Date Posted

October 17, 2019

The AMTA has put together a 2020 Federal Election primer with a focus on party/platform promises, which may most affect the commercial transportation industry.

The election takes place Monday, Oct. 21.

Conservative Party of Canada

Leader: Andrew Scheer

Slogan: It’s time for you to get ahead

Carbon tax

Andrew Scheer and the Conservative Party have said their plan is to eliminate the federal carbon tax and instead is planning to invest in “clean technology development”.

Transportation

Scheer has said, if elected the Conservatives would scrap the Canada Infrastructure Bank calling the project a “failure”. With a collection of some $35 billion, the bank is used to attract private investment and partnership for large infrastructure projects including public transit, transportation and green infrastructure.

Budget/Taxation

“We will eliminate $1.5 billion in corporate handouts to profitable companies, reduce Canada’s foreign aid by 25 per cent, cut wasteful spending on high-priced consultants and empty office space, and control spending and invest infrastructure money on a responsible and structured timeline,” says the party’s platform.

Green Party of Canada

Leader: Elizabeth May

Slogan: Forward together

Carbon tax

The party has said they will maintain the carbon tax while introducing further taxation for aviation and shipping.

Transportation

The party platform states, by 2030, all new vehicles on the market will be electric, as well as public transit buses and trains. “A Green government will develop a national transportation strategy with a goal of reaching zero-carbon public ground transportation everywhere in Canada by 2040.”

Budget/Taxation

The Green party has stated it will establish an arm’s length Federal Tax Commission to analyze the Canadian tax system for fairness and accessibility; close loopholes that benefit the wealthy and end offshore tax dodging by taxing funds “hidden in offshore havens and requiring companies to prove that their foreign affiliates are actual functioning businesses for tax purposes.”

Liberal Party of Canada

Leader: Justin Trudeau

Slogan: Choosing forward

Transportation

The Liberal Party platform includes new investments for electrifying transit and transportation ($700 million over four years), and zero-emissions, clean technology incentives ($171 million over four years).

Carbon tax

This year the Liberals set a minimum carbon price of $20/tonne which will increase to $50/tonne by 2022.

Budget/Taxation

The Liberal platform states the party will “make sure” the middle class pays no federal taxes on the first $15,000 they earn. To do this, the Liberals plan on increasing the Basic Personal Amount (BPA) by just under $2,000 for Canadians who make less than $147,000/year.

New Democratic Party

Leader: Jagmeet Singh

Slogan: In it for you

Carbon Tax

The NDP intends to continue with the Liberals carbon pricing, however, have said they will roll back breaks they say are handed out to big time polluters. Jagmeet Singh has said he wants to take a “bold step” in reducing emissions.

Transportation

The NDP has announced “We’ll make sure that prices at the pumps are fairer by creating a Fair Gasoline Prices Watchdog to investigate complaints about gouging and boost the power of the Competition Bureau to proactively investigate allegations of anti-competitive activity in the gasoline market.

Budget/Taxation

The NDP platform has announced the party will ensure large, profitable corporations are “contributing to the important services and infrastructure that make Canada such a good place to do business,” adding it will roll back the Conservatives’ corporate income tax by three percentage points.