Tag Archives: Canadian Taxpayers Federation

Business rails at plan to charge for appealing assessment

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THE city is being blasted by business and taxpayers groups over a proposal to charge a $50 to $500 filing fee to property owners who appeal their property tax assessment.

Officials with the Canadian Federation of Independent Business and one of the country’s largest realty tax consulting firms said Thursday the fee could effectively deny the right of appeal to some small business owners, seniors, and low-income ea
rners who have limited resources and can’t afford even a $50 fee.

And Colin Craig, Prairie director for the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, said the proposal smacks of “gouging”. The proposal, which must be approved by city council before it can be implemented, calls for a sliding scale of fees ranging from $50 to appeal the assessment on a single-family residence or condo, to as high as $500 for a non-residential property with an assessed value of $5 million or more.

City finance committee chairman Scott Fielding defended the proposal, saying most other jurisdictions charge such fees, including the Manitoba government and the City of Brandon.

He said the purpose is twofold: to recoup some of the costs incurred in providing an appeal process, and to deter “nuisance” appeals.

He said that in the last two-year appeal cycle, more than 12,000 appeals were filed, the city spent more than $1 million to hear them, and 1,738 (15 per cent) of appellants never even showed up for their appeal hearing.

“That’s a big waste of taxpayers money, so we think it (a filing fee) makes sense.”

He also noted the fee will be refunded if the taxpayer wins the appeal.

“(So) at the end of the day, we feel it’s something that is very justifiable.”

But David Sanders, a senior tax consultant with the Winnipeg office of Altus Group Realty Tax Consultants, said the right to an appeal is a basic right that shouldn’t be restricted for any reason. “And (people failing to appear for their hearing) is part of the cost of taxing the population,” he said.

He said if the city is concerned about no-shows, there must be better ways to deter them. A filing fee ends up punishing everyone for the actions of a few.

The CTF’s Craig said there’s nothing wrong with the city charging user fees for some services, such as the use of civic swimming pools, because people don’t have to use those services if they can’t afford the fees.

“But taxes aren’t voluntary, so to charge someone an arm and a leg to have their assessment reviewed is unreasonable.”
Sanders said he plans to appear before the city’s executive policy committee next Monday, and before council on March 22, to argue against the fee.

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/business/business-rails-at-plan-to-charge-for-appealing-assessment-117788098.html

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Feeling broke? Just you wait

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Winnipeggers counting on their next paycheques to pay off their holiday bills may find there is a little bit less coming their way.

A myriad of municipal fee hikes and federal payroll tax increases will eat away at your take-home pay in 2011.

“Every single working individual and family in the country is going to take home less because of the government,” said Derek Fildebrandt, national research director with the Canadian Taxpayers Federation.

January paycheques are already somewhat lower than their December counterparts for most Canadians as Canada Pension Plan and Employment Insurance premiums begin coming off again after most Canadians enjoyed several months off from the premiums.
This year, both are going up.

Every Canadian earning more than $44,200 will end up paying $39.40 more in EI premiums and anyone earning over $48,300 will pay an added $54.45 in CPP contributions.

The EI maximum is now $786.76 and the CPP maximum is $2,217.60.
Fildebrandt said the government ended up hiking EI premiums less than was initially speculated, which might make some people feel grateful for the relief. But he notes that is like a municipal government guesstimating a property tax hike of five per cent and only implementing a hike of four per cent.

“We feel like it’s a gift,” said Fildebrandt.But the only gift is to the government.

Bracket creep and the effect of inflation on wages will also send more money to the taxman and less to your wallet. Bracket creep is that annoying habit of governments getting to tax people at higher income brackets as their wages grow to reflect cost-of-living increases. It effectively claws back the benefit to individuals of getting a raise. Manitoba is one of only three provinces that doesn’t adjust its tax brackets for inflation, at all. The federal government does so based on a two-year average. Either way, if you were lucky enough to get a cost-of-living wage adjustment for 2011, it will likely mean you end up paying a higher percentage of your income in taxes.

According to Canadian Taxpayers Federation calculations, a single Manitoban with no children who got an inflation-based raise of about one per cent, and now earns $60,000, will pay $110 more to the government this year. A dual-income family with two children earning $100,000 will shell out $176 more to the taxman.

City dwellers will also end up paying more to municipal governments for a number of services. Winnipeg water and sewer rate hikes will push the average household water bill up by $46.40 in 2011. If you take the bus, you’re going to pay another nickel for each ride.

The city is also hiking numerous other fees for such things as scattering cremated remains at a public cemetery (up $5 to $215), water trucked in to communities without city pipes (up $2.10 per 1,000 gallons to $12) and thawing residential water pipes (up $100 to $200).

