Canadian Taxpayers Federation

Get Ready for More Tax Hikes

Hold onto your wallets Manitobans because you haven’t seen anything yet when it comes to tax increases.

CTF Denounces McGuinty Sell-out on NDP Tax Grab

OTTAWA, ON: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) denounced Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty’s decision to hike personal provincial income taxes by 18 per cent for incomes over $500,000 in exchange for NDP support in the upcoming budget vote.

Dissecting the Film Tax Credit Further

There are lots of claims out there right now regarding the film tax credit issue, so here is some information to help you separate the wheat from the chaff.

CTF Helps Farmers’ Fight Against Unfair Fisheries Act

• No appeal process for farmers given orders by unaccountable Department of Fisheries and Oceans bureaucrats

VANCOUVER, B.C.: Dozens of Fraser Valley farmers—and two calves—invaded downtown Vancouver today to protest unfair and unaccountable application of the Fisheries Act outside the regional office of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans. They were also there to support the launch of a new Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) petition calling on the federal government to reform the Act.

Questionable Expenses, Cue the Freedom

• Spending up $318 million (2.8%) budget to budget (despite claim of 3.9% cut)
• $106 million sales tax increase, tobacco & fuel taxes also up

WINNIPEG, MB: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) responded to today’s Manitoba budget with disappointment, noting that the province has not only tabled a larger deficit than it projected in last year’s budget, it has pushed back its core balanced budget date; from 2014-15 to 2015-16.

TransLink Commissioner Audit Finds Tip of Waste Iceberg

• TransLink Commissioner rejects authority's 12.5% fare hike--says money can be found internally

VANCOUVER, B.C.: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) commended TransLink Commissioner Martin Crilly for rejecting the transit authority’s proposed 12.5 per cent fare hike and for highlighting the inefficiency of the organization.

Provincial Election Spend-O-Thon

EDMONTON, AB: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) today released a list of each party’s election spending and taxation promises to date, along with their projected costs.

B.C. Taxpayers Want Pay Equity For Government Workers

• 78 per cent say taxpayers can't afford to pay more to government employees

VANCOUVER, B.C.: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) released an Angus Reid Public Opinion poll today showing an overwhelming number of British Columbians believe government workers are being paid more than taxpayers can afford and should be brought in line with the private sector.

McGuinty Right to Reject NDP’s Proposed Tax Grab

OTTAWA, ON: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) applauded Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty for rejecting the NDP’s proposed 18 per cent hike in provincial income tax rates on incomes over $500,000, even at the risk of triggering an election.

Film Subsidy Decision the Right One

Imagine if every business owner in Saskatchewan walked into a government office each year and was reimbursed for half the money the business paid to its employees.

Budget 2012 - A Lost Opportunity to Control Spending

• MPs fail to lead by example on pensions
• Annual program spending to rise $19.8 billion in Harper government’s current mandate
• Election promise to balance budget by 2014-15 broken
• Hopeful signs on minor spending cuts, reform of EI, OAS, government pensions

OTTAWA, ON: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) says Budget 2012 represents a lost opportunity for the Harper government to rein in spending and reverse runaway growth in government payrolls during seven years of minority governments.

Ontario budget threatens recovery, piles on debt

• Total debt forecast to hit $314.1 billion by 2014-15 • McGuinty must deliver wage and pension concessions from government employees TORONTO, ON: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) slammed the 2012 Ontario budget delivered today at Queen’s Park, after the McGuinty government forecast a massive deficit of $15.2 billion, and abandoned promised cuts to income taxes and education taxes for business.

Questionable Expenses, Cue the Freedom

• Fishermen again call for choice - to be able to sell fish on own, rather than being forced to sell to the marketing board

WINNIPEG, MB:The Canadian Taxpayers Federation(CTF) and frustrated fishermen released questionable expense records today from a federal government crown corporation - Freshwater Fish Marketing Corporation (FFMC.) The fishermen are angry at the expenses and are again calling for freedom to be able to decide who to sell their catch to.

Budget Like a Household

Imagine the provincial government’s finances like a household budget: Your spouse (provincial NDP government) walks in the house, bursts into the kitchen and cries in your direction “where are those credit card application forms? We need to get two more cards as soon as possible as I just got a five per cent pay cut at work.”

TransLink Must Cut Costs—Starting With Its Cops

As regional mayors and the B.C. Government consider giving TransLink up to two dozen new taxation tools, it is becoming clear that there are problems within the transit authority. Whistleblowers and media have pointed out concerns about nepotism, security, U-passes, safety, communications, fare evasion, polling, superfluous studies and other wastes of tax dollars.

Aging Opportunity

Did you know that Saskatchewan has significantly more government employees than all other province in Canada?

14th Annual “Teddy” Government Waste Awards Winners

Federal Tobacco Farmer Payoff, Alberta Legislature Committee that Never Meets, City of Montreal’s Imaginary Snow Plows are this year’s winners.

• Defeated Bloc Québecois leader Gilles Duceppe takes Lifetime Achievement honours

OTTAWA, ON: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) today held its 14th annual Teddy Waste Awards ceremony, giving well-deserved recognition to the worst of the worst in government waste. CTF federal director Gregory Thomas hosted for the first time as Master of Ceremonies today at the black tie news conference on Parliament Hill. The CTF’s pig mascot Porky the Waste Hater joined lovely and charming guest hostess Catherine Criere Catherine Briere handing out the coveted golden sows.

CTF Applauds B.C. MLA Pay Freeze

• MLAs freezing own pay for third and fourth straight years

VANCOUVER, B.C.: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) today commended the B.C. Government for scrapping a scheduled pay raise for the third and fourth straight years.

CTF praises McGuinty’s proposal for teacher wage freeze and sick day reform

OTTAWA, ON: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) is praising Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty’s proposed two-year wage freeze for teachers as well as his proposal to eliminate the practice of awarding teachers up to $46,000 when they retire in exchange for not using all their sick leave.

B.C. Taxpayers Need to Sweat about Government Debt

One year ago, the Canadian Taxpayers Federation re-launched its legendary debt clock in Victoria. The debt clock is a remarkable tool because it is incapable of political spin. It can’t blame some vague global economic situation or a previous government. It doesn’t give out lengthy treatises on the value of public services or the importance of stimulus packages in sagging economies.