Canadian Taxpayers Federation

Terminal Loss

REGINA: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation reports that Regina's new $26.2 million Saskatchewan Transportation Corporation (STC) bus depot caps more than 70 million taxpayer dollars put into STC over the past ten years. Late and over budget, STC's Regina bus terminal opens to the public today.

Terminal Loss

REGINA: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation reports that Regina's new $26.2 million Saskatchewan Transportation Corporation (STC) bus depot caps more than 70 million taxpayer dollars put into STC over the past ten years. Late and over budget, STC's Regina bus terminal opens to the public today.

No Jewels in Crowns

After years of failed investments across Canada and around the world, Saskatchewan's Crowns are finally pulling out. The province's new "Saskatchewan First" policy for the crowns means SaskTel, SaskPower, SaskEnergy, and SGI will focus on opportunities in their home province. But even though the era of boondoggles abroad has ended, the problems posed by existing Crowns remain, and, in some ways, may even get worse.

Uncork the Competition

No government ever wants to be called hypocritical. For that reason, taxpayers may be able to squeeze some good policy reform out of the provincial government in the area of alcohol sales.

And the survey says…

While the recent drop in the price of natural gas and oil may help ease the pocketbook-pain of motorists and homeowners, it is going to inflict pain on the provincial treasury. The reason is quite simple - the lower the price of oil and natural gas, the less money the government collects.

CTF Declares Victory on Increase in Basic Personal Exemption

REGINA: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation CTF) today applauded Premier Wall's announcement of substantial income tax relief and debt repayment.

Taxpayers shouldn’t cover health region SERP liabilities

Much has been made over the past couple of weeks about $5.9-million the provincial government has spent on severance packages for fired CEOs of the former regional health authorities. If these generous packages aren't enough to get the blood boiling, left-over deficits, bonuses and unfunded liabilities in the executives' supplementary pension plans should be.

Praise for the Premier

Premier Doer took his fair share of lumps in the media during the past session at the legislature. They were well deserved as his government watered down the Balanced Budget Act, introduced a vote tax and passed unfriendly agriculture legislation. However, it is equally important to praise the government for the initiatives that it got right.

The Urban Reserve Advantage

The first business is set to open on Regina's first urban reserve. Last March, eleven vacant lots at 1101 Angus Street in North Central Regina (coined by MacLean's as "Canada's Worst Neighbourhood") became the reserve land of Piapot First Nation. But what is obviously good news for Piapot is bad news for non-Aboriginal businesses, and, to a lesser extent, residents in the area.

Careful With Our Dimes During Uncertain Times

Across the country, Canadians are watching their pennies and wondering what impact the financial crisis in the United States will have on our lives. Although many economists are optimistic that the Canadian economy can weather the slowdown that our largest trading partner is experiencing, only time will tell to what extent we'll be affected.

Right to Know Falls Short

Lee Harding Politicians aren't fans of open government. In opposition perhaps, but not after taking the reigns. Stephen Harper famously ran on his accountability platform, but once in office exempted promised reforms to access to information laws. Similar tales can be told in many provinces. Even where good laws exist, governments can still erode transparency through generous interpretation of exemption clauses, moving slowly on requests, charging exorbitant fees, cutting funding to information offices, or by insisting a document doesn't exist.

Surprises at Sunrise

Compiled by Lee Harding, Sask. Director, Canadian Taxpayers Federation The village of Invermay declared a one-time civic holiday on August 22 in celebration of its 100th anniversary. However, this meant an unanticipated problem for the Sunrise Health Region. Under its collective bargaining agreement, all 42 employees of the Invermay Health Centre region must be paid as if it were a statutory holiday. The additional cost is estimated at $8,000.

Rapid Transit “Light”

Colin Craig WINNIPEG: Concerned with the high cost of the governments' $327 million "hail mary" bus rapid transit (BRT) proposal, the Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) today recommended the city follow its original plan for their active transit signal priority pilot project down Pembina Highway.

Bovine Belches the Latest Tax Sinkhole

What started with a strange tip ended up in 2000 pages of documents. The rumour? Researchers at a federal facility near Swift Current were putting gas masks on cows to monitor their greenhouse gas emissions. Freedom of Information Requests proved that not only was this true, but that many such studies have and are being conducted-mostly paid for by taxpayers.

Free Government Knives

By Colin Craig Although Manitoba has a major crime problem, provincial government agencies have been busy handing out knives. Yes, knives were among the long list of items handed out as "promotional material" by arms-length government agencies.

$8.8-billion of your money, and counting…

By John Williamson OTTAWA: From June 2nd to September 4th, the Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) tracked 293 pre-election spending announcements totaling $8.8-billion made by Stephen Harper's Conservative government. That is roughly $94-million a day or about $3.9-million every hour. More spending is expected today and over the weekend in advance of Sunday's probable election call.

$4 Million Spent on Lip Balm, Golf Balls & Manicure Sets

Winnipeg: Freedom of Information requests filed by the Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) have revealed that various provincial government agencies, boards and crown corporations have spent over $4.1 million on promotional give away items over the last four years.

CTF Issues School Property Tax Report

REGINA: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) today released a report on school funding that calls on the province to dramatically reduce pressure on property taxpayers. The report comes in response to the Wall government's call for strategies to lower school property taxes. Under the CTF proposal, the province would provide 75 percent of school funding within three years, up from the current 50 percent.

Increased private school funding a boon to public education

The Alberta government's recent decision to increase the grant level for private school students (from 60 percent to 70 percent of the per student public school amount) has come under attack by some public school advocates, the teachers' union, and opposition MLAs.

Film Tax Credit Tops $15M Arts Subsidies a Runaway Train

REGINA: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation today released details of $15-million handed out through the Saskatchewan Film Employment Tax Credit (SFETC) and called on the provincial government to curtail runaway subsidies to the arts industry.