Canadian Taxpayers Federation

News Release: CTF lays out plan to balance the federal budget in 2023-24

OTTAWA, ON: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation outlined its plan to balance the federal budget in 2023-24, which was presented to the Standing Committee on Finance. “The federal government could balance its budget in 2023 by returning to pre-pandemic spending, which was already at all-time highs,” said Franco Terrazzano, Federal Director of the CTF. “A balanced budget means less debt for Canadian kids and grandkids to pay back, less money wasted on interest charges and fewer tax hikes.”

Canada should follow other countries by cutting taxes to combat inflation

OTTAWA, ON: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is calling on the federal government to join other countries in cutting taxes to help taxpayers deal with a rising cost of living.  "Canadians are fueling up at the pumps and then worrying about whether they have enough left over for ground beef at the grocery store," said Franco Terrazzano, Federal Director of the CTF. "Inflation is a key economic issue facing Canadian families and our politicians need to wake up and provide some relief."

News Release: CTF releases New Year's Tax Changes for 2022

OTTAWA, ON: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation released its annual New Year’s Tax Changes report today to highlight the major tax changes that will occur in 2022. “If you’re making more than $40,000, you’ll see your federal income tax bill go up thanks to rising payroll taxes,” said Franco Terrazzano, Federal Director with the CTF. “From higher carbon taxes to rising alcohol, payroll and property taxes, there’s a raft of tax hikes coming in the New Year.”

News Release - Freeland's fiscal update keeps feds on runaway spending train

The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is criticizing the federal government’s spending as the fiscal update shows Ottawa is over budget throughout government. “Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland is somehow managing to over budget with her spending,” said Franco Terrazzano, Federal Director with the CTF. “Increased tax revenues shrunk the deficit a little, but the government didn’t help because spending is up across the board.”

Report shows Canada falling behind peers on tax competitiveness

OTTAWA, ON: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is calling on Canadian politicians to prioritize tax relief in response to the 2021 International Tax Competitiveness Index that shows Canada’s tax system becoming less competitive. “Canada is falling behind our peers on tax competitiveness and that should be a wakeup call for all politicians that want to get our economy firing on all cylinders again,” said Franco Terrazzano, Federal Director with the CTF. “We’re in the bottom half of the pack on tax competitiveness, so our politicians should prioritize tax relief over more government borrowing to recover our economy.”

YES victory on equalization empowers Alberta's fight for fairness

The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is calling on the federal and provincial governments to begin discussing the equalization program after early results show Albertans clearly voting in favour of removing the policy from the Constitution. “Alberta voters delivered a clear message: they’re willing to contribute to Canada, but they won’t be taken advantage of anymore,” said Kevin Lacey, Alberta Director with the CTF. “Alberta politicians of all political stripes have complained to Ottawa demanding action, yet the unfairness continues. Now, Albertans have taken this issue from the premier’s table to kitchen tables across Canada.”

Taxpayers Federation releases pension and severance figures for 2021 federal election

OTTAWA, ON: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation released its calculations of estimated pension or severance payments paid to the 51 members of Parliament who were either defeated in the federal election or did not seek re-election. “Taxpayers shouldn’t feel too bad for the politicians who lost the election because they’ll be cashing big severance or pension cheques,” said Franco Terrazzano, Federal Director with the CTF. “Thanks to past pension reforms, taxpayers will not have to shoulder as much of the burden as they used to. But there’s more work to do to make politician pay affordable for taxpayers.”

CTF releases taxpayer guide to the 2021 election

OTTAWA, ON: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is releasing a guide to the federal election to help taxpayers understand where each party stands on the debt, balancing the budget, taxes and spending before heading to the polls on Sept. 20. “The federal government is more than $1 trillion in debt, and taxpayers deserve to know how politicians plan to pay for all that spending,” said Franco Terrazzano, Federal Director with the CTF. “The guide will help taxpayers navigate the key pocketbook issues from taxes to government debt before election day.”

NDP platform hikes taxes with no plan to balance the budget

OTTAWA, ON: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is criticizing the New Democratic Party’s platform commitments, which would raise taxes and doesn’t have a plan to balance the budget.

Conservative platform has no credible plan to balance the budget or find savings

OTTAWA, ON: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is criticizing the Conservative Party of Canada’s platform for failing to provide a credible plan to balance the books and save money within the federal budget.

