Canadian Taxpayers Federation

More red ink from Ottawa won't solve our economic woes

It’s one thing to pull out the credit card to pay for new shingles to patch a leaky roof in a storm. It’s another thing to pull out that credit card to buy a new big screen before the rain even stops. That’s what Ottawa is doing by pilling up new program spending on top of its $1-trillion debt tab. Even worse, the feds are trying to pitch their debt-financed big screen as a good investment.

Federal budget spends more on everything with no plan to pay for it

The British politician Nigel Lawson once said: “To govern is to choose – to appear to be unable to choose is to appear to be unable to govern.” If Lawson is correct, then the only conclusion to be drawn from Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland’s federal budget is that the Trudeau Liberals appear to be unable to govern.

Taxpayers Federation slams Freeland's fiscal inferno

OTTAWA, ON: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation today slammed the Trudeau government’s reckless plans to permanently increase federal government spending by nearly 30 per cent by 2026. “Make no mistake: the vast majority of measures in this budget have nothing to do with pandemic supports, and everything to do with exploiting a deadly crisis to indulge in a cynical, debt-fuelled spending binge,” said CTF Federal Director Franco Terrazzano. “Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland will increase permanent federal spending by more than $100 billion by 2026 with absolutely no idea how to pay for it.”

Taxpayers Federation slams CPC Leader Erin O'Toole for announcing his own carbon tax

CALGARY, AB: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is slamming Conservative Party of Canada Leader Erin O’Toole for his proposal to implement a carbon tax, which would break his pledge to repeal carbon taxes.

In Budget 2021, Freeland needs to get runaway spending under control

In Budget 2021, Freeland needs to get runaway federal spending under control As Canadians wait to see just what will be in the first federal budget in more than two years, this much is certain: that the amount of red ink will surge past any other deficit records in Canada’s modern history.

Ford flips on political subsidies

Premier Doug Ford is bringing the gravy train back to Ontario. During the 2018 provincial election, Ford rightly promised to scrap the per-vote subsidies to political parties, otherwise known as political welfare.

The joke is on taxpayers this April Fools' Day

CALGARY, AB: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation isn’t laughing at this year’s April Fools’ jokes from the federal government as it hikes its carbon tax, alcohol taxes and salaries for members of Parliament. “Today the joke is on taxpayers and it isn’t funny as our MPs pocket a pay raise while taking more money out of our wallets through a higher carbon tax and booze taxes,” said Franco Terrazzano, the CTF’s Alberta Director.

Taxpayers Federation slams April 1 MP pay hike

CALGARY, AB: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is slamming members of Parliament for failing to stop their April 1 pay raise during the COVID-19 downturn. “Our MPs should know that a pandemic and severe economic downturn is the worst possible time to be padding their pockets with a pay hike,” said Franco Terrazzano, the CTF’s Alberta Director. “Millions of Canadians have been struggling with COVID-19 for more than a year now, so it’s long past time for our MPs to get off their butts and put an end to their automatic pay increases.”

Better stock up: your beer, wine and spirits are about to get more expensive

OTTAWA, ON: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation today advised any Canadians who enjoy a cold beer or glass of wine to stock up this week before the federal government’s tax escalator on alcohol kicks in to increase prices on April 1. “Unfortunately, it’s no April Fool’s joke: every year, alcohol taxes rise automatically on April 1,” said CTF Federal Director Aaron Wudrick. First passed in the 2017 federal budget, the alcohol escalator tax automatically increases excise taxes on beer, wine and spirits every year by the rate of inflation. Taxes already account for about half of the price of beer, 65 per cent of the price of wine and more than three quarters of the price of spirits.

Taxpayers shouldn't accept the latest military procurement fiasco

In the highly competitive field of federal government waste there’s one area of futility that stands head and shoulders above all others: military procurement. Ottawa hasn't been able to provide our beleaguered troops with pistols to replace relics from the Second World War. The ongoing saga of securing replacement jets for our fleet of 40-year-old CF-18s remains unresolved. Even something as relatively simply as naval supply ships may see taxpayers pay billions more than necessary.

