Conservative leadership candidate Rick Peterson says he would raise the GST from 5 to 9 per cent if he becomes the next prime minister of Canada — reversing cuts made by the Harper government — in order to balance the budget in two years, guarantee social programs and beef up border security.

“My platform offers the catalyst that we will need to jump-start Canada’s economy and secure prosperity and security for all Canadians,” the Vancouver businessman said in a press release announcing the plan.

Peterson made his mark on the second Conservative leadership debate by proposing the complete elimination of the federal corporate income tax, but the GST proposal is a major break with recent party orthodoxy.

The Harper government cut the GST twice, from seven to five per cent. That shrunk government revenues by $13.3 billion alone, according to the PBO.

In April, the Conservative party fundraised off rumours the Liberals were considering raising the GST.

But Peterson says his proposal will still leave Canada below the OECD sales tax average of 19 per cent.

“Since the GST is a faster-growing and more stable source of funds for the federal government than corporate income taxes, this will guarantee the cost of rising social programs, including federal health transfers, in the future,” Peterson says in the release.

At the same time, Peterson argues the elimination of the corporate income tax would spur economic growth.

“The boost to federal revenues from a faster growing economy will also better support these programs. In fact, the federal revenue impact from growing the economy by an additional 10% is the equivalent of increasing elderly benefits by two-thirds or doubling defence spending,” the release says.

The additional government revenue, Peterson adds, would allow for increase funding for Canada’s border and immigration services.

“The real and present threat of terrorism and the many pressures on our immigration system clearly call for smarter, more efficient and more robust staffing and access to resources for the men and women who are protecting our security,” Peterson said.