Latest news with #Conservative
Toronto Sun
2 hours ago
- Business
- Toronto Sun
Tories challenge Liberals on promised tax cuts
Despite promising average tax cut savings of $825 per year, the Parliamentary Budget Officer said the real figure is much lower Conservative MP Jasraj Hallan asks a question during question period in the House of Commons to Parliament Hill in Ottawa, on Thursday, June 19, 2025. Photo by Patrick Doyle / The Canadian Press OTTAWA – Daily hot chocolates are off the menu. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Fresh from the Parliamentary Budget Officer's new report showing the government's promised middle-class tax cut falling far from what was promised, the last Question Period of the abbreviated spring sitting saw the Conservatives demanding answers. 'Just like Trudeau, he can't even get a tax cut right,' said Calgary East MP Jasraj Hallan, accusing Prime Minister Mark Carney of deceiving Canadians. 'He promised $800, yet the average Canadian will only save $90 this year – not even enough to get a hot chocolate from Tim Hortons weekly.' Despite Carney's election promise that his middle-class tax cuts would save families an average savings of $825 per year, P arliamentary Budget Officer Yves Giroux said that number's actually closer to $280, with most families expected to see savings of around $90 in 2025. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Read More Two-income families with a child could see the biggest savings, but no more than $750. 'I recognize the job of prime minister comes with many responsibilities, I didn't know addition and division were one of them,' Carney said in response, pointing across the aisle to jeering Conservatives. 'The Parliamentary Budget Officer refers to the reductions for all Canadians,' he said. 'The vote that the members opposite supported this government on delivers tax cuts for the 22 million Canadians who pay taxes.' The PBO priced the Liberal tax cut at just under $64 billion over five years, while the Department of Finance Canada pegged the cost at $27 billion over the same time period. — With files from The Canadian Press bpassifiume@ X: @bryanpassifiume MMA NHL Canada Toronto & GTA NHL
Edinburgh Reporter
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Edinburgh Reporter
£1.7m Tour de France backlash
Edinburgh Councillors need to 'take back control' from officials, one has claimed, amid a row over calls to spend of £1.7 million of council reserves on the Tour de France. In a report published before Thursday's full council meeting, officers had asked councillors to sign off on £1.7 for the Tour de France, saying council political group leaders had agreed to it. However, at the full council meeting, several group leaders spoke out to say that they had not approved the spend, and that the last they'd heard of Tour de France planning was in October. One councillor said the move was 'unacceptable', while another admitted they did not yet know how the spend would benefit the city. The decision on approving the £1.7m Tour de France spend – and £2m in other reserve use for other issues – has now been pushed back to a committee meeting next week. Conservative group leader, councillor Iain Whyte, said: 'We were given some information. We were not given all the information. 'We agreed that officers should keep working on it, but I would have expected that to come to committee.' SNP group leader, Councillor Simita Kumar, expressed the same sentiment. The report for councillors said that they intended for the £1.7m spend to be replenished from income from the city's upcoming visitor levy. Former Liberal Democrat leader Kevin Lang shared the confusion of the other group leaders. But, he also clarified that, in October, officers had explained that the use of visitor levy money to backfill the £1.7m was intended to be extra income brought in by the event. It was announced in March that Edinburgh would host the start of the 2027 running of the men's Tour de France race. It will be the first time that the race visits the city, and with the women's race set to start somewhere else in the UK, the first time that both the men's and women's races started in the same country besides France. SNP councillor Kate Campbell said: 'There is very little explanation really of why we're making those allocations. 'Group leaders I've spoken to do not have recollection of making a decision on this. 'We've had no reports to councillors, no notes to committee, about the value we're getting from £1.7m for the Tour de France. 'It's a huge amount of money. We really don't know what the benefit to the city is.' Conservative councillor Phil Doggart said: 'Much as I have respect for my convener, and much as I respect the other conveners, can I just say that group leaders are not a decision making body. 'At the very least, this should have come to F&R last week. We could have discussed it. 'This is unacceptable. We are the council. So let's take back control of the council from the officers. We make decisions.' Councillors agreed with a motion put forward by the city's Labour administration, which saw the matter pushed back to the next meeting of the city's Finance and Resources Committee. By Joseph Sullivan Local Democracy Reporter Like this: Like Related
Leader Live
3 hours ago
- Politics
- Leader Live
Donald Trump delays decision on Iran strikes as Keir Starmer calls for restraint
The US president said he was still hopeful of reaching a negotiated solution with Tehran and would decide on military action within two weeks, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters on Thursday. Quoting a message from the president, Ms Leavitt said: 'Based on the fact that there is a substantial chance of negotiations that may or may not take place with Iran in the near future, I will make my decision on whether or not to go within the next two weeks.' On Wednesday, Mr Trump said he 'may' join Israeli strikes against Iran and its nuclear programme, but added: 'I may not do it. I mean, nobody knows what I'm going to do.' On Thursday, the Prime Minister had urged him to step back from military action, saying there was a 'real risk of escalation'. Sir Keir said there had been 'several rounds of discussions with the US' and 'that, to me, is the way to resolve this issue'. Foreign Secretary David Lammy took the UK's plea for de-escalation to Washington, where he was expected to meet Mr Trump's top diplomat Marco Rubio on Thursday evening. Mr Lammy's meeting comes amid speculation that US involvement could require using the UK-controlled Diego Garcia base in the Chagos Islands. The B-2 stealth bombers based there are capable of carrying specialised 'bunker buster' bombs which could be used against Iran's underground nuclear facility at Fordo. Attorney General Lord Hermer is reported to have raised legal concerns about any British involvement in the conflict beyond defending its allies, which could limit the extent of any support for the US if Mr Trump decides to act militarily. Sir Keir has declined to comment on advice from Lord Hermer, but said the 'principle, the driving intent', was 'de-escalation'. It remains unclear whether the UK would join any US military action. