By Pete McIntyre

Update: Scheer ‘optimistic’ Tories can reclaim Okanagan riding; announces tax credits

Sep 15, 2019 | 7:25 PM

Update

Conservative leader Andrew Scheer was in Lake Country this morning promising tax credits for children’s programs, if his party wins the upcoming election.

Under the Children’s Fitness Tax Credit, parents will be able to claim up to $1,000 per child, per year for expenses related to fitness or sports activities.

Scheer said the Children’s Arts and Learning Tax Credit will allow parents to claim up to $500 per child for arts-related expenses or other extracurricular educational activities.

“Arts and sports activities can be costly, but are so enriching, educational, and enjoyable. A 2018 Ipsos poll found the average Canadian family spends $1,160 per year on their children’s school-year activities. In the survey, 55 per cent of Canadians say these activities put a strain on family finances and nearly a third say they would go into debt to finance those activities,” said a release from the party.

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During his stop at Beasley Park, Scheer told the media, his visit to Lake Country was also due to the party having strong hopes to win back the Kelowna-Lake Country riding from current Liberal MP Stephen Fuhr.

“I’ve been visiting ridings that we held in the past but lost in 2015. I’ve been to Kelowna several times since becoming leader of the Conservative Party, and I’ve heard from so many people who said they voted Liberal in 2015 and they regret that, and now they’re voting Conservative in 2019. So we’re very optimistic. We also have a situation where the local Liberal MP let so many people down. The small business community here in Kelowna is so vibrant and is essential to the economic well-being of the region, and when the local Liberal MP voted in favour of all those tax hikes on small businesses, I heard it directly, our candidate heard it directly, they were so disappointed that their MP was not standing up for their interests,” Scheer told the media.

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A national party leader will make a campaign stop in the Okanagan Monday morning.

Andrew Scheer of the Conservatives will be in Lake Country to make an announcement at 9 a.m.at Beasley Park, 3450 Woodsdale Road.

No other details about Scheer’s agenda for Monday have been announced.

The Conservatives are represented by former Kelowna city councillor Tracy Gray in the Kelowna Lake Country riding, who is challenging incumbent Liberal MP Stephen Fuhr.

Canadians go to the polls Oct. 21.

by Pete McIntyre

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