Andrew Scheer is heading out east, Justin Trudeau is speaking in Montreal and Jagmeet Singh will be on the CBC today. In this live story, we’ll be tracking the campaign news as it happens
10:00 a.m. — Scheer reveals plan for boosted volunteer credit
Conservative leader Andrew Scheer introduced his plan for a boosted tax benefit for volunteers in New Brunswick this morning.
Scheer said a Conservative government would reduce the number of yearly hours required to qualify for the federal volunteer tax credit from 200 hours to 150 hours. The $450 rebate will be unchanged, but Scheer expects that about 5,000 more people would qualify for the adjusted credit.
The Parliamentary Budget Officer’s independent costing of the plan estimates it would cost about $3 million each year.
Answering questions from reporters, Scheer also took the opportunity to clarify his position on abortion.
“I am personally pro-life but I have always made the commitment that as leader of this party my position is that we will not re-open this debate,” said Scheer.
9:00 a.m. — Trudeau defends his party’s two campaign planes
Liberal leader Justin Trudeau is defending his two campaign planes this morning after Conservative leader Andrew Scheer called him a climate hypocrite last night for his carbon-heavy leader’s tour.
Trudeau was in Montreal this morning speaking to supporters, after a French-language debate last night where Scheer raised the issue of the planes
The Liberal Party is purchasing carbon offsets to make up for the extra plane, Trudeau said, referring to a scheme that funds a reduction in emissions that compensates for emissions made somewhere else.
“What we’re seeing here from the Conservatives is a classic and desperate attempt” to distract from the fact they have no plan for the environment, said Trudeau, adding that it’s a “far right” tactic.
8:30 a.m. — Leaders spread out across the country after first French-language debate
Liberal leader Justin Trudeau will meet with supporters and answer questions from reporters in Montreal this morning at 8:30 a.m.
Conservative leader Andrew Scheer will be in Kingsclear, NB, and Halifax today. He will take questions from reporters at 10:30 a.m. in New Brunswick.
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh will appear in a televised CBC town tall meeting today and will take questions from reporters in the building’s atrium at 1 p.m.
Green Party leader Elizabeth May will canvas in her riding of Saanich-Gulf Islands today and then take part in an all-candidates debate on the environment in the evening.
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