The Canadian Taxpayers Federation’s Contract with Taxpayers continues to make news across British Columbia. With voting day set for Saturday, we can report that 90 candidates have signed the pledge, promising their support of a Taxpayer Protection Bylaw.

Vancouver Province columnist Jon Ferry had a brilliant piece on Friday, pushing taxation as the top issue facing municipal campaigns. His full piece is worth reading, but here’s an excerpt:

Another is that civic politicians, especially those who rely on CUPE for help with their election campaigns, appear fearful to be a party pooper. That's especially true when their own salaries and those of the non-union managers on whom they rely for other support are also spiralling upwards.

Besides, there is no "net zero" mandate for municipal workers as there is for provincial employees.

The last CUPE contract signed for Lower Mainland municipal workers provided for a whopping 17.5-per-cent wage hike over five years.

Negotiations for a new contract are likely to begin early next year. And Metro Vancouver labour relations manager Malcolm Graham predicts that, given the lacklustre economy, "money is going to be scarce."

The solution? Well, I think you should vote for tough, independent-minded candidates with enough spine to stand up to pushy unions, developers, green groups or other special-interest organizations.

They're much more likely to be working for you, the taxpayer.

In Nanaimo, letter writer Janet Irvine practically begged candidates to support the CTF’s efforts:

The CTF says that, “Taxpayers are stretched thin and are asking candidates for office to give a hard, long look at ways to hold the line on taxes, reduce spending, and become more transparent and accountable.”

I wonder what Nanaimo’s municipal candidates are willing to do to stand up for property taxpayers? What about supporting a measure, such as an independent municipal auditor-general, to improve accountability and transparency?

I wonder how many of Nanaimo’s candidates for council have considered engaging in this timely campaign with a view to introducing a taxpayer protection bylaw?

In Fort St. John, audience members asked their candidates if they supported the CTF’s efforts:

The audience’s questions covered a wide range of topics, including Site C, accessibility, dealing with the city’s growth and climate change. Current councillors were grilled on their involvement with the now stalled Saa Maa centre, and every candidate was asked why they did or did not sign the agreement with the Canadian Taxpayer's Federation, of which only mayoral candidate Don Irwin felt comfortable signing.

BC Local News reports that while incumbent mayors have been reluctant to sign, there is growing support for the CTF’s efforts:

No sitting mayors in the Lower Mainland have signed a pledge to keep a lid on property taxes being pushed by the Canadian Taxpayers Federation.

The organization on Monday released a list of 86 council candidates across B.C. who have signed its "contract with taxpayers" with less than two weeks left in the campaign.

Most are challengers, often right-of-centre independents or slate members.
Langley Township, where three incumbent councillors seeking re-election have signed, is one of the few places pledge advocates have made inroads with local politicians who are already governing.

In Vancouver, four Non-Partisan Association candidates for council are among the six candidates who signed, but none yet hold a council seat.

Three signed in Surrey – two mayoral candidates hoping to topple sitting Mayor Dianne Watts and one independent council candidate.

Five members of the right-of-centre Team Burnaby slate have also signed, including the mayoral candidate who hopes to defeat long-serving Burnaby Mayor Derek Corrigan.

Of course, some incumbent mayors and councillors continue to argue for ever-rising taxes, blaming everyone but themselves, but we are confident that this effort has helped property taxpayers across BC by putting taxes on the agenda in this campaign. Now it’s up to all of us to get out and vote!