EDITORIAL – The cynics will grumble, then accept Justin’s Christmas gift

An editorial by Mel Rothenburger.

THERE’S AN OLD SAYING about looking a gift horse in the mouth. Taken literally, it means if somebody gives you a horse you shouldn’t waste time checking its teeth. It’s free; just accept it.

But there are a lot of people looking in the mouth of Justin Trudeau’s Christmas gift horse. He announced it yesterday (Nov. 21, 2024): a temporary suspension on the GST for a long list of Christmas-related items, and $250 cheques for several million Canadians.

According to Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre, who’s been demanding tax breaks seven days a week, Trudeau’s Christmas tax break is “a trick.” When Poilievre shouts “axe the tax” he wasn’t talking about Christmas, but about the gas tax.

The NDP’s Jagmeet Singh, of course, laments that Justin’s gift isn’t enough.

Others are fretting that the Christmas break will cause inflation. They worry it will add to the national debt. People will start returning gifts they’ve already bought, then try to buy them up again when the GST freeze kicks in Dec. 14, some claim. It will be chaos. And on it goes.

Self-appointed analysts note that the Liberals are down in the polls and conclude this is just a move to gain back a little popularity.

Fact is, though, that most Canadians will take the money and run. They’ll happily accept the removal of the GST from toys, video game consoles, children’s clothes and shoes, restaurant meals, beer, groceries and even Christmas trees.

Whether they end up saving a hundred dollars or a few hundred dollars, they’ll be grateful. It probably won’t change whether or not they vote Liberal in the next election, but they’ll be a little happier this Christmas.

And isn’t that a good thing?

Who will receive the $250 cheques — which will be written next year — is a bit fuzzy. The only criterion revealed so far is that it will go to Canadians who were working in 2023 and made less than $150,000. Who will be excluded?

Anyway, the NDP will support the Liberals when it comes to a vote, so it doesn’t matter much what the grumpy old humbugs in the Conservatives and Bloc do, or what the armchair crities say. If they oppose it, they’ll simply make it look all the better.

So, cynical as we are all about politics and politicians these days, Trudeau is being smart on this one.

Mel Rothenburger is a former regular contributor to CFJC-TV and CBC radio, publishes the ArmchairMayor.ca opinion website, and is a recipient of the Jack Webster Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award, and a Webster Foundation Commentator of the Year finalist. He has served as mayor of Kamloops, school board chair and TNRD director, and is a retired daily newspaper editor.  He can be reached at mrothenburger@armchairmayor.ca.