(Ottawa) Although he is currently in favor of increasing the old age security pension for seniors aged 65 to 74, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre indicates that he would no longer necessarily be so if his party formed the government.
“The Conservatives voted to signal that seniors should have more purchasing power,” he explained Thursday during a press conference in Toronto.
Mr. Poilievre, whose party voted in favor of a Bloc motion on this subject last week and who agrees that seniors have “a hard time paying their bills”, was asked whether he committed to adopting such an increase if his party took power.
“There are other ways to help them: we can cut taxes – seniors pay a lot of taxes on their pensions and retirement funds – and we are looking at proposals to cut taxes for everyone,” he said. -he said. It will reward the work of young people, small businesses, but also seniors. »
The Bloc Québécois motion on raising pensions was adopted in the Commons, despite the fact that almost all Liberals opposed it. In addition to the Conservatives, the New Democrats supported the Bloc in their initiative.
Government House Leader Karina Gould argued that at the procedural level, the Bloc Québécois opposition day motion was not the appropriate vehicle to win the case. His colleague Minister of Employment, Randy Boissonnault, affirmed that seniors in the age group in question are “better off than ever” at the moment.
The motion asked the Liberals to take steps to grant the royal recommendation to Bill C-319 on increasing the old age security pension. This is necessary for the adoption of the legislative piece since it provides for expenses.
Two weeks ago, the Bloc Québécois issued an ultimatum to Justin Trudeau’s minority government if it wants to maintain its support. The adoption of C-319 by October 29 was one of them.
According to the Parliamentary Budget Officer, increasing the amount of pensions for seniors under the age of 75 would cost $16 billion over the next five years.