As Canadians settle into long sunny and hazy summer days, at the CTF we continue to beaver away looking for examples of government efficiency, instances of misleading government spin and areas where, er, some improvement …er, much improvement is necessary. And the best way to display the results of this research is through cold, hard numbers. So here goes, cold tax numbers for hot summer days.
58,300,000,000:
As in $58.3 billion in "supposed" tax cuts which were implemented in Budget 2000 with the first stage of this five-year plan kicking almost two weeks ago. But don't be fooled by the spin, when you factor out the foregone bracket creep ($18 billion) revenues bundled in to this total and add back CPP premium increases of $28 billion), you're left with an actual tax cut of $12 billion … $4 billion in corporate cuts and $8.3 billion on the personal side.
42,000,000,000:
As in $42 billion in public debt charges to be paid out this year on the $577 billion national debt. Next year this number drops by a paltry $500 million to $41.5 billion. In the absence of a legislated schedule of debt reduction, 26 cents out of every tax dollar continues to go to paying bondholders instead of public services.
4,700,000,000:
As in the annual $4.7 billion Indian and Northern Affairs (INAC) budget. While no one discounts our obligations to our native peoples, the Assembly of First Nations still steadfastly refuses to disclose financial statements for Canada's 633 Indian Bands. Indeed, over 80% of the money disbursed by INAC is directed to Band Councils. Taxpayers should deserve to know how this money is being spent or misspent as the case may be. (Note to self: be prepared for the traditional "racist" accusation from the Indian Industry for daring to ask how our tax dollars are being spent.)
700,000,000:
$700 million is the amount of money Ottawa will pump into Atlantic Canada in the next few years to buy votes, all under the guise of topping up EI benefits and promoting economic growth. The feds continue to harm Atlantic Canada by pumping more money into a depressed region even though studies from the CTF, Atlantic Institute of Market Studies and now WEFA (one of Paul Martin's economic forecasting firms) point to the waste and detrimental economic impacts this type of regional development perpetuates.
4,000,000:
The amount of money in legal costs that "went up in smoke" in Ottawa's wasteful attempt to recoup lost Canadian tax revenues in the U.S. Courts, arguing that it last $4 billion in taxes due to a cross-border tobacco bootleg operation that was allegedly run by "big tobacco." The U.S. judge through the case out of court noting that a U.S. court has no jurisdiction to enforce the tax laws of other countries. Any first year law student could tell you that this is known as the revenue rule. Perhaps the government should fire the senior people at Justice and hire some first year law students.
200,000:
Yes $200,000 is what federal taxpayers coughed up for a fountain in the Saint-Maurice river in the Prime Minister's riding. Even though the PM vigourously defended this type of expenditure during question period last spring, he somehow was unavailable for the dedication of the fountain earlier this month.
10:
Ten minutes is all it would take for each of Canada's 15 million taxpayers to write a letter to their local MP care of the House of Commons in Ottawa asking why the federal government continues to waste billions of dollars on debt interest payments, vote buying, pointless lawsuits and stupid fountains. The postal code for the House of Commons in Ottawa is K1A 0A6.
Zero:
The letter costs nothing to send to the House of Commons, no stamp required. Are you hot under the collar? Cool off by writing your MP.