Jagmeet Singh pledges to cut GST from essentials like groceries, heating and kids' clothing

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh has pledged to eliminate the GST on "daily essentials" if his party wins the next federal election.

"New Democrats are going to give you a break on your daily essentials and monthly bills," Singh announced during a speech at the Canadian Club in Toronto on Thursday.

The NDP plans to remove the GST from costs like home heating, cell phone and internet bills, groceries, and children's necessities, according to Singh. The party's statement added that the GST exemption would include "grocery-store meals," "diapers," and children's clothing.

To fund this initiative, Singh proposed introducing an "excess profits tax" targeting large corporations that inflate prices to increase profit margins. "We have to make life more affordable for Canadians right now," Singh said. "We're going to make the CEOs pay for it."

End of Agreement with Liberals

In September, Singh announced the termination of the supply-and-confidence agreement between the NDP and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's Liberal government. The deal, established in March 2022, required the NDP to support the minority Liberals on confidence votes in exchange for action on key NDP priorities.

While the agreement's end raises the possibility of an early federal election, Singh has expressed caution about backing Conservative or Bloc Québécois efforts to topple the Liberals through a non-confidence vote.

"I will not let [Conservative Leader] Pierre Poilievre, the 'king cut,' or the Bloc call the shots," Singh said last month. "We'll look at any bill that comes forward, any motion that comes forward, and if it's going to help people with these difficult times, we'll look at that."

Concerns Over Programs at Risk

Singh warned that a Conservative government could jeopardize programs such as dental care, child care, and pharmacare. These initiatives were part of the conditions negotiated in the NDP-Liberal agreement.

Although pharmacare legislation has passed in Parliament, agreements with individual provinces have yet to be finalized. It remains unclear whether Poilievre would retain the program if his party forms the next government.

According to polling data, the Conservatives currently lead with 41.6% support, followed by the Liberals at 23.3% and the NDP at 18.4%.