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Kicking Taxes and Taking Names

Here are some stats we'll be referencing during the May 17, 2012, CTF Gas Tax Telephone Town Hall here in B.C.SIGN OUR GAS TAX PETITION!ANNUAL GAS TAX REVENUE IN B.C.B.C. TOTALSEvery cent/L across the Province generates approx. $44 millionB.C. Carbon Tax $237.5m Provincial Taxes $492m Federal Taxes $440.1m HST $277.7mTransLink (Lower Mainland only) $311.8mBC Transit (Capital Region only) $11.4mTOTAL $1.77 billion***Carbon tax take will increase to $284.5m after July 1st, for a total of $1.82 billion-----LOWER MAINLAND TOTALSEvery cent/L across the Lower Mainland...
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So here's a question for reporters and the media to ask the government:"Why do the Jets ticket numbers MPI provided the Canadian Taxpayers Federation and those released by the Premier vary so much? Was there some kind of cover-up?"Take a look for yourself:CategoryFigure Given to CTFFigure Given to MediaDifferenceCharity/Kids teams406121Employees33227854Business Purposes/Promo422Executives02727Board Members03232Cabinet Ministers440Unused000Total38040424Click here to see the document MPI provided the CTF.Click here to see what MPI provided (through the provincial...
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An ATIP requested by the Canadian Taxpayers Federation shows bureaucrats at Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation (ECBC) rang up a big bill on a recent trip to the west coast. Three officials from the federal economic development organization traveled to Tacoma, Seattle and Prince Rupert, British Columbia. Documents show that the trip was intended to be a trade mission to examine the best shipping port practices. Two of the same ECBC officials also held meetings in Chicago/Oregon to promote Highland Links and the Keltic Lodge.   Total cost to taxpayers?...
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An ATIP requested by the Canadian Taxpayers Federation shows bureaucrats at Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation (ECBC) rang up a big bill on a recent trip to the west coast. Three officials from the federal economic development organization traveled to Tacoma, Seattle and Prince Rupert, British Columbia. Documents show that the trip was intended to be a trade mission to examine the best shipping port practices. Two of the same ECBC officials also held meetings in Chicago/Oregon to promote Highland Links and the Keltic Lodge.   Total cost to taxpayers?...
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British Columbia is looking to join Alberta and elect its own senators. Senator Gerry St. Germain is retiring in November and a replacement will be needed.While I personally fall into the category of abolishing the Senate all together, electing these Senators is certainly better than allowing the Prime Minister to simply appoint old buddies.B.C. is looking at three options for elections: a standalone, ballot box election (cost: $35 million), a mail-in ballot (cost: $10 million) or attaching it to the May 2013 general provincial election (cost: $2 million). Not...
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It's good the NDP announced a new policy on allowing Cabinet Ministers and MLAs to accept complimentary tickets for professional sporting events.However, the policy still doesn't get at some of the problems with the situation. As Tom Brodbeck points out, the NDP should have crowns cease from advertising at professional sporting events all together. After all, the crowns have monopolies, they don't need to advertise in the first place.Second, senior executives at crown corporations are still allowed to accept free Jets tickets - that should be outlawed as well. Sure,...
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An ATIP requested by the Canadian Taxpayers Federation shows bureaucrats at Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation (ECBC) rang up a big bill on a recent trip to the west coast. Three officials from the federal economic development organization traveled to Tacoma, Seattle and Prince Rupert, British Columbia. Documents show that the trip was intended to be a trade mission to examine the best shipping port practices. Two of the same ECBC officials also held meetings in Chicago/Oregon to promote Highland Links and the Keltic Lodge.   Total cost to taxpayers?...
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Mayor Katz recently indicated he wants the city to come up with a policy on freebie tickets that are offered to members of council.The move of course was triggered after the recent flap over Manitoba’s crown corporations negotiating Jets tickets as part of advertising deals.A big part of why the issue is in the news comes from some freedom of information requests I made back at the end of February on Jets tickets. At the time I looked into each crown corporation as they advertise a ton at the arena and was told by a whistle blower that she believed Workers Comp may...
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Today a freedom of information response came in from Manitoba Hydro on the Winnipeg Jets ticket issue.And it was surprising.You see, unlike other crown corporations, Manitoba Hydro actually went out and bought season tickets. You see, Lotteries, MPI and the MLCC received tickets in exchange for massive ad buys - around $600,000 (see this link for details) - but they didn't actually buy season tickets.Hydro on the other hand, was busy competing with Manitobans as they clicked the refresh button on their web browsers feverishly to try and get their hands on the hottest...
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A few months ago, the Province’s Mike Smyth broke the story of the Ministry of Finance’s Employee Recognition Cupboard, where employees could send one another gifts, paid for by the taxpayer.Last week, an FOI request revealed exactly what gifts were handed out from Jan. 1, 2011 through Feb. 13, 2012. It turns out that government staff are very generous toward one another when it comes to spending our money—“giving” 2,293 gifts totaling $34,284.57. Here’s the full list, and remember: you’re paying for every single one of them (totals include applicable taxes):29...
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