Whether your property taxes increase or not won’t be known until February when the city budget is tabled. There is some silver lining in the tax rain clouds, however.

Manitoba Public Insurance premiums will fall four per cent in 2011 and MPI is going to send you a rebate cheque worth 10 per cent of your 2009-10 vehicle premiums before May 31.

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/feeling-broke-just-you-wait-112856044.html

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Critics call for stadium time out

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A city councillor and tax watchdog group say a no-huddle offence is no way to proceed with a revised football stadium plan that will put taxpayers on the hook for tens of millions of dollars.

The city, provincial government and Winnipeg Blue Bombers are expected to announce Monday how they will finance and secure construction of the CFL team’s new home at the University of Manitoba.

City councillors will then have just under two days to digest the details before they vote on it at the final council meeting of the year Wednesday.

Both Coun. Jenny Gerbasi (Fort Rouge) and Canadian Taxpayers Federation prairie director Colin Craig said Sunday they fear that’s far too little time to examine the deal.

“I think council should be informed when decisions are this big,” Gerbasi said. “This is multi-million dollars, so we should have enough time with all the information before we make a decision. I’m not going to have time to really hear from my constituents on this.”

It’s expected city hall will throw in $7 million, and will sell the Polo Park site of Canad Inns Stadium — which generates no property tax — for commercial and residential redevelopment in order to funnel tax revenue into municipal and provincial coffers. The parties have agreed to a maximum cost of about $190 million, which the Manitoba government will largely pay for up front, and the Bombers will be on the hook to repay the province $70 million over the course of a few decades.

“We would like some honesty in this process,” Craig said. “At the very least, couldn’t they announce the decision and then wait a month so that people can digest it and come to an open house and provide feedback, instead of simply pushing it through right before Christmas?”

The 33,000-seat facility, which will also be used by the U of M Bisons football program, will rise on what has only been an excavated hole since plans involving David Asper’s Creswin Properties stalled.

A municipal source said last week that it appeared Creswin will no longer be directly involved, adding Asper is almost certain to receive compensation.

Craig has his doubts about the new figures.

“They told us the last maximum cost was $115 million, so I’m not convinced they’ll live up to this promise,” he said. “We’ve been pushing for holding a referendum on the project, because it does impact taxpayers so much.”

Bombers fan Ken Enns said he supports the new deal and isn’t overly worried about the Bombers’ potential debt load.

“It worries me mildly but it all comes down to how good the management is,” he said. “I think they’ll be able to pay it off if they handle it well.”

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Tax relief for cottagers proposed

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The Manitoba government introduced legislation Friday aimed at helping Manitobans who own cottages manage escalating property taxes.

The Cottage Property Tax Increase Deferral Act was introduced by Finance Minister Rosann Wowchuk.

The act would create a cottage property tax deferral program for cottage owners whose property values skyrocketed as a result of the 2010 general reassessment. It would allow Manitobans to apply to defer payment of their property tax increases for 2010 and 2011.
The provincial government would pay the tax increase to the municipality on behalf of the cottage owner. A cottage owner would then repay the province the amount of deferred taxes, plus interest charged at a nominal rate, when the property is sold or the owner dies.

Applications for the cottage property tax deferral program would be available prior to owners receiving their 2010 property tax bills.

The Manitoba government bills the tax deferral as a way to keep Manitoba’s image as an affordable recreation destination, but critics say it only highlights the unfairness of the province’s taxation system.

The Manitoba Association of Cottage Owners and the Canadian Taxpayers Federation say if the province really wants to ease the tax burden on cottage owners, it should take education taxes off the property tax bill and fund schools solely through personal income taxes.

Cottage owners on Lake Winnipeg were hit last spring by an eye-popping rise in property values as a result of the most recent provincial reassessment. Victoria Beach cottage owners face an average value increase of 92 per cent, based on market prices in April 2008. The previous assessment was based on 2003 values.

Cottage values went up 79 per cent in Winnipeg Beach and 60 per cent in the Rural Municipality of Gimli, compared to an overall percentage increase of 46 per cent in the value of all single-family dwellings outside Winnipeg.

