Heard news reports from Liberal 'thinkfest' in Montreal suggesting maybe.. just maybe... someone will have the political 'skill' and 'strength' to talk about ways to ensure our public sector has the capacity to make needed investments in Canada. We need to have leaders that are willing to talk about public finances and initiate conversations with our electorate about tax adjustments.
But anyone who suggests that is 'shouted' down by the anti-tax lobby in Canada. This lobby has been around for about 20-30 years and their sole purpose in life is to weaken the public sector's ability to make significant investments in social housing, education, welfare, income redistribution etc. etc.
You know about a year and a half ago we had a federal election in Canada. The advocates of some type of tax on carbon were 'creamed' by the voters. But that idea seems to have been good public policy. Yet the anti-tax crowd.. now exemplified by our current federal government went on a savage attack agains the idea.
As a result political leaders in Canada are 'chicken' about taxes and immature to boot. The party that initiates such a discussion in a serious way in this country will have my support whenever the next election comes.
Showing posts with label consumption taxes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label consumption taxes. Show all posts
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Monday, January 25, 2010
Federal Cabinet Shuffle - Deficit/Debt
Hmmm... not much to say about recent federal cabinet shuffle except to note 'preoccupation' with deficit/debt reduction.
Government had to spend money to help people most hurt by recession. Yet my understanding is much of the overall deficit/debt is direct result of federal government reducing revenue from consumption taxes like the GST. Its ideology got the best of them in the first two years of office.
The problem with tax reductions for the sake of tax reductions is that it eventually restricts government from mobilizing financial resources to help those less fortunate. If a government wants to do that, it then goes into debt. Clearly the path taken by our federal government.
What makes this most distressing is it enables them to act out their personal ideological preferences. We will see lots of cutbacks in next six months or so.
How this will impact on public services is frightening. As baby boomers retire in droves the next few years, gaps will develop in the provision of public services - as there are severe hiring restraints.
Of course a cynic might say a reduction in public services is the underlying goal of this current 'ideological'- based government.
Our solution is clear....in a democracy the people decide on government direction. Canadians need to hold our current federal government accountable for its financial decisions since 2006. We need a federal government that works to reduce the public deficit and debt through a balanced approach.. and that does include tax adjustments where warranted.
Government had to spend money to help people most hurt by recession. Yet my understanding is much of the overall deficit/debt is direct result of federal government reducing revenue from consumption taxes like the GST. Its ideology got the best of them in the first two years of office.
The problem with tax reductions for the sake of tax reductions is that it eventually restricts government from mobilizing financial resources to help those less fortunate. If a government wants to do that, it then goes into debt. Clearly the path taken by our federal government.
What makes this most distressing is it enables them to act out their personal ideological preferences. We will see lots of cutbacks in next six months or so.
How this will impact on public services is frightening. As baby boomers retire in droves the next few years, gaps will develop in the provision of public services - as there are severe hiring restraints.
Of course a cynic might say a reduction in public services is the underlying goal of this current 'ideological'- based government.
Our solution is clear....in a democracy the people decide on government direction. Canadians need to hold our current federal government accountable for its financial decisions since 2006. We need a federal government that works to reduce the public deficit and debt through a balanced approach.. and that does include tax adjustments where warranted.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
anti HST grouping in Ontario and BC and Other Stuff
It 'pains' me to see progressive political forces in BC and Ontario aligning themselves with traditonally more conservative forces. It's an unholy alliance.
Some time ago I happened to run into a government MLA in Ontario. He reminded me that there will be a HST-credit system similar to the GST credit. While the amounts paid to low income earners may not be as much as it should be (I certainly agree it should be more), the practice of paying (non taxable) credits to low income folks is good public policy.
Some time ago I happened to run into a government MLA in Ontario. He reminded me that there will be a HST-credit system similar to the GST credit. While the amounts paid to low income earners may not be as much as it should be (I certainly agree it should be more), the practice of paying (non taxable) credits to low income folks is good public policy.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
