Trudeau government faces backlash

Medical professionals, disability groups and real estate investors among those raising objections

- TONDA MACCHARLES

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Wednesday his government is asking the wealthiest Canadians "to pay their fair share."

Pushback was fast and furious the day after the Liberals unveiled $39.3 billion in net new spending along with a new tax increase that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said is targeted at the “ultra-rich” but medical professionals and others say will hit them hard.

Indigenous leaders, disability groups, doctors, real estate investors, business groups, opposition Conservatives and other political rivals of the Trudeau government blasted measures that either didn’t go far enough for some, or for others were bitter reminders of 2017 when Ottawa tried to tax investment income of small corporations only to climb down in the face of a fierce backlash.

What it all means is that despite prebudget fanfare about how Liberals will “solve” the housing crisis, expand child-care spaces, and help schools feed hungry children, the Trudeau government has a massive selling job on its hands.

That includes trying to win over premiers angry that the prime minister is stepping all over their turf but who the government needs to roll out many of their key measures.

The pitch began in earnest Wednesday in Parliament, with senior Liberals admitting they face a need to deliver results ahead of an election expected next year.

Trudeau invited cameras and reporters to a caucus meeting where he staged a show of unity with his MPs, and accused Conservatives of siding with “multimillionaires” in opposing the budget and its change to how taxes are paid on capital gains.

That’s a new measure Trudeau says will raise more than $19 billion, but only hit about 40,000 of the “ultra wealthiest” Canadians.