NDP Leader Slams Liberals for Giving Nearly $26M to Costco, Loblaw in Recent Years
The leader of the New Democratic Party (NDP), Jagmeet Singh, has criticized the Liberal government for giving almost $26 million in subsidies to retail giants Costco and Loblaw in recent years.
Singh raised concerns about the government’s decision to provide these subsidies, stating that it is unfair to small businesses who are struggling to survive during the pandemic. He also questioned the need for these large corporations to receive financial assistance from the government.
According to a report from the Office of the Parliamentary Budget Officer, Costco received $15 million in subsidies from the federal government between 2015 and 2020, while Loblaw received $10.8 million during the same period.
Singh pointed out that these subsidies were given to these companies despite them reporting significant profits during the pandemic. He argued that this money could have been better used to support small businesses and workers who have been hit hard by the economic downturn.
The NDP leader also criticized the government for not being transparent about these subsidies, stating that Canadians have a right to know where their tax dollars are being spent.
In response to Singh’s comments, a spokesperson for the Liberal government defended the subsidies, stating that they were part of a larger effort to support the retail sector and keep Canadians employed during the pandemic.
However, Singh argued that these subsidies only benefit large corporations and do not address the underlying issues facing small businesses. He called on the government to redirect these funds towards targeted support for struggling businesses and workers.
This criticism from the NDP leader comes at a time when small businesses across the country are struggling to stay afloat due to lockdowns and restrictions imposed to curb the spread of COVID-19. Many have called on the government to provide more targeted and effective support to these businesses, rather than giving subsidies to large corporations.
As the debate over government subsidies continues, it remains to be seen how the Liberal government will address the concerns raised by Singh and others about the fairness and effectiveness of these subsidies.
