02 FEBRUARY 2016

Fredericton – David Coon, MLA for Fredericton South and Leader of the Green Party of New Brunswick urges the government to do more to protect low income families from the impacts of an HST increase.

“An HST increase hits low income families and those on fixed incomes harder than it does others,” said Coon. 

On January 21, the government announced it would consider providing an HST credit for low and middle income families. This program would issue a payment quarterly to those living on low or middle income wages.

“This is a step in the right direction, but it doesn’t solve the day to day cash flow problems facing those who live in poverty,” said Coon. “So many of the people in crisis I meet with in my riding would be able to avoid crisis if they’d had just a little more cash at their disposal.”

“In the face of the HST hike, for those most in need, we need to increase their cash flow on a day to day basis,” said Coon.

For those living on social assistance, the impact of an HST hike can be countered by increasing social assistance rates.

For those living on minimum wage, the government can increase the hourly minimum wage.

“There are people all over this province who can't make ends meet now,” said Coon. “This government needs to be certain that its choices alleviate poverty, not make it worse.”