Billboard campaign sounds alarm over $1,000,000,000,000 federal government debt

TORONTO, ON: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is launching a cross-country billboard and social media campaign to warn Canadians about the federal government’s $1-trillion debt. “Deficit spending is out of control and we’re pushing politicians to be honest about how they’re going to pay back the $1-trillion debt,” said Franco Terrazzano, Federal Director with the Canadian Taxpayers Federation. “More deficits mean more debt that Canadian kids and grandkids will need to pay back. Politicians need to rein in their deficit spending so future generations aren’t weighed down by soaring government debt.”

Newfoundland and Labrador bailout must come with spending cuts

OTTAWA, ON: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is calling on the federal government to push the government of Newfoundland and Labrador to reduce its spending in the wake of Ottawa’s multi-billion-dollar bailout of the province and its Muskrat Falls hydro project. “This means all Canadian taxpayers are now responsible for the bad decisions made by big-spending politicians in Newfoundland and Labrador," said Franco Terrazzano, Federal Director for the CTF. “Not only is this bailout a huge cost for Canadian taxpayers, but there aren’t any strings attached to force the province to save money.

Feds won't balance the budget until 2070

OTTAWA, ON: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is calling on federal politicians to focus on saving taxpayers’ money in light of Parliamentary Budget Officer data that predicts the federal government won’t balance its budget until 2070.

Taxpayers Federation applauds WestJet for walking away from taxpayer bailout

OTTAWA, ON: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation welcomed news that WestJet has ended talks with the federal government without taking a bailout. “It’s great to see WestJet save taxpayers a tonne of money by walking away from a potential bailout,” said Franco Terrazzano, Federal Director for the CTF. “We’re more than $1 trillion in debt. The government needs to focus on tax relief and reducing red tape, not bailouts.”

Wealth tax is silly political posturing

OTTAWA, ON: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is calling on the federal government to rein in spending to tackle the deficit in light of a Parliamentary Budget Officer report that shows an extreme wealth tax would not cover the budget gap. “Politicians’ eat-the-rich mentality is just silly political posturing,” said Franco Terrazzano, Federal Director for the Canadian Taxpayers Federation. “The PBO data shows that the Trudeau government’s deficit spending would burn through the extra cash in about a month, so if the feds don’t start saving money, it will be everyday Canadians that get clobbered by the debt tab.”

Rein in governor general's platinum perks: Taxpayers Federation

The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is calling on newly appointed Governor General Mary Simon to reform the unaffordable taxpayer-funded perks provided to governors general. “Rideau Hall needs to re-establish trust with Canadians and a good first step would be to reform the unfair perks connected to the position,” said Franco Terrazzano, Federal Director for the CTF. “The government isn’t flush with cash and many families and businesses are still struggling and this is the right time for Canada’s new governor general to show respect for taxpayers.”

Each Canadian is on the hook for $57,500 in government debt: Canada Day Debt Report

The Canadian Taxpayers Federation released its 2021 Canada Day Debt Report showing how much each Canadian owes in provincial and federal government debt. “Governments have been borrowing too much money for too long and now they need to start addressing the red ink before taxpayers get clobbered,” said Franco Terrazzano, the Federal Director for the CTF. “Canadians don’t have tens of thousands of dollars lying around to pay for this mountain of government debt, and that’s why it’s so important for politicians to find savings like everyone else.”

Taxpayers Federation sounding alarm over expensive gun buyback bill

The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is calling on the federal government to cancel the gun buyback in response to a Parliamentary Budget Officer report that estimated the cost of compensating gun owners could reach $756 million. “Today we learned the gun buyback could cost hundreds of millions more than Canadians have been told and the government still doesn’t know the full costs,” said Franco Terrazzano, Federal Director for the CTF. “This a huge sum of money and the people on the front line say the buyback won’t make Canadians safer.”

Duffy's 75th birthday kicks off $47,000-per-year senator pension party

CALGARY, AB: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation hosted a virtual 75th birthday party for Mike Duffy, to shine a light on the big costs of the Senate’s pension and budget. “Duffy will get almost four thousand dollars a month for the rest of his life thanks to his taxpayer-funded pension,” said Franco Terrazzano, Federal Director of the CTF. “It’s good that some progress was made on pension reform a few years ago, but senators are still receiving very generous benefits, especially when the vast majority of taxpayers working outside of government don’t have a workplace pension.”

Taxpayers Federation announces new Federal Director Franco Terrazzano

CALGARY, AB: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is pleased to announce the appointment of Franco Terrazzano as its new Federal Director. “Franco is smart, articulate and, most importantly, absolutely dedicated to standing up for taxpayers,” said Todd MacKay, the CTF’s Vice President of Communications. “During his time as Alberta Director, he made politicians feel the heat when they wasted taxpayers’ money and we’re confident he’ll do the same thing in Ottawa.”