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Monday, January 05, 2009
CTF to meet with federal Finance Minister: Recommending balanced budget and tax relief
The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) will be urging the federal government to balance the 2009-10 budget and provide tax relief during its meeting with federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty tomorrow in Montreal.
The meeting with the finance minister is part of the minister’s pre-budget consultations. Minister Flaherty invited the CTF to the consultations to discuss measures to stimulate the economy and improve Canada's long term competitiveness.
CTF spokesman Kevin Gaudet said “The CTF appreciates the opportunity to make the case for a balanced budget and for personal and business tax relief. So far, pre-budget talk has focused almost solely on increased spending and deficits. The CTF strongly urges the federal government to balance the next budget.”
The CTF is calling for a balanced budget; avoidance of corporate welfare and bailouts; and, tax relief and tax reform - lower, simpler, flatter taxes for personal income taxes.
For business taxes, the organization is calling for a reduction in EI premiums for employers - making it equal to the employee amount. The group also wants the government to accelerate the planned reduction of the general business tax rate. The rate is now at 19 percent and is scheduled to come down to 15 percent by 2012.
According to the KPMG corporate and income tax surveys of 2008, Canada ranks 23rd for personal taxes and 27th for corporate taxes in a 30 country comparison of OECD nations.
The tax relief stimulus strategy, while underappreciated, is part of stimulus strategies in the US and Britain. It is being reported that U.S. President-elect Obama plans to cut $300-billion in personal and business tax relief, and Britain implemented a sales tax (VAT) holiday of 2.5 percent.
Gaudet thinks fiscal discipline today is also Canada's best long term strategy for competitiveness:
"In order for Canada to be competitive internationally and for the government to have financial flexibility over the long term, deficits must be avoided and debt payment should be mandated by law.”
Gaudet is ranked #52 on the Western Standard's Liberty 100.
Posted by westernstandard on January 5, 2009 | Permalink
Comments
Gee another good post where everyone can post the bureacracies they think should be axed.
I'll start:
CBC and the HRC's
Posted by: JC | 2009-01-05 4:38:27 PM
Fun.
You took a couple of good ones, JC.
I'd axe the Competition Bureau and the Department of Health and Wellness (or whatever they call themselves.)
Posted by: Matthew Johnston | 2009-01-05 4:46:12 PM
How about taking "Indian" out of Indian and Northern Affairs?
Posted by: Nothing New Under the Sun | 2009-01-05 10:20:43 PM
Support for "the Arts"
and Gun Control.
Big money guzzlers that do nothing,
Axe those too.
Posted by: JC | 2009-01-05 10:25:44 PM
How about taking "Indian" out of Indian and Northern Affairs?
Sure, why not.
Other than maintaining our borders...How about taking government out of northern affairs? :)
Posted by: JC | 2009-01-05 10:47:43 PM
Thanks God for the cool heads at the CTF. Did Flaherty really work for the Harris government? I have a hard time believing that. I will settle for spending cuts and no tax relief. There is no reason to jeopardize our fiscal house.
Posted by: Faramir | 2009-01-06 4:22:40 PM
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