$4.6 billion tip of the iceberg on COVID-19 overpayments: Auditor General
OTTAWA, ON: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is criticizing the federal government for sending billions of dollars in COVID-19 payments to ineligible recipients. Today’s Auditor General report highlighted the misspending.
“Politicians were asleep at the wheel while the government sent billions of tax dollars to the wrong place,” said Franco Terrazzano, Federal Director of the CTF. “The $4.6 billion in overpayments are just the tip of the iceberg because the Auditor General flagged billions more in questionable payments.”
- Tuesday, December 6, 2022
OTTAWA, ON: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is highlighting a fundamental unfairness about the federal carbon tax: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is requiring taxpayers in every other province pay a higher carbon tax than in Quebec.
“Trudeau is giving Quebec a special deal on carbon taxes and giving other Canadians higher gas prices and heating bills,” said Franco Terrazzano, Federal Director of the CTF. “The solution is simple: Trudeau should scrap his carbon tax and lower gas prices and home heating bills across Canada.”
OTTAWA, ON: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is warning Atlantic Canadians that the federal government’s carbon tax hike will increase gas prices and home heating bills.
“The Trudeau government continues to mislead Canadians, but the government’s independent budget watchdog proves the federal carbon tax is costing families hundreds of dollars even after the rebates,” said Franco Terrazzano, Federal Director of the CTF. “Despite the government’s spin, the carbon tax will mean higher gas prices and home heating bills for Atlantic Canadians.”
OTTAWA, ON: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is criticizing Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland
for spending $20.2 billion over budget.
“Freeland is somehow managing to spend $20 billion over budget,” said Franco Terrazzano, Federal Director for the CTF. “The government received a boat-load of extra cash from taxpayers and the government is still racking up more credit card bills.
“Freeland is pinky promising a balanced budget eventually, but even that relies on taking an extra $129 billion from taxpayers.”
OTTAWA, ON: The governor general’s week-long trip to the Middle East in March cost taxpayers $1.3 million, according to documents posted on the 
OTTAWA, ON: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is criticizing the federal government for failing to provide serious, broad-based tax relief to help make life more affordable for Canadians.
“Prime Minister Justin Trudeau isn’t serious about making life more affordable for Canadians,” said Franco Terrazzano, Federal Director of the CTF. “The price of groceries has gone up by 
OTTAWA, ON: The Bank of Canada gave its employees $45 million in pay raises and bonuses during the pandemic even though it failed to hit its inflation target, according to records obtained by the Canadian Taxpayers Federation.
"Why is the Bank of Canada patting itself on the back and handing out millions in bonuses and pay raises while Canadians are struggling to pay for groceries and gas?" asked Franco Terrazzano, Federal Director of the CTF. "If its objective is to keep inflation low, then it doesn't make sense for Canada's central bank to hand out bonuses and pay raises while the cost-of-living soars."
OTTAWA, ON: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is shining a light on the high cost of the federal carbon tax before rebates are provided to Ontario families tomorrow.
“Families are still paying hundreds of dollars in carbon taxes every year even with the rebates,” said Franco Terrazzano, Federal Director of the CTF. “The Trudeau government claims families will be better off. But the Parliamentary Budget Officer’s numbers show the government is using magic math because the carbon tax will cost the average Ontario family $360 this year even with rebates.”
Toronto, ON: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is releasing its report outlining the key dangers of Bill C-11, the cornerstone of the federal government’s internet regulation agenda. The report was written with the advice and input of Dr. Michael Geist of the University of Ottawa.
OTTAWA, ON: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is criticizing Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland for failing to provide a plan to balance the budget and rein in spending.
“Freeland is giving taxpayers another credit card budget with no plan to pay the bills on time and chip away at the $1-trillion debt,” said Franco Terrazzano, Federal Director of the CTF. “Freeland is taking the wait-and-see approach to the government’s credit card bills and hoping the economy can grow faster than its borrowing, but that’s not a good bet with its track record of runaway spending.”
TORONTO, ON: It’s not an April Fools' joke: politicians are raising their own salaries at the same time they’re hiking carbon taxes and alcohol taxes.
“The joke is on taxpayers and it isn’t funny as our members of Parliament pocket a pay raise while emptying our wallets with higher carbon and booze taxes,” said Franco Terrazzano, Federal Director of the CTF. “Canadians are struggling with higher prices on everything and the least our MPs could do is cancel the cruel April Fools’ Day joke and end the tax hikes.”
OTTAWA, ON: A report released by the Canadian Taxpayers Federation shows the government of Canada spent the 5th most among industrialized peers but didn’t achieve the best health-care outcomes and had below-average economic results during the pandemic.
“More tax dollars spent on the pandemic didn’t mean better health or economic results,” said Franco Terrazzano, Federal Director with the CTF. “It’s time for Canadian governments to rein in the borrowing and stop racking up debt.”
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.”
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."
OTTAWA, ON: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation released its annual