Dear friends,

If you haven’t already filed your taxes, you still have a week until the deadline April 30, 2024. My 2023 Tax Tips Guide was mailed to constituents last month and highlights some of the changes and information on what’s new in this year’s tax filing. You can access an electronic copy here. 

Consult my 2023 Tax Tips 

In the House of Commons:

This month, the carbon tax went up 23% despite an affordability crisis and persistent inflation. This is the next step in the NDP-Liberal government’s plan to quadruple the carbon tax over the next six years, making everything more expensive for everyone.

Last week, the Liberals released the 2024 budget. It includes nearly $40 billion in new inflationary spending. Canada will now spend $54.1 billion to service Trudeau’s debt, which is more money than the federal health care transfer. Struggling families can't afford higher taxes and more inflationary spending that drives up the cost of everything and keeps interest rates high. That is why Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre sent a letter to Justin Trudeau with three demands to fix the budget:

1. Axe the tax on farmers and food by immediately passing Bill C-234 in its original form.

2. Build the homes, not bureaucracy, by requiring cities permit 15% more home building each year as a condition for receiving federal infrastructure money.

3. Cap the spending with a dollar-for-dollar rule to bring down interest rates and inflation. The government must find a dollar in savings for every new dollar of spending.

Justin Trudeau’s budget does not meet any of these conditions, therefore my colleagues and I will vote against the budget and non-confidence in the government.

My Tribute to the late Right Honourable Brian Mulroney:

The late Right Honourable Brian Mulroney transformed Canada. He reversed the National Energy Program which unleashed Canada’s energy industry, restored fiscal discipline, brought Canada firmly back into the Western alliance, negotiated the original Canada-United States Free Trade Agreement, delivered the Acid Rain Treaty, and was instrumental in freeing Nelson Mandela and forcing an end to the apartheid system in South Africa.

My Private Member’s Bill to Axe the Automatic Annual Tax Increase on Beer, Wine and Spirits:

On April 1st, the NDP-Liberal government raised taxes on beer, wine, and spirits for the 8th year in a row. It went up automatically without a vote in Parliament because the Liberals gave themselves this power in 2017. The tax will keep going up automatically every year until a future government repeals the automatic escalator. My Private Members Bill (C-266) will restore Parliament’s power to set the tax and let elected MPs have the final say on taxes instead of letting the government raise them automatically.

At the Defence Committee:

I am a member of the Standing Committee on National Defence, and regularly question Canada’s Senior Military Officers, bureaucrats, industry experts, academics, and the Minister of Defence. 

The Liberals government recently released its first “Defence Policy Update” in seven years. It consists almost entirely of statements that “reaffirm” old policies, and commitments to “explore options” for future procurements many years from now. I confronted Minister Blair’s assertion that his plan was not merely “aspirational”.

Bill Blair's defence "policy update" is all announcement, no action:

Feedback from Calgarians is very important to me and informs the work I do on your behalf in Ottawa. If you would like to share your thoughts with me on national issues, please feel welcome to contact me through my Calgary office.

It remains my honour to represent you at the House of Commons as your Member of Parliament.

Pat Kelly

In Calgary

Our Commons Website

If you would like to find out what is happening in the House of Commons or any of its committees, this is a handy online tool. It’s updated in real-time, has links to video feeds and much more. https://www.ourcommons.ca/en

My Inbox

During the past few weeks, correspondence was received about many topics, including the following, in no particular order: 

Community Events

• Citadel: Community Garden Building Bee – Apr 27-28
• Evanston: Evanston Creekside Community Association AGM – Apr 23
• Hawkwood: Pickleball Meet & Greet – Apr 27 
• Kincora: Kincora Community Association AGM – Apr 30
• Silver Springs: SSCA Open House – Apr 25