Canadians have been told that the GST (a value-added tax) is a far better tax than most other levies and that Canada has one of the best GSTS in the world, according to OECD analysis. The GST is not all it’s hyped up to be, due to its massive tax preferences and special provisions. In fact, Canada’s consumption tax is below average in performance.
Taxation
What’s Occupying Wall Street?: The protestors have a point, if not the right target.
In the matter of Occupy Wall Street, the allegedly anticapitalist movement that’s been camped out in lower Manhattan for the past few weeks and has inspired copycat protests from Boston to Los Angeles, we have some sympathy. Really? Well, yeah.
Manitoba Parties Ignore Europe Debt Crisis: Spending and borrowing platforms out of touch with new reality
Manitoba politicians are ignoring the European debt crisis and the U.S. credit downgrading the present Manitoba election, which is that high deficits, padded public sectors and early retirement ages are unsustainable in the long term.
Sheppard Subway Debacle Shows Why Cities Need More Autonomy
Toronto voters elected Rob Ford on a platform that included a Sheppard subway extension. Since this conflicts with an agreement between the provincial government and the previous mayor, funding may not be available and the project may fall by the wayside. This is a perfect example of why municipalities need full autonomy over infrastructure, and taxing powers to pay for it without going cap in hand to upper levels of government.
Featured News
‘Side Issues’ Result in Much Higher Costs to Our Health and Social Systems
As we enter the year 2022, most Canadians will have lived their entire lives under the shibboleth that says we have the best health-care system in the world. Our beloved medicare is universal in scope, free of charge and offers equal access to all. What country could...
Touted Climate Emergency for Calgary is Deceitful and Undemocratic
Calgary has sworn in its first female mayor. A week earlier, less than 24 hours after winning the mayoral race, she gave her first post-election talk-radio interview to Ryan Jespersen, mostly involving a series of softball questions. He asked her the obligatory woke...
Tax Cuts, Tax Cuts, Tax Cuts
The Canada West Foundation (CWF) has canvassed 25 leading economists from the four westernmost provinces and created a report called Taking Action on the Economy, a compendium of thoughts on the right way for the federal government to design an economic stimulus...
Regina Does Well in Financial Disclosure
The author of a new report says the City of Regina is doing a good job of disclosing its financial performance with the exception that it does not account for its capital assets. The second annual Local Government Performance Index reveals that all 79 municipalities...
Victoria, Saanich Pay Less than Most of Us
Homeowners in Victoria and Saanich pay less in property taxes than the Canadian average according to figures released yesterday by a Prairie think-tank. The average municipality in Canada raises $1,937 per household in taxes and raises $4,869 per household in total...
City’s Tax Spending Formula Gets Pass
The City of Prince George scored somewhat favourably in the proportion of expenditures that go to "core" responsibilities when compared to other municipalities, but there's still room for improvement, according to a study released Wednesday by a right-wing think tank....
City Stacks up Poorly on Tax Front
City residents pay higher taxes than most Ontarians, but City Hall spends less on recreation, culture and services than their municipal partners. The Frontier Centre for Public Policy released its annual report card for Canadian cities, ranking the relative financial...
City Taxes Top Norm: Study
Barrie homeowners, businesses and industries were collectively taxed 41 per cent more than the Ontario average last year, says a recent think-tank study. And the reason is this city spends 76 per cent more on basic municipal services -- such as water, sewer and roads...
A Question of Accountability
Saint John’s audited statements should be immediately available, analyst says.
Media Release – New report compares municipal government’s financial performance
New study released compares the financial health and financial reporting standards of Canada’s 79 most populous municipalities.
2nd/3rd Annual Local Government Performance Index
Comparing the financial health and financial reporting standards of Canada’s largest municipalities.