawa to remove GST on new rental housing, ask grocers to stabilize prices: PM

By The Canadian Press on September 14, 2023.

The Liberals are insisting they can reverse their slumping poll numbers, as MPs gather for the last day of strategy planning ahead of Parliament's return next week. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau visits the construction site of an affordable housing project in London, Ont., Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nicole Osborne

LONDON, Ont. – Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the federal government will remove GST on construction of new rental apartment buildings – a promise the Liberals first made in the election that brought them to power nearly eight years ago.

He also says he will be encouraging provinces to do the same.

The measure, which would lower the cost of labour and materials for homebuilders, is one of several affordability measures Trudeau is announcing at the end of the Liberal caucus retreat in London, Ont.,

He says Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne will be asking grocery companies to come up with a plan by Thanksgiving to stabilize food prices in Canada.

And if they don’t, Trudeau says the federal government is not ruling out forcing them to do so through tax measures.

The Liberals have seen slumping poll numbers that suggest Canadians believe the Conservatives would do a better job dealing with affordability and housing concerns.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 14, 2023.

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