As the furor over the federal government’s proposed tax changes continues to roil, Kootenay-Columbia MP Wayne Stetski rose to make a statement in the House of Commons on Tuesday.
Addressing his parliamentary colleagues, Stetski said he promised to raise the issues around the proposed tax changes after meeting with the Cranbrook and Kimberley Chambers of Commerce.
“Mr. Speaker, earlier this month, I attended meetings with the Cranbrook and Kimberley Chambers of Commerce to discuss the Finance Minister’s proposed tax changes,” said Stetski.
“Across my riding of Kootenay-Columbia, small business owners, farmers, and professionals are all coming together to express their shock and outrage at being told that they’re verging on being tax cheats, and that even struggling businesses will have to pay more.
“David Hull, executive director of the Cranbrook Chamber said in a news release, ‘nobody supports tax evasion or loopholes. But these changes will punish legitimate businesses.’
“One of my small business owners has offered to pay their own way to Ottawa to meet with the Finance Minister or the Prime Minister – that’s how concerned he is.”
Stetski further continued his statement by asking the Liberal government to extend the period for consultation, focus tax reform on closing stock option loopholes and stopping the use of off-shore tax havens and ensuring government doesn’t target hard working small business owners who already ‘feel betrayed’ by the Liberals for not cutting small business taxes.
