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The Conservatives looked at trimming the goods and services tax by another percentage point, but swiftly concluded the $7-billion price tag was too rich.

The chat now is of “other measures”, based on what worked in the 2009 budget. It suggests strongly the Conservative platform will propose to raise the basic personal exemption that allows individuals to earn more before they start paying income tax. That amount was raised to $10,320 in the 2009 budget, from $9,600, and is currently $11,138. The cost of even that minor increase in 2009 — along with small changes to the two lowest tax brackets — was $2-billion a year. Aaron Wudrick at the Canadian Taxpayers’ Federation estimates it would cost up to $289-million for every $100 increase in the basic personal exemption.

Given the parlous state of the public finances in the era of $50-a-barrel oil, it is difficult to see any fiscal room for further cuts.

But we are less than 100 days from a general election — all the party leaders have their heads in the clouds and their feet in the ballot box.

It would certainly make sense from a strategic point of view. Raising the basic personal exemption is the only truly universal tax cut, benefitting all taxpayers and taking many working poor off the tax rolls altogether.

It would provide a suitable riposte to Trudeau’s “fairness” campaign — what’s more fair than a tax cut for everyone?

If nothing else, it would give the Conservatives a justification for running an attack ad, featuring an exchange from the House of Commons in late spring, in which Harper said his tax policy has “helped every single Canadian family in the country.”