For years the City of Flin Flon has asked the NDP government to give Manitoba municipalities the right to charge a base property tax. For years the NDP has said no.
The reason is ideology. The effect of a base tax is to boost taxes on the least-valuable houses, which tend to be owned by homeowners with the lowest incomes.
Fearing headlines that read “NDP okays tax hike for poor” – as much as that would be an oversimplification – the province understandably resists allowing a base tax.
So, no, the NDP, which prides itself on looking out for low-income earners, will never allow a base tax. It goes too much against the party grain.
Personally, I see pros and cons to a property base tax.
On the one hand, property taxes as low as $250 a year – which we’ve seen in Flin Flon – seem unrealistic. I don’t know what a fair tax is for a low-end homeowner, but it can’t be $250.
On the other hand, giving municipalities carte blanche to charge whatever minimum they desire has the potential to be worse. What municipalities think we can afford, and what we can actually afford, are often two different things.
The best answer might well be a base tax that is capped at an amount demonstrably affordable for homeowners with the least cash to spare.
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Meals on Wheels is the latest Flin Flon program feeling the volunteer-shortage pinch.
As a result, the service has put out a desperate call for helpers to deliver meals to our community’s shut-ins.
Fortunately, there is no indication Meals on Wheels is about to collapse. But there is concern that too much is expected of a small group of volunteers, including seniors who may have difficulty making deliveries on snowy days.
As far as volunteer commitments go, Meals on Wheels is pretty undemanding. If you’ve got some time to spare, give Northern Health Region volunteer coordinator Brenda Veitch a call at 204-687-9315.
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It’s a heck of a gift for hockey fans.
At tonight’s Flin Flon Bomber game, admission is f-r-e-e for everyone – yes, everyone – courtesy of game sponsor Hudbay.
As far as I or anyone else can tell, this match-up against the Melville Millionaires marks the first time a sponsor has covered the admission for every man, woman and child who walks through the door.
At a time when many junior A teams are struggling financially, Hudbay must be commended for this generous gesture toward the Bombers and the community.
Let’s make sure we pack the Whitney Forum and take advantage of this incredible opportunity.
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As well known as he is, it is difficult to imagine northern Manitoba’s own Steve Ashton becoming the next premier.
That’s not a shot against Ashton. It’s just recognition of the fact that the NDP, a party struggling to avoid annihilation, is unlikely to draw its next leader from a riding so far removed from vote-rich Winnipeg.
Ashton, the Thompson MLA, hopes to be crowned both NDP leader and premier at his party’s March 8 convention in (where else?) Winnipeg. He’s up against Premier Greg Selinger and Winnipeg MLA Theresa Oswald.
As Local Angle has argued before, Selinger has been pretty good to Flin Flon when it comes to making investments. There’s no guarantee Oswald, whom I believe will win, will be quite as generous.
I guess we shall see.
Local Angle runs Fridays.
