The federal Tory party has announced they will no longer accept a pandemic wage subsidy for their staff – and in fact, will pay back monies already received..The Liberals say they will no longer accept the wage subsidy but have no plans to pay it back..The Bloc Québécois and the People’s Party of Canada did not apply for the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy..The NDP and the Green Party say they will keep collecting the cash..“We will continue to receive the subsidy to support our workers and their families, prevent layoffs, focus on priorities to support Canadians during this pandemic,” said Anne McGrath, the NDP’s national director, in an email to CBC News. .During the Tory leadership contest, eventual winner Erin O’Toole campaigned on a promise to pay back the CEWS..“O’Toole believes the wage subsidy was designed to help businesses survive the economic side-effects of the COVID-19 pandemic lock-down, not to subsidize political parties,” Conservative MP Peter Kent said in a post on his Facebook page. .The Canadian Taxpayers Federation applauded O’Toole for committing to pay back the federal wage subsidy and is calling on all other parties, including Alberta’s United Conservative Party to pay back the money. .“O’Toole deserves credit for showing leadership and paying back the federal wage subsidy. The federal Conservatives know paying back the money is the right thing to do, when will Alberta’s United Conservatives do the right thing?” said Franco Terrazzano, the CTF’s Alberta Director.. POLL: Many Albertans say they will ignore Christmas COVID lockdown .“This money was meant to help struggling businesses keep their workers employed, it wasn’t meant to give more tax dollars to political parties so they can run attack ads. .“The UCP taking the wage subsidy is like a rich guy going to the soup kitchen. They need to pay the money back..Dave Naylor is the News Editor of the Western Standard.dnaylor@westernstandardonline.com.TWITTER: Twitter.com/nobby7694
