TORONTO: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) welcomed an internal government statement circulated today that appears to finally close the door on a myriad of requests for cash for professional sports venues, including a Quebec hockey arena and a domed CFL stadium in Regina. CTF Federal Director Kevin Gaudet said, “given the size of the deficit it was incredible the government even considered funding stadiums for rich athletes in the first place. We are pleased to see this funding request finally put to rest.”
VICTORIA, BC: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) today took the wraps off its National Debt Clock at a news conference in Victoria, BC and announced a major national tour and campaign in support of balanced budgets.
OTTAWA: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) will host its 13th annual ‘Teddies Waste Awards’ black tie ceremony in the Charles Lynch Press Theatre on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Tuesday, February 8th, 2011, shortly after 10:30 a.m. Like the last two years, the announcement will last between 8 and 10 minutes.
All of the opposition parties in Ottawa appear to be setting up for another election. This time they are using the government’s commitment to competitive business taxes as their excuse. They are attacking the Harper government’s business tax relief, demanding that business taxes be hiked. Instead they should be attacking wasteful corporate welfare using the tax relief as the perfect excuse to do so.
It should not be better financially for you to give money to a federal political party than to donate to a real charity. A contribution to the separatist Bloc Québécois for example should not be better for your taxes than a donation to Ducks Unlimited. Sadly, it is though, because tax credits for political contributions are larger than tax credits for donations to real charities.
TORONTO: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) is calling on the federal government to accelerate plans to balance the federal budget in its recommendations for the 2011 federal budget.
TORONTO: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) expressed its support today for the federal government’s move towards the creation of Private Registered Pension Plans (PRPPs).
With the Yuletide and Christmas upon us, now is a good time to reflect on positive developments for taxpayers across the land from 2010. The Canadian Taxpayers was pleased to play a contributing role in them all.
TORONTO: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) today applauded the Harper government for passing into law provisions banning prisoners like Clifford Olson from receiving Old Age Security (OAS) and Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) entitlements while in jail. CTF Federal Director Kevin Gaudet said, “the Harper government and Minister Finley moved quickly with support of opposition parties to end this injustice and deserve credit for that”.
TORONTO: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) today expressed its opposition to the latest federal government handout to Pratt & Witney Canada Corporation of another $300 million. CTF federal director Kevin Gaudet, attacked the subsidy saying, “Industry Minister Clement is playing Santa to Pratt & Witney at great taxpayer expense. Before today’s $300 million announcement, the company had already soaked taxpayers for $2.158 billion, the vast majority of which has not been paid back.”
Now that the Grey Cup has been awarded it's time to assess the CFL year in review, but not the on-field play, but rather from a taxpayer angle. And unfortunately it comes up expensive.
Are you saving $14,180 a year for your pension? That is how much you would have needed to save – every year for the last 35 years – to pay yourself a pension equal to that of a federal public servant retiring today. That’s a lot of money and precisely why taxpayers are on the hook for an unfunded federal pension liability of $208 billion, according to a recent C.D. Howe Institute report.
TORONTO, ON: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) today released an update of Premier McGuinty’s promise for greater transparency and accountability in Ontario crown corporations and agencies.
TORONTO, ON: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) today released the list of estimated severance payments for retired and defeated city of Toronto councilors and the mayor. The estimated amount totals approximately $1,338,299 for the 14 politicians.
Many Canadian citizens are understandably agitated over recent stories about how some of our most notorious criminals are getting sweet-heart treatment at taxpayers’ expense. It is past time that our criminal justice system stopped coddling wrong-doers and emphasized that prison is also about punishment. Prison should not be fun. It should not be a place for treats, ice cream and entitlement payments. It is time to end the hug-a-thug-athon that has been going on in Canada.
OTTAWA: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) Federal Director Kevin Gaudet appeared as a witness in Ottawa today at the federal standing committee for Human Resources Development to encourage MPs to support Bill C-31. Bill C-31 would stop prisoners over 65, like Clifford Olson, from getting Old Age Security (OAS) and Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) payments courtesy of the taxpayer.
REGINA, SK: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) released partial data today obtained from the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs that shows at least 30 band chiefs in Canada received more in pay than the average premier during 2008-09. The CTF is calling on the federal government to immediately release the withheld data.
TORONTO: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) responded today to the federal government’s economic update, calling for a faster plan to eliminate the deficit and for a legislated debt repayment schedule.
Imagine your neighbour hits you in the head with a hammer, and then says you should be elated that he hit you only once because originally he had planned to hit you three times. This is the kind of argument Finance Minister Flaherty is using to sell his Employment Insurance (EI) tax hike planned for January 1st next year.
