Washington may be a tax reform wasteland, but out in the states the action is hot and heavy. Nine states—including such fast-growing places as Florida, Tennessee and Texas—currently have no income tax, and the race is on to see which will be the tenth, and perhaps the 11th and 12th.
Taxation
Environment Canada’s forecasts of a “green Christmas” buried in snow
It is clear that this year’s Christmas weather forecast was simply propaganda in support of Environment Minister Peter Kent’s climate change mantra.
Businesses Don’t Pay Taxes
Repeat after me everyone: "Businesses don't pay taxes, people do." I wrote last week about companies using tax avoidance (not evasion) to reduce their tax bill. One of those companies, Starbucks, has announced that due to public pressure (and to protect their image),...
Why is the Government Cancelling Winter?
The federal government appears dead set on cancelling winter. Parks Canada’s decision to cut funding for the grooming of cross-country ski trails in Prince Albert, Riding Mountain and Elk Island national parks garnered little national attention. It is too easy to dismiss this as an inevitable consequence of government budget reductions. If each budget decision speaks clearly about national priorities the message is that winter does not matter much to the government and, perhaps, to Canadians.
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Policy Restrictions have Caused the Housing Crisis
The choice we face is clear: a modest expansion of greenfield development or greater housing poverty For 18 years, I have been monitoring international housing affordability, as author or co-author of the Demographia Housing Affordability series. The latest...
Leaders on the Frontier | So Much More We Can Be with the Hon. Grant Devine, Premier of Saskatchewan 1982-1991
The April 1982 Saskatchewan election proved to be a major turning point in the province's history. Over its nine years in office, the Devine government commenced and completed numerous policy initiatives in spite of considerable challenges including two recessions. ...
What’s in Suing Big Tobacco?: The states interests may not always be the community’s interests
Governments in Canada are suing tobacco companies for the sake of the health of Canadians, even if tobacco sale and production are legal. The law suits set a precedent that further endangers unpopular industries such as fast food chains.
Just Another Brick?: Brad Wall finds himself in an interesting position after the BHP Potash takeover rejection
With his political stocks riding high in Saskatchewan and across Canada, Brad Wall is now in a position to move on tax reform and use his influence against the policies of supply management and single desk wheat marketing.
Ottawa Overstimulates The Civil Service
“So who benefited most from Ottawa’s billions in stimulus spending over the past two years? Construction workers? Undoubtedly. Lots of public works projects have moved forward that otherwise may not have begun for many more years. And autoworkers? Indisputably. Without taxpayer bailouts, tens of thousands of auto and parts workers would have been out of jobs. Yet beyond these two sectors, there is little chance the billions poured down the drain had much impact on other sectors, especially small businesses.”
Avoiding the EI Tax-Hike Hammer
“Imagine your neighbour hits you in the head with a hammer, and then says you should be elated that he hit you only once because originally he had planned to hit you three times. This is the kind of argument Finance Minister Flaherty is using to sell his Employment Insurance (EI) tax hike planned for January 1st next year.”
Mark Milke on Political Funding
Listen to Mark Milke on taxpayer subsidies for political parties here. (13 minutes)
The Hidden Costs of Today’s Minimum Wage Increase: Raising the Minimum Wage Hurts Business and the Unemployed
Today’s minimum wage increase will bring hidden costs to society including higher unemployment and negative impacts on the profitability and survivability of local businesses.
The Coalition Talks Tough But Is Too Soft On The Big Spenders: Higher budgets for health and welfare don’t guarantee better services, argues Andrew Haldenby
“The Coalition’s leaders have not only pledged to eliminate the deficit, although that is their top priority. They have also said that they will shrink and rethink the government, so that their legacy is a stronger social fabric and a more enterprising economy.”
Political Reversal Down Under: Running an explicitly conservative campaign, Australia’s Tony Abbott has denied Labor a governing majority.
As it turns out, Australians—who are, after all, much like Americans, proudly democratic, entrepreneurial and of immigrant stock—warmed to Mr. Abbott’s old-school conservatism, along with his blokey, down-to-Earth persona. It’s a lesson to which conservatives in America (Republican, tea party, or otherwise) should pay close attention.
Corporate Welfare Unrepaid, Bureaucrats Unrepentent
So where does this leave Canadian taxpayers? Playing angel investor to businesses that don’t pay back money, while bureaucrats crow about their “success” – and the government turns a blind eye.