Career Opportunity

VICTORIA/EDMONTON: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) has accepted the resignation of its Alberta director, John Carpay. Mr. Carpay's last day with the CTF will be Friday, July 29, 2005.

"Since becoming Alberta director in 2001, John has continued to position the CTF as the leading taxpayers' advocacy group in the province, holding the government accountable for its over-spending, bloated budgets, and the provincial tax increases of 2002," stated national communications director Troy Lanigan.

"John's efforts were such that Alberta Venture magazine named him as one of the 50 most influential people in Alberta, and the Edmonton Sun described him as the 'unofficial leader of the opposition'," continued Lanigan.

"John has put the health care premium tax on Alberta's political map, submitting thousands of signatures for its abolition, and educating taxpayers and politicians as to why this tax is deceptive and not necessary," added Lanigan.

As a lawyer, John assisted the CTF with its intervention in the Treaty 8 Indian taxation court case (Benoit v. Canada). The trial decision, declaring that descendants of the Treaty 8 Indians did not have to pay any tax at any time for any reason, was overturned by the Federal Court of Appeal, and the Supreme Court of Canada refused to hear a further appeal. At trial and again in the Court of Appeal, the CTF argued that race and ancestry should play no part in taxation.

John has submitted numerous studies and reports to the Alberta government on topics ranging from education to water management to sports subsidies to democratic reform. He has met privately with over 50 MLAs and ministers, from all four parties represented in the Legislature.

"John's tenure was not without its humorous moments. John's attempt to cut a giant provincial income tax form in half with a chainsaw on the front steps of the Legislature garnered extensive media coverage, largely because the chainsaw refused to start. The placing of 82 pink pigs on the Legislature lawn was appreciated by taxpayers as an expression of their outrage at the antics of MLAs voting themselves massive increases in compensation without any public consultation," said Lanigan.

"On behalf of the CTF, we thank John for his years of service and wish he and his family well as he undertakes new challenges," Lanigan concluded.

A national search to staff the soon-to-be-vacant CTF Alberta Director position has commenced. For more information on the position click here.

For more information, contact national communications director Troy Lanigan at 250-888-5040 (cell), or John Carpay, Alberta director at 780-448-0159.