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said she would 'in principle' support the US using Diego Garcia to strike Iran, while her shadow foreign secretary Dame Priti Patel said the party would support UK involvement if it was deemed necessary. But Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey called on the Government to publish Lord Hermer's advice, saying: 'The last thing we need is for the UK to be dragged into another illegal war in the Middle East by the US.' Meanwhile, Israel and Iran continued to exchange fire, with the Israeli defence minister directly threatening the Iranian supreme leader after an attack damaged a major hospital in Tel Aviv. Israel Katz said Ayatollah Ali Khamenei 'should not continue to exist' if the military was to 'achieve all of its goals'. Israel also continued to attack Iran, striking the country's Arak heavy water reactor, part of Tehran's nuclear programme. Iran has insisted its nuclear programme is peaceful, but it is the only non-nuclear-armed state to enrich uranium up to 60%, a short, technical step away from weapons-grade levels of 90% and far above the levels required for power stations. Amid the conflict, 22,000 tourists are seeking evacuation flights from Israel, according to the country's tourism ministry. The ministry's director-general, Danny Shachar, said the Israeli government was working to co-ordinate flights as part of its 'safe return' programme, originally intended for Israelis returning to the country from elsewhere. The UK Government has not said how many British nationals are in Israel, but has urged those in the country to register their presence with the embassy. Although the Foreign Office advises against all travel to Israel and has evacuated the family members of embassy staff, it has not advised Britons to leave the country.
Rhyl Journal
3 hours ago
- Politics
- Rhyl Journal
Donald Trump delays decision on Iran strikes as Keir Starmer calls for restraint
The US president said he was still hopeful of reaching a negotiated solution with Tehran and would decide on military action within two weeks, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters on Thursday. Quoting a message from the president, Ms Leavitt said: 'Based on the fact that there is a substantial chance of negotiations that may or may not take place with Iran in the near future, I will make my decision on whether or not to go within the next two weeks.' On Wednesday, Mr Trump said he 'may' join Israeli strikes against Iran and its nuclear programme, but added: 'I may not do it. I mean, nobody knows what I'm going to do.' On Thursday, the Prime Minister had urged him to step back from military action, saying there was a 'real risk of escalation'. Sir Keir said there had been 'several rounds of discussions with the US' and 'that, to me, is the way to resolve this issue'. Foreign Secretary David Lammy took the UK's plea for de-escalation to Washington, where he was expected to meet Mr Trump's top diplomat Marco Rubio on Thursday evening. Mr Lammy's meeting comes amid speculation that US involvement could require using the UK-controlled Diego Garcia base in the Chagos Islands. The B-2 stealth bombers based there are capable of carrying specialised 'bunker buster' bombs which could be used against Iran's underground nuclear facility at Fordo. Attorney General Lord Hermer is reported to have raised legal concerns about any British involvement in the conflict beyond defending its allies, which could limit the extent of any support for the US if Mr Trump decides to act militarily. Sir Keir has declined to comment on advice from Lord Hermer, but said the 'principle, the driving intent', was 'de-escalation'. It remains unclear whether the UK would join any US military action. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said she would 'in principle' support the US using Diego Garcia to strike Iran, while her shadow foreign secretary Dame Priti Patel said the party would support UK involvement if it was deemed necessary. But Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey called on the Government to publish Lord Hermer's advice, saying: 'The last thing we need is for the UK to be dragged into another illegal war in the Middle East by the US.' Meanwhile, Israel and Iran continued to exchange fire, with the Israeli defence minister directly threatening the Iranian supreme leader after an attack damaged a major hospital in Tel Aviv. Israel Katz said Ayatollah Ali Khamenei 'should not continue to exist' if the military was to 'achieve all of its goals'. Israel also continued to attack Iran, striking the country's Arak heavy water reactor, part of Tehran's nuclear programme. Iran has insisted its nuclear programme is peaceful, but it is the only non-nuclear-armed state to enrich uranium up to 60%, a short, technical step away from weapons-grade levels of 90% and far above the levels required for power stations. Amid the conflict, 22,000 tourists are seeking evacuation flights from Israel, according to the country's tourism ministry. The ministry's director-general, Danny Shachar, said the Israeli government was working to co-ordinate flights as part of its 'safe return' programme, originally intended for Israelis returning to the country from elsewhere. The UK Government has not said how many British nationals are in Israel, but has urged those in the country to register their presence with the embassy. Although the Foreign Office advises against all travel to Israel and has evacuated the family members of embassy staff, it has not advised Britons to leave the country.
