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No tax coming on health and dental benefits
After days of uncertainty, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said yesterday his government would not enact a tax on employer-sponsored health and dental benefits.
“We are committed to protecting the middle class from increased taxes and that is why we will not be raising [those] taxes,” he said in Parliament.
The announcement is good news to business and workers, said Cranbrook Chamber of Commerce Executive Director David D. Hull.
“This is extremely good news for employees and employers alike. Quite frankly the entire notion was fraught with pitfalls and short of a bit of tax money for the feds there was not merit to the idea,” Hull said.
The Cranbrook Chamber joined the Canadian Chamber of Commerce and chambers across Canada to oppose the government’s proposal to tax employer-sponsored health and dental benefit plans. In addition to hundreds or thousands of dollars that would be added to Canadians’ tax bills, it also could have meant that many employers could no longer provide coverage to employees.
“Clearly the strong and consistent message from the chamber movement across Canada has gotten through that this was a bad idea that would harm middle class Canadians,” said Hull. “We will continue to monitor developments, but this is very positive news. This is proof positive of the power of the Canadian Chamber network. We have a powerful and effective voice when we all work together.”
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