Read Part I

Read Part II

In two previous columns, we examined policy ideas the Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) floated as part of our “taxpayer friendly platform.”

The ideas were offered up to provincial political parties for consideration as they work on their own platforms for the upcoming fall provincial election.

The previous columns focussed on tax relief measures and more efficient ways to spend tax dollars. Here are a few other ideas the CTF floated on accountability, the environment and justice.

First, why is it that politicians are locked in for four-year terms regardless of how they perform?

Sure, if an MLA wants to run again, they better do a good job if they want to get re-elected. But what about MLAs who decide they don’t want to run for re-election? What’s to stop them from spending their four year term dozing in question period and ignoring constituents’ calls?

Or what about politicians like Ontario’s Dalton McGuinty, who think they can promise one thing during an election (eg. his famous ‘no tax hike’ commitment) and then go back on it once they’re elected?

To address such problems, one needs to turn to British Columbia where taxpayers have two tools to hold their politicians accountable; recall legislation and citizens’ initiative.

Recall legislation allows voters to go around and collect signatures if they want to pull their MLA from office. Citizens’ initiative allows voters to collect signatures if they would like to force a referendum on a particular issue.

In fact, after collecting enough signatures province-wide, taxpayers have forced a referendum on the harmonized sales tax in British Columbia. That’s the tax change Gordon Campbell promised he wouldn’t bring in during B.C.’s last election, but decided to introduce shortly after getting re-elected.

Wouldn’t it be nice for Saskatchewan taxpayers to have those tools at their disposal? You never know when they might come in handy.

Another good accountability measure would be to reduce the secrecy period of cabinet documents. Current information laws allow a government to keep information secret for 25 years before releasing it. What’s so secretive that it can’t be disclosed for a quarter century?

In terms of a taxpayer friendly environmental idea, why not look at holding a province-wide “giveaway weekend.” The initiative started in Ottawa and it involves the government designating a weekend for citizens to place unwanted articles – that still have life in them – on their curb with a “free” sign on them.

Others are then able to help themselves to the items – ultimately keeping useful products out of landfills. No bureaucracy, no tax dollars required.

After the CTF recommended the idea to Mayor Sam Katz, Winnipeg became the second city in Canada to hold the weekend. Saskatchewan could be the first to hold it province-wide.

Finally, here’s an idea police officers will like – stop spending tax dollars on weight lifting equipment for inmates. Seasoned police officers will tell you it’s frustrating to sometimes go up against beefy criminals who had all the time in the world to work out while in jail.

So why not make a policy of removing the work out equipment and replace it with work benches? If criminals still need exercise, they could do jumping jacks, push-ups or run on the spot. The move would also save taxpayers money too. Over the past three years, the government has spent over $46,000 on fitness equipment for inmates.

Those are a few of the ideas in the CTF’s platform. If you want to read more, you can view the entire platform on our web site (Taxpayer.com). If you really like what you see, urge a candidate to embrace the initiatives.