South Wales Argus
3 hours ago
- Politics
- South Wales Argus
Donald Trump delays decision on Iran strikes as Keir Starmer calls for restraint
The US president said he was still hopeful of reaching a negotiated solution with Tehran and would decide on military action within two weeks, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters on Thursday. Quoting a message from the president, Ms Leavitt said: 'Based on the fact that there is a substantial chance of negotiations that may or may not take place with Iran in the near future, I will make my decision on whether or not to go within the next two weeks.' White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt (Evan Vucci/AP) On Wednesday, Mr Trump said he 'may' join Israeli strikes against Iran and its nuclear programme, but added: 'I may not do it. I mean, nobody knows what I'm going to do.' On Thursday, the Prime Minister had urged him to step back from military action, saying there was a 'real risk of escalation'. Sir Keir said there had been 'several rounds of discussions with the US' and 'that, to me, is the way to resolve this issue'. Foreign Secretary David Lammy took the UK's plea for de-escalation to Washington, where he was expected to meet Mr Trump's top diplomat Marco Rubio on Thursday evening. Mr Lammy's meeting comes amid speculation that US involvement could require using the UK-controlled Diego Garcia base in the Chagos Islands. The B-2 stealth bombers based there are capable of carrying specialised 'bunker buster' bombs which could be used against Iran's underground nuclear facility at Fordo. Sir Keir Starmer has urged all sides to pursue a diplomatic solution (Jordan Pettitt/PA) Attorney General Lord Hermer is reported to have raised legal concerns about any British involvement in the conflict beyond defending its allies, which could limit the extent of any support for the US if Mr Trump decides to act militarily. Sir Keir has declined to comment on advice from Lord Hermer, but said the 'principle, the driving intent', was 'de-escalation'. It remains unclear whether the UK would join any US military action. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said she would 'in principle' support the US using Diego Garcia to strike Iran, while her shadow foreign secretary Dame Priti Patel said the party would support UK involvement if it was deemed necessary. But Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey called on the Government to publish Lord Hermer's advice, saying: 'The last thing we need is for the UK to be dragged into another illegal war in the Middle East by the US.' Meanwhile, Israel and Iran continued to exchange fire, with the Israeli defence minister directly threatening the Iranian supreme leader after an attack damaged a major hospital in Tel Aviv. Israel Katz said Ayatollah Ali Khamenei 'should not continue to exist' if the military was to 'achieve all of its goals'. Israel also continued to attack Iran, striking the country's Arak heavy water reactor, part of Tehran's nuclear programme. Iran has insisted its nuclear programme is peaceful, but it is the only non-nuclear-armed state to enrich uranium up to 60%, a short, technical step away from weapons-grade levels of 90% and far above the levels required for power stations. Amid the conflict, 22,000 tourists are seeking evacuation flights from Israel, according to the country's tourism ministry. The ministry's director-general, Danny Shachar, said the Israeli government was working to co-ordinate flights as part of its 'safe return' programme, originally intended for Israelis returning to the country from elsewhere. The UK Government has not said how many British nationals are in Israel, but has urged those in the country to register their presence with the embassy. Although the Foreign Office advises against all travel to Israel and has evacuated the family members of embassy staff, it has not advised Britons to leave the country.
