Canadian Taxpayers Federation

CTF Welcomes International Leaders to 2014 World Taxpayer Conference

• Vancouver Welcomes Visitors from Europe, Africa, China, Australia, and the U.S., hosted by the Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF)
• Canadian headliners led by the Rt. Hon. Paul Martin, Canada’s 21st Prime Minister, and Stockwell Day former federal cabinet minister, Leader of the Opposition, and Alberta treasurer

VANCOUVER, B.C.: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) is pleased to welcome national and international leaders to Vancouver today to exchange ideas, success stories, and best practices in the battle for lower taxes, less waste, and more accountability from governments around the world.

Leaked Manitoba Hydro Document Confirms CTF Concerns

WINNIPEG, MB: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) released a leaked Manitoba Hydro audit document today that raised concerns with dam consultation bills racked up by the York Factory First Nation and paid for by Manitoba Hydro.

Harper Government Should Scrap $5 Billion Montreal Champlain Bridge Project

OTTAWA, ON: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) is calling on the Harper government to halt work on the Montreal Champlain Bridge replacement, after Quebec’s new government abandoned its support for tolls to finance the $5 billion local project.

CTF Calls on Harper to Scrap the 1.5 Cent per Litre Deficit Elimination’ Gas Tax and Tax-on-Tax

OTTAWA, ON: As Canadian motorists fill up their tanks this May long weekend, marking the traditional launch to the summer driving season, the Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) is calling on the Harper government to scrap the 1.5 cents-per-litre federal “deficit elimination” gas tax and end the practice of taxing tax.

CTF Calculates Costs of Liberal's Proposed Aviation Fuel Tax Hike

TORONTO, ON – As part of its annual Gas Tax Honesty Day, the Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) has calculated the expected airline fare increases caused by the Ontario Liberal’s proposed 148 per cent tax hike on aviation fuel. The CTF’s new report, Failure to Launch: How Ontario is Being Held Down by Bad Aviation Policy highlights the existing taxes, fees, charges, and rents that make flying in Canada very expensive, and shows how added taxes will impact both the industry and travellers.

Provincial Pension Bailout Costs Skyrocketing

WINNIPEG, MB: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) is again calling on the provincial government to protect taxpayers by initiating government employee pension reform.

One Way or Another, Voters Will Force Politicians to Reform the Senate

This commentary first appeared in the Calgary Herald Standing in the vast foyer of the Supreme Court of Canada after the judgment on the Senate reference was made public, former Liberal leader Stephane Dion demonstrated, once again, the legendary tone-deafness to the electorate that ushered him into electoral obscurity in 2008.

Hydro Advantage At Risk

If you know a Manitoban who knows more about Rob Ford’s crack cocaine videos and Kim Kardashian’s baby than Manitoba Hydro’s expansion plan, wake them up.

Tobacco Tax Hike in Ontario Despite Budget Failure

TORONTO, ON: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) is calling on the Wynne government to halt the tobacco tax increases that were implemented on May 2, 2014 despite the Ontario Budget not passing. The tax hike was a component of the 2014 Budget, which was not supported in the House and yet was still implemented through a regulatory change ordered by Finance Minister Charles Sousa.

Don't Try to Read the Income Tax Act Before You File Your Taxes Tonight

OTTAWA, ON: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) is warning Canadians not to try and read the Income Tax Act before filling out their tax forms, because if they do, they will end up missing the extended tax filing deadline of midnight tonight.

Ontario Taking Cues From Greece

TORONTO, ON: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) is floored by the tax-and-spend budget tabled in Ontario today. The 2014 Ontario budget features new payroll taxes, tax hikes on businesses, increased excise taxes on tobacco and aviation fuel, and the creation of a new personal income tax bracket that will raise incomes taxes on 220,000 people across the province.

Premier Wynne's Sinking Ship

Taxpayers Take on Sousa

MISSISSAUGA, ON: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) has unveiled the latest billboard in its Bankrupting Ontario ad campaign. The campaign, launched last week in Charles Sousa’s home riding of Mississauga South, takes aim at the finance minister and his hostility towards balancing Ontario’s budget. The campaign is picking up steam after the media coverage last week, and has been able to raise money to buy additional billboards.

CTF Renews Call for 2015 Referendum on Abolishing the Senate

OTTAWA, ON: Following this morning’s judgment from the Supreme Court of Canada indicating that unanimous consent of the provinces and the Parliament of Canada are required to abolish the Senate, the Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) renewed its call for Prime Minister Stephen Harper to put the question to the people of Canada in a national referendum, to coincide with the 2015 federal election.

What Premier Wynne (or Somebody) Can Learn from Quebec's New Premier, Philippe Couillard

This commentary first appeared in the April 21 edition of Toronto Star's QP Briefing. New premier Philippe Couillard’s sweeping election triumph in Quebec provides an important lesson for Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne, if she’s prepared to learn from Couillard’s success.

CTF busts myths at tax-time with Tax Me I’m Canadian! book

CALGARY/OTTAWA: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) is hoping Canadians pick up a copy of a newly released book along with their tax forms this tax season.

CTF Launches BankruptingOntario.ca Ad Campaign

• CTF is ringing the alarm bell over high debt and irresponsible government

MISSISSAUGA, ON: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) is launching a new campaign, BankruptingOntario.ca, to sound the alarm bell over Ontario’s reckless spending and mounting government debt. On the eve of the Ontario budget – one that is projected to finance yet another deficit through borrowing – the CTF is sending the government a message that they need to take corrective actions now to prevent bigger problems down the road.

What if Alberta Were Treated the Same as Quebec?

This commentary first appeared in today's edition of the Calgary Herald When Quebecers go to the polls in Monday’s provincial election, they’re expected to provide us with some relief from the neverendum — the never-ending referendum speculation that turns every Quebec election into a circus, where Canada’s future is centre stage, poised on a tight wire without a net.

An Open Letter to Federal Finance Minister Joe Oliver

In January 2012, Finance Minister Joe Oliver made a name for himself, as then Minister of Natural Resources, when he published an open letter (reproduced below) tackling what he called ‘radical groups” with an ‘ideological agenda’ and ‘jet-setting celebrities’ who ‘lecture Canadians not to develop our natural resources.”

CTF: New Transparency Bill in Ontario a Step in the Right Direction

• All expenses posted online, but not receipts

TORONTO, ON: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) applauded the Wynne government for the introduction of the Public Sector and MPP Accountability and Transparency Act, 2014. This legislation would, among other things, force all cabinet ministers, MPPs and political staff to post their expenses online.