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/tax-relief-for-cottagers-proposed-78587417.html

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Canadian Taxpayers Federation handed out survey figures

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The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) has released the results of the six item question municipal candidate survey held for the civic election in Saskatoon. The survey is bound to know more about taxation powers and levels, capital projects with potentially high expenses, and recycling.
Among the 11 eleven respondents of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation’s survey, seven were open and recognizes the ability for the City of Saskatoon to levy more kinds of taxes, two were undecided and the two left (Robert Godfrey and Mark Horseman) completely opposed any appeals that would allow the city to receive such powers.
“The movement amongst mayors and city councils to want more tax powers is strong,” said CTF Saskatchewan Director Lee Harding. “Toronto received additional taxation powers in 2006 and has since levied a Municipal Land Transfer Tax and a Municipal Vehicle Ownership Tax. “The City of Winnipeg ran with this idea after it was proposed by the CTF, and it has been quite the success,” continued Harding. “With the strong support for this idea from council candidates, hopefully Saskatoon will soon be the next to implement it city-wide.”
One of the opposed candidate, Mark Horseman was against spending tax money to replace the Mayfair Pool, Saskatoon’s least-used and slated for closure. This act would in fact save an estimated $5 million of taxpayers money. On the other hand, Carol Reynolds opposed the blue box recycling program of the city.

The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) has released the results of the six item question municipal candidate survey held for the civic election in Saskatoon. The survey is bound to know more about taxation powers and levels, capital projects with potentially high expenses, and recycling.

Among the 11 eleven respondents of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation’s survey, seven were open and recognizes the ability for the City of Saskatoon to levy more kinds of taxes, two were undecided and the two left (Robert Godfrey and Mark Horseman) completely opposed any appeals that would allow the city to receive such powers.

“The movement amongst mayors and city councils to want more tax powers is strong,” said CTF Saskatchewan Director Lee Harding. “Toronto received additional taxation powers in 2006 and has since levied a Municipal Land Transfer Tax and a Municipal Vehicle Ownership Tax. “The City of Winnipeg ran with this idea after it was proposed by the CTF, and it has been quite the success,” continued Harding. “With the strong support for this idea from council candidates, hopefully Saskatoon will soon be the next to implement it city-wide.”

One of the opposing candidate, Mark Horseman was against spending tax money to replace the Mayfair Pool, Saskatoon’s least-used and slated for closure. This act would in fact save an estimated $5 million of taxpayers money. On the other hand, Carol Reynolds opposed the blue box recycling program of the city.

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Plan to cap property taxes would break B.C. law, mayor says

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It’s a modest proposal to the Canadian Taxpayers’ Federation. But Saanich’s mayor says the province would have to break its own law if it were to heed the CTF’s call call to cap property tax increases.
The CTF presented a petition last week to minister of community development Bill Bennett asking the province to to cap property taxes at current rates, and limit annual increases to the Consumer Price Index — Statistics Canada’s official measure of the rate of inflation.
“The problem is (municipal governments) start with spending and then decide what the property tax rate is going to be. What we’re advocating for is to turn that around,” said CTF B.C. director Maureen Bader.
The petition has gathered 1,960 signatures since August, with 850 of them coming online and the remainder “the old-fashioned way,” from CTF workers going door-to-door, Bader said.
But Mayor Frank Leonard said the CTF’s stance showed its lack of understanding about how local governments operate.
Unlike the province, where budget deliberations happen behind closed doors, municipalities like Saanich hold open budget meetings where anyone can address council, Leonard said.
“We’re an open and accountable level of government and people can come and attend our budget meetings and can speak there. And the Canadian Taxpayers Federation should do that.”
But having the province impose additional rules on municipalities’ ability to set property taxes would run counter to sections of B.C.’s Community Charter that grant them independence over their areas of jurisdiction, Leonard said.
“It’s right in the front of the Community Charter. So what the Canadian Taxpayers Federation is asking the provincial government to do is to break its own law.”
http://www.bclocalnews.com/vancouver_island_south/saanichnews/news/64222592.html

It’s a modest proposal to the Canadian Taxpayers’ Federation. But Saanich’s mayor says the province would have to break its own law if it were to heed the CTF’s call call to cap property tax increases.

The CTF presented a petition last week to minister of community development Bill Bennett asking the province to to cap property taxes at current rates, and limit annual increases to the Consumer Price Index — Statistics Canada’s official measure of the rate of inflation.

“The problem is (municipal governments) start with spending and then decide what the property tax rate is going to be. What we’re advocating for is to turn that around,” said CTF B.C. director Maureen Bader.

The petition has gathered 1,960 signatures since August, with 850 of them coming online and the remainder “the old-fashioned way,” from CTF workers going door-to-door, Bader said.

But Mayor Frank Leonard said the CTF’s stance showed its lack of understanding about how local governments operate.

Unlike the province, where budget deliberations happen behind closed doors, municipalities like Saanich hold open budget meetings where anyone can address council, Leonard said.

