Canadian Taxpayers Federation

Some Chiefs Unhappy, But Grassroots Pleased

The federal government is in the process of making some great changes to aboriginal policy.While you may hear grumblings about the changes from some chiefs, know plenty of grassroots band members like what’s going on.First, the government’sBill C-27takes another step towards becoming law when it goes to a parliamentary committee for review this fall. Once passed, it will put the salaries and travel expenses for every reserve politician in the country on the internet for all to see.

CTF MP Pension Campaign Takes to the Air in Ottawa

OTTAWA, ON: The next phase of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation’s (CTF) campaign to fix MPs pensions took flight on Monday, literally. As MPs returned to Ottawa for the fall session they were greeted with a giant banner being towed behind an airplane around Parliament reading: Back to Work MPs. Fix Your Pensions!

Ontario’s teacher-pay freeze doesn’t go nearly far enough

Ontario’s teachers are furious with the McGuinty government for legislating a two-year teacher wage freeze and cutting fully-paid sick days from 20 to 10. Perhaps they should be thanking Premier McGuinty for not going further.

Time to Close the Pension Gap

The typical Canadian working outside government has no workplace pension plan, but is being asked to put more and more into rich, unsustainable government employee pension plans.

Senator-in-Waiting Bills $28k of Expenses to University of Calgary

$1,268.19 Four Seasons bill from two-night stay in Houston

$1,261.71 Ritz Carleton bill from two-night stay in Toronto

EDMONTON, AB: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) released documents today obtained through a Freedom of Information (FOIP) request, detailing $28,030.88 worth of expenses billed to the University of Calgary by Chair of the Board of Governors and new Senator-in-Waiting, Doug Black, between his appointment in February of 2011 and August 2012.Also contained in the FOIP documents are photocopies of two cheques to the University from Mr. Black, one for $5,343.86 dated August 1, 2012 (pg. 141-143), the other for $56 dated August 22, 2012 (pg. 176), reimbursing the University for executive class flights and liquor expenses that were “processed in error.”The CTF timeline:

• The CTF’s FOIP request was made on June 6, 2012
• Mr. Black paid reimbursements on August 1, 2012 and August 22, 2012
• The CTF’s FOIP request was fulfilled by the University on August 29, 2012

This Labour Day, Let’s Celebrate Leveling the Playing Field in Construction Contracting

Here’s something to celebrate this Labour Day: the Fair Wages and Hours of Labour Act is repealed. Don’t take our word for it. Those same concise 10 words, contained in the Harper government’s massive 425-page omnibus budget bill, put a quick, well-deserved end to a meddlesome relic of nanny-state legislation that dates back to the 1930s.

Pension Gap Astounding in Canada

• CTF marks 2nd Annual Unfair Labour Day

OTTAWA, ON: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) released new data today just in time for Labour Day showing the large gap between government workers’ pension benefits and everyone else. The CTF again called on governments to freeze and convert their unsustainable defined-benefit pension plans to less costly, defined contribution plans.

BC: Hidden Taxes Strangling B.C. Taxpayers

They say dead men tell no lies. That may never be truer than in the cutthroat blood-sport of B.C. politics.Consider Martyn Brown, the former chief of staff for Gordon Campbell and chief architect of the B.C. Liberals’ decade in power. He’s no longer in politics and suddenly feels very free to tell the truth about the B.C. government.

Advice for Mr. Pallister

As Brian Pallister settles in as the new leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba, here are four items that should be on his short-term to do list.

Changing Labour Laws Could Save You Money

Imagine if every time you got a pay cheque your employer had skimmed a bit off and sent it to either the Sask Party or the NDP?

BC: ICBC Executives Make Drunken Sailors Blush

Former B.C. Premier W.A.C. Bennett once had a cabinet minister tell him he would treat taxpayers’ money as if it were his own. “Oh, no, you won’t,” Bennett said, “not as long as I’m premier. That money is tax money, it’s trust money, and I want 110 cents worth of value out of every dollar.”

Harper Governments Needs to Get Serious About Payroll Costs

As the Harper government moves at a snail’s pace to get a handle on spending, it’s becoming obvious we need tougher action on trimming the federal payroll in order to balance the budget and deliver cost-effective government.The world economy is weaker than Finance Minister Jim Flaherty hoped when he delivered his budget in March. In fact, year-end numbers released in May showed revenues down $3.5 billion just from the budget’s projections less than two months earlier.

Kill the Carbon Tax!

• CTF B.C. supporters tell their stories of carbon tax’s negative impact

VANCOUVER, B.C.: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) today submitted its recommendation to kill the B.C. carbon tax with the provincial government panel reviewing the tax.

15-second digital ads playing in Toronto washrooms

TORONTO, ON: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) kicked-off phase two of its advertising campaign calling for the reform of the MP pension plan with a 15-second digital ad starting to appear in washrooms across Toronto this week.

Oda pension deal smells worse than smoky hotel rooms or rotten orange juice

When Bev Oda’s resignation from Parliament and cabinet took effect on July 31, she lost her $233,247 salary, her car and driver, and allowances for travel and housing.

BC: Taxpayers Pay Millions in Carbon Corporate Welfare—Again

The B.C. government’s Pacific Carbon Trust has become frighteningly adept at taking taxpayers’ money—$14 million last year—and transferring it to big businesses.

MLAs Must Stop Procrastinating on Transparency

A man looks lazily up from the couch at his wife. “I’m the leader of the greatest nation on earth,” he says. “Procrasti-nation!”

CTF Takes Wraps off Billboards in Five Cities Aimed at MP Pension Reform

OTTAWA, ON: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) launched a new billboard campaign today aimed at ensuring Canadians from coast-to-coast know just how lopsided the current MP pension scheme really is.

Just Be Up Front About Stadium Deal

Whether you like the new stadium deal or despise it, don’t you want your politicians to be straight up about it?

Investigation Needed Into $658,847 First Nation CEO, Business

WINNIPEG, MB: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) echoed calls today for a federal investigation into the activities of the Innu Development Limited Partnership, a business owned by the Sheshatshiu and Mushuau First Nations in Newfoundland and Labrador.