Social Development Minister Jenna Sudds is facing backlash for a promotional video celebrating a temporary GST holiday, with critics saying the message ignores the struggles of millions of Canadians.The video, posted on Sudds’ social media, highlights the 75¢ GST savings on a $15 bottle of wine, among other goods. Conservative MP Larry Brock (Brantford-Brant, Ont.) condemned the tone of the video, saying it was out of touch with Canadians facing financial hardship this holiday season.“She pulls out a bottle of wine: ‘No GST on this,’” said Brock. “Tell that to the two million Canadians who are not going to be enjoying a glass of wine. They’ll be lucky if they get tap water.”Blacklock's Reporter says Brock criticized the government for promoting tax savings on non-essentials while many Canadians struggle to afford basic needs. “While millions of Canadians are struggling, not to buy Christmas presents, struggling to put meals on the table to feed their children, to keep a roof over their head, to put clothing on their children’s backs, we have a Liberal cabinet minister smiling away in various aisles in a department store and highlighting: ‘Look at this, no GST.’”Sudds’ video was released to promote a $2.7 billion GST holiday on select goods that began December 14 and runs until February 15. “Come with me shopping in Kanata to see some of the items that are part of the GST tax break,” said Sudds. The minister highlighted items including a teddy bear, board games, diapers, cake, infant car seats, and a bottle of white wine from British Columbia’s Diabolica Winery, saying, “This is also part of the tax break.”The temporary GST repeal applies to a variety of items, including wine and beer, soda, take-out meals, books, pastries, toys, chocolates, and children’s footwear.Former finance minister Chrystia Freeland, who on Monday resigned, expressed dissatisfaction with the initiative, calling such measures “costly political gimmicks which we can ill afford and which make Canadians doubt that we recognize the gravity of the moment.”In a resignation letter, Freeland added, “Inevitably our time in government will come to an end. But how we deal with the threat our country currently faces will define us for a generation.”Freeland defended the GST holiday earlier this month during Senate testimony, saying it would provide needed relief to Canadians. “Now is the right time for all of us to proactively take that step to say, yes, let’s do this and let’s help the people,” she told the Senate national finance committee on December 4.However, critics like Sen. Claude Carignan (Que.), chair of the committee, questioned the logic behind the GST measure. “What is the logic?” Carignan asked. Freeland maintained that the measure offered a “pragmatic approach” to assist Canadians in the short term.