When governments work remotely, taxpayers save money

Last week, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had what was billed as his first "face-to-face" bilateral meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden. True, the faces in question were on video screens, but in the new pandemic reality, even world leaders need to make sacrifices. In this case, it meant no glowing, statesmanlike photo-ops or flattering footage showcasing smiles, backslaps and handshakes — remember handshakes? — all to be clipped for flogging in future election campaign ads.

Cost of Toronto mayor's luxury park could pay for 139,000 shelter beds

Toronto, ON: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is calling on Toronto Mayor John Tory to scrap his unaffordable Rail Deck Park scheme as documents show it would cost the equivalent of 138,616 shelter beds. "Politicians should only spend our tax money where it's needed most – not on pet projects," said Jasmine Moulton, Ontario Director for the Canadian Taxpayers Federation. "Tory's plan to spend billions on a single luxury park is indefensible while people in this city are homeless and living on the streets." 

200,000 Canadians sign petition to end expenses for former governors general

OTTAWA, ON: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation today delivered a petition signed by more than 200,000 Canadians calling on the Trudeau government to put an end to a decades-old policy that allows former governors general to bill taxpayers for their expenses.

Petition opposing ex-governor general expense account reaches 100,000 signatures

OTTAWA, ON: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation announced this morning that more than 100,000 Canadians have signed the petition calling on the Trudeau government to scrap expense accounts for retired governors general. “More than 100,000 Canadians are sending the Trudeau government a clear message: stop wasting taxpayers’ money on expenses accounts for Julie Payette and other former governors general,” said CTF Federal Director Aaron Wudrick. “Canadians can’t understand why taxpayers should be on the hook for hundreds of thousands of dollars a year for the office expenses of retired governors general. The prime minister needs to end this program.”

Taxpayers: wealth taxes don't work

Toronto, ON: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is urging Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to reject calls for a wealth tax in Canada as the federal government prepares the next budget.

“A wealth tax is not a serious plan to address the reckless spending coming out of Ottawa,” said Jasmine Moulton, Ontario Director for the Canadian Taxpayers Federation. “There’s no certainty it would work, but it would certainly cause a myriad of issues.”

It's time to tighten up the Canadian Emergency Wage Subsidy

When Ottawa sent billions in taxpayers' money to businesses struggling with the pandemic, nobody envisioned luxury golf courses pocketing million-dollar surpluses as a result. Yet that's an actual thing that happened and it's not the only example of a dubious outcome from entities that took advantage of an emergency pandemic program for businesses known as the Canadian Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS).

Former governors general can claim office expenses from beyond the grave

OTTAWA, ON: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is releasing a federal report regarding former governors general's expense accounts. The report shows the estate of a former governor general can claim office expenses for six months after their death. "It was bad enough that taxpayers should have to cover hundreds of thousands of dollars a year in expenses for retired governors general," said CTF Federal Director Aaron Wudrick. "Now we learn that taxpayers are on the hook for their office expenses even after they've departed from this world."

Taxpayers shouldn't be stuck paying Julie Payette's expenses forever

It’s shocking to see a governor general resign amidst revelations about a toxic work environment at her office. For taxpayers, it’s even more shocking to know we’ll have to keep paying her expenses. Given the kind of behaviour allegedly outlined in the government’s report, Julie Payette had no real choice but to resign as governor general. Toxic management would never be tolerated in any other workplace. It’s certainly unacceptable for the Queen’s representative in Canada.

Ottawa must stop paying expenses for former governors general

OTTAWA, ON: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation today called on the Trudeau government to immediately stop former governors general from billing taxpayers for expenses indefinitely after they have left office. “With the resignation of Julie Payette, now is the time for this government to ensure that taxpayers are not on the hook for the expense accounts of former governors general,” said CTF Federal Director Aaron Wudrick.

Taxpayers shouldn't be paying billions to subsidize cruise ship repairs

It’s hard to believe spending $3 billion in taxpayer money to subsidize repairs for cruise ships and other private shipping made it on to Ottawa’s to-do list during the pandemic. Yet the Ottawa Citizen’s David Pugliese broke the story that Canadian taxpayers will soon be forced to put billions into bankrolling a government shipyard that will overwhelmingly benefit a few private businesses. The federal government’s plan to convert the Esquimalt Graving Dock (EGD) repair yard on Vancouver Island into a full-service ship construction facility.