“We’re an open and accountable level of government and people can come and attend our budget meetings and can speak there. And the Canadian Taxpayers Federation should do that.”

But having the province impose additional rules on municipalities’ ability to set property taxes would run counter to sections of B.C.’s Community Charter that grant them independence over their areas of jurisdiction, Leonard said.

“It’s right in the front of the Community Charter. So what the Canadian Taxpayers Federation is asking the provincial government to do is to break its own law.”

http://www.bclocalnews.com/vancouver_island_south/saanichnews/news/64222592.html

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Reflections on the 2008 Canadian Tax Year

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Whether it is considered a welcome break or a hollow gesture, the federal government’s GST cut to five per cent took effect Tuesday with little fanfare and few complaints from retailers who collect the tax.

The government estimates that cutting the tax one percentage point will save Canadians $6 billion, which will flow back to them a few cents at a time, depending on the size of their purchases, adding up to about $150 to $200 per household each year, according to the Canadian Taxpayers Federation.

For big retailers like Future Shop, the change was a simple computer-system change, which gives their customers a break on the prices they’re paying.
Prime Minster Stephen Harper promoted the five-per-cent GST as part of his last election campaign.
Prime Minster Stephen Harper promoted the five-per-cent GST as part of his last election campaign.
J. P. Moczulski, Reuters
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“I would say consumers will be happy [about the cut],” Ram Manaktahla, general manager of the Future Shop outlet at Robson and Granville streets in downtown Vancouver said.

“Think of all the products customers [are buying]. From iPods to digital cameras, flat-screen televisions, laptops, notebooks — they’re saving one [percentage point] on all of them.”

Vancouver-based retail consultant David Gray added that the first stage of the Conservative government’s GST cut, from seven per cent to six per cent which took place July 1, 2006, went relatively smoothly for retailers, “so I think they know the drill.”

“The complaint of retailers is they’re essentially taking on the job of tax collector without a lot of support and basically no thanks,” Gray said. Whether the tax fluctuates, he added, is less of an issue.

However, government critics counter that cutting the consumption-based GST may mean little for average Canadians.

“Those with the highest salaries — the millionaires, the big banks, the [profitable] corporations … The ones that don’t need the help are going to get the most help,” from the GST cut, said federal NDP leader Jack Layton.

He added that average families may also see higher property taxes, post-secondary education fees and other bills.

Patricia Croft, chief economist with the investment firm Phillips, Hager & North, said anyone making big-ticket purchases will benefit from the consumption tax reduction.

However, she added that “in general, most economists would prefer a cut in income taxes. It’s a more efficient way to reduce the tax burden.

“By cutting the GST, hopefully it causes Canadians to spend more.”

The GST savings amounts to about $2 on the purchase of a $199.99 iPod MP3 player, $100 on a $10,000 home-theatre system or $300 on a $30,000 automobile.

Manaktahla said Future Shop gave its Christmas-season customers a jump on the GST break by knocking the percentage point off its prices starting Dec. 28. Customers who made purchases up to 30 days before that date could claim the reduction under the store’s “price-protection” guarantee.

Consumers need to be wary, however, to make sure they are getting full benefit of the cut, especially since the transition is occurring over the Christmas shopping period, according to tax expert Beverley Gilbert.

Gilbert, a chartered accountant and national tax-practice leader for the law firm Borden Ladner and Gervais, said people going to stores in January to return gifts purchased in December need to keep a close eye on their receipts to make sure they are credited for the full amount of GST that was paid on the gift in the first place.

Gilbert added that homeowners who take possession of new houses after Jan. 1 will get a GST break, too, but they will have to apply to the federal government for a rebate instead of seeing it knocked off the purchase price in their builder’s contract.

Consumers who have leased cars or other property should also see the GST cut in their payments, Gilbert added, even if they signed leases prior to Jan. 1.

John Williamson, national director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, however, defended this second trim in the GST.

Despite the criticisms, Williamson said the GST reductions from seven per cent to five per cent are broad-based measures that put, by his estimate, $10 billion a year back into people’s pockets.

“This is good news, particularly since $10 billion in the pockets of Canadian consumers is preferable to Ottawa hoarding the cash,” Williamson said.
Despite the criticisms, Williamson said the GST reductions from seven per cent to five per cent are broad-based measures that put, by his estimate, $10 billion a year back into people’s pockets.

“This is good news, particularly since $10 billion in the pockets of Canadian consumers is preferable to Ottawa hoarding the cash,” Williamson said.

http://www2.canada.com/vancouversun/news/business/story.html?id=34b943f3-2a71-422f-b676-10f1b85b4c7a&k=87417

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