(Ottawa) Federal Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland has ruled out a tax increase for the middle class in her next budget, but she did not want to specify whether businesses or the wealthy will benefit from the same treatment.
Mme Freeland did not give a clear answer Tuesday at a news conference when asked about the prospect of new taxes on corporate income or individuals who are not part of the middle class.
Instead, the minister highlighted the “urgent” need to invest in sectors that are important to Canadians, particularly young people, such as housing, affordability, productivity, growth and artificial intelligence.
She also recalled the importance of making these investments “in a responsible manner” for public finances.
Mme Freeland has already declared that she will respect the new budgetary safeguards announced in the fall, in particular by keeping the federal deficit below 40.1 billion.
But the new measures will not be financed by an increase in taxes for the middle class, she insisted on Tuesday.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has already made similar commitments.
With the federal budget due April 16, questions swirl around how the Liberals will fund a recent series of policy proposals, including a national school food program.