With the New Year around the corner, we at the Canadian Taxpayers Federation thought we would give Ontario politicians a year end report card and recognize some of the best - and worst - taxpayer moments of 2005, while offering some advice for the year ahead.

We'll start on a good note, because unfortunately we could only find one.

Best taxpayer moment at Queen's Park:

Premier McGuinty calling for a federal gas tax cut. When fuel prices hit an all-time high this summer, Premier Dalton McGuinty joined the crusade to give motorists a break at the pumps. This is an issue the Canadian Taxpayers Federation has been championing for years, especially removing the so-called "deficit elimination tax" of 1.5 cents a litre (when the federal government hasn't run a deficit since 1997) and ending the practice of applying GST to fuel taxes. Of course, we can't help but note the irony when the premier's own health tax is costing families between $300 and $1800 per year. But we have to give him credit for lining up on the right side in this debate.

Worst "investment" of the year:

The resurgence of corporate welfare. When will the provincial government learn that handouts to business just don't work After giving $200 million of taxpayers' money to Ford, the automaker announced it will be cutting 1,100 jobs in the province. Meanwhile, General Motors, which received $435 million in combined federal and provincial subsidies, is planning to close plants too. Despite this, the government also ponied up a $150 million loan to Stelco Steel, and announced in December that taxpayers will provide $500 million in no-interest loans to Ontario manufacturers. Our message to the premier: stop favouring special interests and throwing good money after bad. Instead, implement the business tax cuts for all companies that you cancelled when you took office.

Most worrisome new law:

The proposed City of Toronto Act. Under this law, Toronto would receive new tax and licensing powers which could suck another $50 million out of taxpayers' wallets. This Act does nothing to deal with the real issue: the city must rein in out-of-control spending and reduce business taxes to stimulate the city's economy. One can only hope that in an election year, Mayor David Miller will not risk voter backlash, and won't raise taxes. Then again, this is the same administration that voted to spend $8 million on a new soccer stadium and $50,000 on a glitzy party for its welfare case workers. Our message to the mayor: shape up and get your priorities straight before every business leaves town for the lower-tax 905.

Sleeper issue of the year:

Property taxes. This past September, Ontario rolled out its 2005 assessments, and taxpayers' eyes rolled back in their heads, with some facing triple-digit increases in their evaluations and possibly their tax bills. The situation is so bad that the provincial Ombudsman is investigating the way the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation does its job. While the Ombudsman's efforts should be applauded, the investigation will not be complete unless it addresses the root cause of the problem: the Current Value Assessment system itself. Plainly put, CVA is proving to be a disaster, especially for homeowners on fixed incomes. The solution Freeze assessments at 2003 levels, scrap CVA and replace it with a more equitable system. The provincial government better be paying attention, because we predict property taxes will be the issue of the year in 2006.

Overall, the Canadian Taxpayers Federation gives Queen's Park gets a D this year - the City of Toronto, an F. How will they do next year We'll have to cross our fingers and see. Here's hoping for a healthy, prosperous - and less taxing - year ahead.