Andrew Scheer to reduce cost of public transit

A new Conservative government will put money back in the pockets of Canadians

Today, the Hon. Andrew Scheer, Leader of Canada’s Conservatives, announced
that as Prime Minister, he would introduce the Green Public Transit Tax Credit to
reduce the cost of public transit and put more money back in the pockets of
Canadians.

“For so many Canadians, especially our students, young
professionals, young families, and seniors, the cost of public transit can be a
significant out-of-pocket expense. The Green Public Transit Tax Credit will
provide much-needed relief to transit users and commuters so they can just
worry about getting home on time, and not so much about their bottom line.”

A
family of four in the Greater Toronto Area that regularly takes the TTC would
save almost $1,000 per year with a new Conservative Government’s Green Public Transit
Tax Credit. A young professional regularly commuting on GO Transit from Oshawa
to downtown Toronto would save around $650 per year.

The
Credit will be for transit passes that allow for unlimited travel within Canada
on local busses, streetcars, subways, commuter trains, and ferries. Some
electronic fare cards and weekly passes can be eligible if they are used on an
ongoing basis.

The Trudeau Liberals eliminated the Public Transit Tax
Credit in 2017 and hit the wallets of 1.8 million Canadians. This is exactly
what Canadians can expect with four more years of Trudeau, poor judgement,
higher taxes, more expenses.

“Life
is expensive enough and the government should not make it more expensive,” said
Scheer. “My plan is about supporting Canadians and helping them reach their
goals by easing the daily pressures that they face just to get to work, or to
care for their kids, or to manage their homes. This tax credit means you can
worry a bit less.”

The Green Public Transit
Tax Credit is an important part of A Real Plan to
Protect the Environment, Canada’s
Conservative’s plan to fight climate change by lowering emissions with our core
promise of leaving more money in Canadians’ pockets and letting them get ahead.

The Credit will also
reduce congestion on our roads and cut commute times for Canadians so that
everyone can get home faster at the end of the work day.

FACTS:

The Trudeau Liberals eliminated this tax
credit in Budget 2017.

Eligible expenses will include monthly transit
passes, as well as weekly passes and electronic fare cards when used for an
extended period. Canadians will be able to claim the credit for transit costs
borne by themselves, their spouses, and children under the age of 19.
By making it more affordable for Canadians to
use public transit, we will reduce the number of cars on the road. This will
decrease congestion, allowing Canadians to get home faster at the end of the
workday. It will also help our environment as more Canadians choose public
transit.
It is easy to claim the Green Public Transit Tax
Credit as online passes can be claimed.

SUPPORTING
DOCUMENTS

Background