Canadian Taxpayers Federation

$224 Million Mystery

"How was the $224 million spent?" If you want to have some fun try calling Dave Chomiak, NDP Minister responsible for Manitoba Hydro, and ask him that question.

Reality Check on Fiscal Update

TORONTO, ON: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) is reminding Ontarians to ignore the spin with the release of the 2012-13 Public Accounts of Ontario this afternoon by Finance Minister Charles Sousa.

EI Tax Freeze Means Workers Will Keep Getting Plucked Until at Least 2017

• EI taxes surpassed EI benefits by nearly $3 billion last year

OTTAWA, ON: The three-year freeze on federal Employment Insurance tax rates announced today by federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty means Canadian workers will keep getting plucked, like a Thanksgiving turkey, for the costly program until at least 2017, according to the Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF).

CTF Does the Math of Province’s Deficit

At the end of August, Finance Minister Doug Horner released the province's first quarter Fiscal and Economic Update. The minister boasted that Alberta's books might end up between a $247 million deficit and a $250 million surplus when the year is finished. The headlines of the minister's press release tried to spin these numbers to the media and voters, but the charts stapled to the back of it told a very different story.

Hydro’s Not-So “Blacked Out” Documents Confirm CTF Concerns

​WINNIPEG, MB: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) released “blacked out” Manitoba Hydro documents today that are fully readable. The documents confirm what the CTF has said for years – consultants are gorging off Hydro dam negotiations; some charging more than $250 per hour.

Government Sick Days Needs Prescription of Accountability

When was the last time you called in sick? Was it just a case of the sniffles? Were you flat on your back? Or did you go golfing and not want to use a vacation day?

Labour Day Reality Check: Federal Employees Take Nearly 3X More Sick Days than the Rest of Us

• Non-government employees take 6.7 sick days per year

​ OTTAWA, ON: With Labour Day just around the corner, the Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) is encouraging the federal government to crack down on abuse of workplace sick leave by government employees when union contracts expire in 2014 and 2015.

Alberta Needs a Plan to Pay for Massive Flood Price Tag

Prior to a single drop of rain falling before the massive June floods, Alberta’s government was already on track to run a staggering $5.1 billion deficit. With most estimates, including the one made by Premier Redford, of the bill at “well over” $5 billion to taxpayers, an already serious fiscal situation has become more acute.

CTF Releases Fiscal Flood Plan Report

• Sustainability Fund to be entirely depleted before year-end
• CTF recommends mandatory flood insurance & ‘hard-cap’ on flood aid

CALGARY, AB: Today the Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) released its recommendations for rebuilding from the 2013 floods in a report titled, ‘Responsibly Rebuilding Alberta.’ In the report, the CTF estimates the fiscal changes to the province resulting from the flood and makes a series of recommendations for flood aid, and how the province should pay for rebuilding.

Another Unfair Situation For Taxpayers

They say that life isn’t fair.

Taxpayers Shouldn’t Subsidize Mobile Phone Competition

This commentary was first published in the Tuesday, August 20th edition of the Vancouver Sun. It’s not hard to understand why the Canadian government would want more companies selling mobile phones in Canada.

TransLink Brass and Police Raking in the Cash

• 58 Transit Police officers made more than $100,000

VANCOUVER, B.C.: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) today called on TransLink to roll back executive and management salaries as the first step toward cutting costs in order to avoid massive tax hikes. TransLink released its 2012 salary disclosure documents this week.

Hospital Cafeterias Losing Millions

• BAD: Government-run hospital cafeterias in Manitoba lost $4.5 million from 2010-12
• GOOD: Victoria General Hospital partnered with a private business and turned $186,851 loss into $25,593 gain; other RHAs should do same and look at partnerships

WINNIPEG, MB: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) released analysis today showing most government-run hospital cafeterias are losing money selling chocolate bars, muffins, sandwiches, juice and other snacks. According to Freedom of Information (FOI) data obtained by the CTF, government-run hospitals lost $2.3 million in 2011-12 and $2.2 million in 2010-11.

Potash Unpredictability Proves Need For Prudence

Imagine if your spouse worked in sales, had a really good year and brought home a $10,000 bonus.

Politicking In The Classroom Not Acceptable

Teaching social studies and political material in a high school has got to be a delicate job.

If Canadians Vote to Abolish the Senate, Politicians Must Listen

This commentary was first published in the Monday, July 29th edition of the Toronto Star. We've nearly been trampled in recent days by a veritable herd of Canadian academics, falling over one another to remind us that the Canadian Senate cannot be abolished.

Calls for National Referendum on Abolishing the Senate

OTTAWA, ON: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) today called on Prime Minister Stephen Harper and all Parliamentarians to let Canadian voters decide the fate of the Senate in a national referendum during the next election.

Alberta needs to reboot budget to deal with flooding

The following commentary was published in the July 17th edition of the Calgary Herald & Edmonton Journal On June 20, tens of thousands of households and businesses had to throw their plans for the current year out the window. Nearly every single family and business affected by the flood has been forced to change their vacation plans, their budgets and savings plans for the current year, and potentially for many years to come.

Five Ways to Stop the Next Senate Expense Scandal from Happening

Now that the RCMP are investigating, it’s pretty much guaranteed that the Senate expense scandal will have a devastating impact on the people involved. But it’s Canada that has suffered the worst damage in this scandal. Thankfully it’s repairable.

Canadian Taxpayers Federation Releases Municipal Report Card

• Worst Grade: Oshawa, Kingston & Guelph
• Best Grade: St. Catherine's & Kitchener

TORONTO, ON: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) today released a report card on municipal spending. The report card graded the 20 largest municipalities in Ontario based on an number of spending and taxation indicators, including spending on highly-paid staff and property taxes.