Canadian Taxpayers Federation

A Grilling Worth Repeating

Politicians at all levels of government should take note of something a city councilor in Winnipeg recently did - she gave it her all to hold some bureaucrats accountable.

CTF Slams Harper Government for Abandoning 2014-15 Balanced-Budget Commitment

Harper government commitments on income-splitting, tax-free savings accounts delayed, as they depend on a balanced budget OTTAWA, ON: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) slammed today’s economic and fiscal update by federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty as it abandoned the Conservatives’ 2011 election promise to balance the budget in 2014-15. The CTF pointed out that the Tories are set to break their promise, despite record tax revenues this year.

Tories Returning Alberta to Debt?

CALGARY, AB: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) reacted today to Premier Redford’s announcement over the weekend at the PC Party convention that her government would return Alberta to debt to pay for infrastructure projects.

Vancouver Bike Share Puts Millions in Taxes At Risk

Vancouver’s Bixi public bike share program may sound like good public policy but, in the end, it will be taxpayers who will get taken for a ride.It seems like a no-brainer in a city with three thriving car share companies and a massive taxpayer investment in new bike lanes that a bicycle share program would be a huge success. But still city hall has offered to subsidize this Bixi system because no entrepreneur, knowing Vancouver’s helmet laws, Bixi’s dodgy software issues and Montreal’s multi-million dollar bike share bailout, would take a risk on funding the project themselves.

CTF Applauds Proposed Reforms to Canada’s Access to Information Act in Rathgeber bill

OTTAWA: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation applauded reforms to federal access-to-information law proposed in private member’s bill C-461, tabled today in the House of Commons by Brent Rathgeber, Member of Parliament for Edmonton-St. Albert.

Last Charge of the Pension Brigade

NOTE: The following commentary was published in the November 3rd edition of the Calgary Herald. Times when the legislature doesn’t sit are traditionally easy times for a governing party. No Question Period, just funding announcements and ribbon cutting ceremonies. Despite these advantages, the Alberta PCs have seemed intent at every turn to shoot themselves in the foot over issues that shouldn’t take a crystal ball to figure out where the public stands. The latest was one was once again on MLA pay.

Canada needs to stay on the path that leads away from the fiscal cliff

When Canada’s annual budget deficit came in bigger than expected at $26.2 billion recently, the news didn’t spark a sell-off in the markets or an emergency debate in parliament. But that doesn’t mean Canadians should be complacent about balancing the budget. When Ben Bernanke, the chairman of the United States Federal Reserve is nervously warning Congress that they face “a massive fiscal cliff of large spending cuts and tax increases” this coming January 1^st, while Canadians shouldn’t confuse what’s going on south of the border with Ottawa’s dilemma, the need for more cuts in Canada is certainly real.

CTF Supports Griffiths’ Rejection of New Municipal Taxes

CALGARY, AB: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) is applauding Municipal Affairs Minister Doug Griffiths for his clear stand against new municipal taxes.

Unwelcome Guest and Unwanted Problem

Imagine for a moment that you’re sitting on your couch one Wednesday evening watching T.V. and the doorbell rings. Who could it be?Moments later you open the door and a stranger in a suit says“Hello, I’m from the government and I’m here to collect for the pension shortfall.”

Don’t Give Calgary Politicians More Taxing Powers

As the province’s Municipal Affairs Minister, Doug Griffiths, begins the process of negotiating “big city charters” with Edmonton and Calgary, it’s becoming very apparent what Alberta’s two major cities want out of these charters: more of your money.

B.C. MLAs Show Taxpayers Disrespect by Breaking Word on Expenses

Every time B.C. taxpayers think MLAs will put their expenses out, they pull them back in.

Proposed Ontario Food Tax is Quack Economics and Bad Fiscal Medicine

OTTAWA, ON: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) sharply criticized the suggestion of new Ontario taxes on food containing quantities of sugar and fat deemed excessive, as proposed in a news release today from the Ontario Medical Association.

CTF Welcomes MP and Government Employee Pension Reforms

• MP pensions come up short of a true $1 for $1, MPs to taxpayers contribution ratio

OTTAWA, ON: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) is welcoming reforms to the MP and government employee pension plans announced today by Treasury Board President, Tony Clement, declaring them a significant win for taxpayers.

Balance the Budget, Kill the Carbon Tax

PARKSVILLE, B.C.: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) today presented its 2013-14 budget recommendations, titled Blueprint for a Balanced Budget, to the B.C. government’s Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services.

Cutting to the Chase on Debt and Deficits

If the words "government deficit" and "debt" are confusing, here is what they mean in plain English and why Manitoba taxpayers should be concerned.

MP pension plan reforms on their way

Sometime in the next couple of weeks the Harper government will introduce another one of those printer-choking omnibus bills. Contained somewhere in the depths of the bill will be changes to the MP pension plan. If leaks to the media from within the Conservative caucus are to be believed, we already have a pretty good idea of what to expect.

Rural B.C. Reality vs. Urban Carbon Tax Mythology

It seems the further you get away from Vancouver, the more hated the carbon tax becomes.

Dix Wrong to Kill Balanced Budget Law

KAMLOOPS, B.C.: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) today rejected B.C. NDP leader Adrian Dix’s announcement that an NDP government would repeal B.C.’s balanced budget legislation.

“Targeted-Benifit” MLA Pension Plan is Putting Lipstick on a Pig

Their timing is impeccable – just as federal MPs are buckling under the pressure and are preparing to scale back their own over-the-top pensions, some Alberta MLAs are rubbing their hands together at the prospect of getting in on the action.

MPs Ponder a Pay Raise to Pay For Pension Reform

Faced with growing public outrage over their platinum-plated pension plan, some Members of Parliament are talking up the idea of raising their own pay to cover the costs of MP pension reforms that would require they put more money into their own retirement savings.