Liberals propose property tax cut, rental rebate for Islanders

The P.E.I. Liberal Party proposed a number of measuresdesigned to lower the cost of living for Islanders, in a campaign announcement Friday morning in Summerside, P.E.I.

Islanders will vote in a provincial election April 23.

• PEIVotes 2019

Two proposals were aimed at the growing cost of housing: a 10 per cent reduction in property tax on the first $200,000 of a home's assessed value, and a $300 annual rebate on rents for units under $1,500 per month.

"Anything that we can do to leave more money in the pockets of Islanders, we're happy to do as government, at the same time as we're balancing the books, and as we're seeing Islanders benefits from opportunities that are more available to grow and to support their families," said Liberal Leader Wade MacLauchlan.

Another initiative would provide support for families caring for seniors who are still at home with a benefit of as much as $500 per month.

Also on the tax front, the Liberals pledged to increase the basic personal exemption on income tax to $10,000 by 2020 and keep it above the regional average. These are the exemptions around the region currently.

• P.E.I.: $9,160.
• Nova Scotia: $8,481 plus up to $3,000 for low-income individuals.
• New Brunswick: $10,264.
• Newfoundland and Labrador: $9,247.

The party said it would introduce a tax break for children involved in extra-curricular activities in 2020.

The party promised to raise the minimum wage to $14 per hour by 2022.

More P.E.I. news