The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
It is a given that people hate paying taxes. It is also a given that taxes are necessary to run the country, pay for the medical system, the armed forces and so on, but how much is too much? Under the previous Liberal regime, Canadians were well overtaxed, providing the huge surpluses that Jean Chrtien and Paul Martin used as a slush fund to promote the Liberal Party. This included promises of massive government programs such as the $5-billion child care promise, which fortunately for taxpayers has been ignored by the Harper government. In Manitoba, the recent NDP budget supposedly gives workers and families a tax cut, but it is really minor and is made up by an increase in fees and the pharmacare deductible, leaving provincial taxpayers among the highest taxed in the country. Liberal Leader Stephane Dion is a good example of a high-tax proponent. First he was talking about increasing the GST back to seven per cent to pay for big Liberal programs. Now heÕs touting a carbon tax to lessen greenhouse gases (and of course jobs). Some Liberals thought they might want to defeat the government after the RCMP/Elections Canada raid on Conservative headquarters Ð disgraceful conduct on the part of a bureaucracy in a case still before the courts ÐÊbut backed off when the former head of their Quebec wing was re-arrested and charged with fraud, taking kickbacks and conspiring to defraud the Liberal party of $100,000. By the way, the Liberals filmed the raid to use in future ads. Who tipped them off? Why, none other than elections Canada, of course! Winnipeg Tory MP Steven Fletcher, a master at communicating with constituents, distributed a helpful brochure before the tax deadline advising taxpayers how to get the most out of recent tax cuts. Steven rightly claims that with the Conservatives you are paying less tax, as the GST has been cut to five per cent, income tax has been lowered, and students, families and seniors have been given tax breaks. The brochure mentions all the tax breaks for families, seniors, workers, students and apprentices that the new government has brought in since 2006. Fletcher notes that many Canadians still donÕt claim all they are entitled to, and donÕt expect Revenue Canada to correct you. Mentioned as well is the GST credit for those with modest incomes (you must apply for it each year) and the claim for medical expenses. DonÕt forget to include the cost of any trips out for medical purposes plus the cost of accommodation and food. Need help? Call 1-800-959-8281 or go to www.cra.gc.ca. As well, people can claim the costs of public transit, child care expenses, and the childrenÕs fitness tax credit. The latter is worth $500 for each child under 16 for registration costs of hockey, skating, gymnastics and dance. Be sure to get a receipt. For disabled children there is a credit of $195.91 per month, and if you are a caregiver you can claim up to $4,000 per year for a dependent over 18. Seniors are in luck with the Tory tax measures. They may split pension income, including RRSP and RRIF money, and save a lot of money, particularly if one partner has a lower pension or no pension at all. There is also an age tax credit, which will really help lower and middle income seniors. Workers also gain. If you work in the transport industry and must travel, meals and lodging expenses are deductible. Employers with apprentices can claim up to $2,000 per year for each apprentice, a tradesperson deduction for tools, plus an extra deduction for employed apprentice mechanics. There is also an education tax credit for students, worth up to $400 a month, plus a textbook tax credit and a tuition tax credit. Did you get all the deductions you deserve? If you missed something you can re-file with Revenue Canada. For help call 1-800-267-6999. DonÕt you just love CanadaÕs tax system? RogerÕs Right Corner runs Wednesdays.
