Vaughan MP Fantino's anti-Trudeau tweet sets off firestorm on Twitter

Yorkregion.com
May 5, 2015
By Tim Kelly

Vaughan MP Julian Fantino stirred up a hornet’s nest on Twitter Monday night when he tweeted: Liberal leader Justin Trudeau has promised new tax hikes on #Vaughan families and 2 cancel the Universal Child Benefit #StoptheTrudeauTax.

Fantino’s tweet was in reaction to Trudeau’s policy announcement earlier in the day when the federal Liberal leader announced a promised plan that would cut taxes by 1.5 per cent for those earning between $44,701 to $89,401 per year and raise taxes by 4 per cent for those earning $200,000 or more per year.

He also promised to scrap the Conservatives’ recently announced income-splitting tax credit that allows a higher-earning spouse to transfer income to a lower-earning spouse thus allowing the higher earner to pay tax at a lower rate.

Trudeau would also cancel the Tories plan to double the Tax Free Savings Account as announced in the 2015 budget.

The tweets quickly took Fantino to task and asked him to explain himself.

Tracy vinet@thevinewayway "@JulianFantino @stphnmaher really, how so, please explain"

Julian Fletcher @FletJan "@JulianFantino @stphnmaher Please, just stop the bullshit. Why not try to win by telling the truth? #cdnpoli @CPC_HQ"

Martin Paradis @mparadis004 "@JulianFantino @stphnmaher No he didn’t you partisan hack! #liars #hypocrites"

Univrsle @univrsle "@JulianFantino @stphnmaher Hope families in #Vaughan aren’t getting info from the guy who brought them such fibs as “I Like Vets” #cdnpoli"

Adam Vaughan @TOAdamVaugham "@JulianFantino @stphnmaher No! Trudeau promised a 7% tax cut for mid-class families, and also promised to nearly double the child tax credit" (Adam Vaughan is the Liberal MP for Trinity-Spadina)

When asked by the Vaughan Citizen for comment on why he posted the tweet, Fantino responded: "Liberal leader Justin Trudeau has promised to raise taxes on middle class Vaughan families by cancelling the Family Tax Cut, which allows income splitting and will provide up to $2,000 in savings for Vaughan families.

“Even worse, the Liberals would revoke the expanded Tax Free Savings Accounts and scrap the Universal Child Care Benefit that thousands of Vaughan families depend on each month.

“While Justin Trudeau is attacking Vaughan families with his high tax plan, our Conservative government is the only party to keep taxes low for seniors and families and protect the enhanced Universal Child Care Benefit.”