Thunderous applause met Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at nearly every turn during Wednesday night91裸聊视频檚 UBC Okanagan town hall, but he didn91裸聊视频檛 escape the event without some criticism.
Site C protesters gathered outside and people disillusioned by the Prime Minister91裸聊视频檚 failure to follow through with electoral reform had their say. But area residents had the most input on proposed taxation changes said to close loopholes that give wealthy, small-business owners an unfair advantage.
Related: PM won91裸聊视频檛 back down on tax changes
The federal government is creating a disparity between employees with benefits and small business owners without, said several attendees. The topic even prompted a pointed exchange between the PM and an anonymous audience member.
Dr. Anita Sanan, a local anesthesiologist, told the Prime Minister she went to school for 14 years and accrued a six-figure debt load to become a doctor. Now the future she worked toward isn91裸聊视频檛 coming together as planned.
91裸聊视频淵ou moved the goalposts in the middle of the game and expect me somehow to be able to plan for my retirement, plan for maternity leave91裸聊视频攚hich I will not be able to afford at this time91裸聊视频攁nd I91裸聊视频檓 having to choose between having a family and actually practice here in Kelowna as a physician,91裸聊视频� said Dr. Sanan.
Trudeau questioned her point on maternity leave.
91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檓 not an expert on provincial policy, but I91裸聊视频檓 fairly certain there91裸聊视频檚 maternity leave for doctors in every single province in this country,91裸聊视频� he said.
Sanan said he was incorrect, and across the room from where she stood, a man yelled 91裸聊视频渢hat91裸聊视频檚 a lie.91裸聊视频�
91裸聊视频淚 said I was fairly certain, but I91裸聊视频檓 happy to be corrected,91裸聊视频� Trudeau said, facing the heckler.
From there he went on to talk about how the current taxation system has already reinforced inequities.
91裸聊视频淥n the issue of two classes of citizens, we have a tax system right now that has created a double structure system where people who can afford to incorporate and create private corporations as a way of helping with their tax planning are already having access to things that employees and others do not,91裸聊视频� he said.
91裸聊视频淲e have a system that treats people differently.91裸聊视频�
The government plan has three parts. The first focuses on eliminating an incentive that enables small-business owners to use their corporations as a way to shift a portion of their income to family members who face lower personal tax rates, regardless of whether or not those relatives are not active in the business.
Another change would limit the use of private corporations to make passive investments in stocks or real estate.
The third reform would limit the ability to convert a corporation91裸聊视频檚 regular income into capital gains that are typically taxed at a lower rate.
These changes, said Trudeau, support the government focus of 91裸聊视频渃reating better services, better opportunities and better help to the folks who really need it.91裸聊视频�
That brought back the crowd support that defined the event that lured an estimated 2,600 area residents to the university91裸聊视频檚 gym.
One point where crowd support surged was when 12-year-old Tor Broughton addressed Trudeau.
91裸聊视频淚 don91裸聊视频檛 really have a question, but my name is Tor and I91裸聊视频檓 trans and I91裸聊视频檇 like to thank you and all the other MPs here for passing bill C16,91裸聊视频� said Broughton, receiving a standing ovation.
Bill C-16, introduced in the Parliament of Canada on May 17, 2016 by the Liberal government, adds gender expression and identity as a protected ground to the Canadian Human Rights Act, and also to the Criminal Code provisions dealing with hate propaganda, incitement to genocide, and aggravating factors in sentencing.
Trudeau, who said afterward that the exchange nearly brought tears to his eyes, told Broughton that 91裸聊视频渄efending rights is something we do as Canadians.91裸聊视频�
Related:
91裸聊视频淒efending each other91裸聊视频檚 rights goes to the heart of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, goes to the heart of how we are as a country,91裸聊视频� he said.
Canadians, he said, need to make sure everyone is treated with respect and dignity, given all the opportunities regardless of where they91裸聊视频檙e from, what their religion is, who they choose to love.
91裸聊视频淭hese are things that make us incredibly lucky as a country, but also something that gives us a level of responsibility 91裸聊视频ot everybody has the opportunity around the world to stand up in a community hall like this and talk about their sexuality, and be supported and applauded like you are tonight,91裸聊视频� he said to Broughton.
is answering questions at right now. Here's a peek at what's going on.
91裸聊视频� 91裸聊视频 (@KelownaCapNews)
He told the crowd that one of his great pleasures as Prime Minister was walking in Pride parades with his nine-year-old son and eight-year-old daughter because it provided an opportunity to speak about why pride events are still so important.
91裸聊视频淭hey are a generation that doesn91裸聊视频檛 understand the transformation of our society (that happened) within the lifetime of everyone within this society,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淲e have changed our society in fundamental ways for the better and we need to continue to do it.91裸聊视频�
