MP, Bob Saroya Column

The Liberal government continues its’ assault on working Canadians and the private sector. After a sustained SaveLocalBusiness.ca campaign lead by Andrew Scheer and our Conservative team they are backtracking on some, but not all of their proposed tax hikes.

Just a reminder of the taxes the Liberals are implementing or have attempted to in the past 2 years:
• A 73% tax on small business investment income
• Clawed back the disability tax credit for diabetics and placed their disability savings plan in limbo
• Tax on health and dental benefits
• Tax on employee discounts
• A carbon tax making natural gas bills, hydro bills, gas prices and consumer goods more expensive
• Froze the small business tax rate
• Reduced the TFSA contribution by $4500 a year
• Removed the tax exempt status for soldiers fighting overseas
• Cut tax credits for: public transit, children’s fitness, children’s arts, education and textbooks, small business
• Tax on Netflix

This is the Liberal record in office and where their instincts lie. There isn’t a tax this government doesn’t like. The Liberals have confirmed they are borrowing $20 billion a year to pay for their out-of-control spending. I have voted against every single one of these tax hikes and chastised the government for making the lives of Markham-Unionville residents more expensive.

Shadow Minister for the Status of Women Rachel Harder, MP visited Markham. We attended service and met with congregants at St. Mary and St. Samuel the Confessor Coptic Orthodox Church. I held an open round table where community members discussed the Liberal’s tax hikes, matters of religious freedom and women’s issues.

TransCanada announced it is cancelling the Energy East Pipeline. The project would have created 15,000 middle class jobs and injected $55 billion into the Canadian economy. This decision was the result of the Liberal government’s mismanagement and failure to champion the Canadian energy sector. New regulations on Canadian energy projects have forced Canadian oil companies to comply with standards that are not required for foreign companies from Venezuela, Saudi Arabia and Algeria.

October has been a busy month for families with Thanksgiving and Halloween festivities. It has also been a busy time in our community and in the House of Commons.

I held a round table on the Liberal’s tax changes and spoke to business owners at a tax clinic. The events were standing room only, and business owners are feed up with being made to feel like they are tax cheats by the Liberal government. I listened to every constituent member that attended and shared their concerns with the Minister of Finance. They are outraged at the double standards and ethical oversight in changing the tax code.

I attended Seniors Day events at the 16th International Seniors Festival. Seniors make up a majority of our population and they are the heart and soul of Markham.

I spoke to over 4000 people at a Garba event here in York Region. Happy Navaratri to everyone who celebrated this festival. I took part in Diwali celebrations at the Vedic Cultural Centre in Markham. Happy festival of lights to the Indian community!

I spoke at the ParentConnect’s first parenting expo. This organization promises to serve as a platform for expecting parents and new immigrants where they can access the resources and knowledge to be successful parents.

As always, should you require any kind of assistance please do not hesitate in reaching out to my office. If you have any feedback for Andrew Scheer and our Conservative team let me know!

Bob Saroya, MP
Markham-Unionville