No more tax cuts

[capricorn]

I don't hide my fees. They've stayed the same just as everyone in my industry has. I've admitted that I'm a writer. In that business GST is usually part of my fee. I have another career that generally pays between $60 and $90 an hour and the GST comes out that fee. It isn't added on the top. No one in my industry changed their fees last time. They won't be changing them this time.

Well that's good to hear.

The last time the GST went down, taxicab fares stayed the same coast to coast. They took the 1% themselves.

IMO taxicab fares merited an increase and I would not oppose such an increase. This increase may or may not be due to the GST cut. I call a draw on this one.

Newspaper companies didn't change their rates either. They increased their prices.

Sorry, but I never noticed a price increase. Perhaps I'm just used to getting fleeced.

As to your link, well since when does the media put a positive spin on a conservative initiative?

[Pat Coghlan]

Our family income is over $80,000, we have 2 kids are receive $95 a month ($1140 a year).

I guess they reduced the benefit reduction from 5% of family income over $40K (actually, the amount is $37,178) to 4%, so rather than all amounts being clawed back for 2 kids at $80K, it's actually all clawed back at $37,178 + $31,375 + $31,375 = $99,928.

A few years ago, with 5 kids and a stay-at-home spouse and my salary slightly over $100K, we were getting some ridiculous amount like $20/month. While all other families with the same combined income also received $20/month, because we were a single-income family (SIF), our tax bill was something like $8,000 more than a family with each spouse earning half my salary (i.e. same total).

That difference pays for the lease on a BMW, a carribean vacation etc.

If the benefits are to be identical, so too should the tax liability be.

[jdobbin]

Well that's good to hear.

IMO taxicab fares merited an increase and I would not oppose such an increase. This increase may or may not be due to the GST cut. I call a draw on this one.

Sorry, but I never noticed a price increase. Perhaps I'm just used to getting fleeced.

As to your link, well since when does the media put a positive spin on a conservative initiative?

I guess the taxis will deserve their next 1% increase as well. There is no change in their fees as of January 1. No changes in vending machines. No changes newspaper fees. Many cities are not changing their fees for services.

You asked for a source. The CFIB themselves said that some businesses would take the opportunity to raise their fees 1% since many had held down their increases for various competitive reasons. The savings from GST are not universally passed on the consumers. The media pretty much endorsed Harper across the board last time. They report on the impact of the GST cut and you suddenly think they are anti- Tory?

[GreenWhiteandPink]

I guess they reduced the benefit reduction from 5% of family income over $40K (actually, the amount is $37,178) to 4%, so rather than all amounts being clawed back for 2 kids at $80K, it's actually all clawed back at $37,178 + $31,375 + $31,375 = $99,928.

A few years ago, with 5 kids and a stay-at-home spouse and my salary slightly over $100K, we were getting some ridiculous amount like $20/month. While all other families with the same combined income also received $20/month, because we were a single-income family (SIF), our tax bill was something like $8,000 more than a family with each spouse earning half my salary (i.e. same total).

That difference pays for the lease on a BMW, a carribean vacation etc.

If the benefits are to be identical, so too should the tax liability be.

That's still incorrect, there is a calculator on CRA's website. If spouse makes 110,000 the second spouse nothing, have 5 kids, live in Ontario, you will receive $314 a month!

CRA CCTB Calculator

Edited December 31, 2007 by GreenWhiteandPink

[Pat Coghlan]

That's still incorrect, there is a calculator on CRA's website. If spouse makes 110,000 the second spouse nothing, have 5 kids, live in Ontario, you will receive $314 a month!

CRA CCTB Calculator

Perhaps now, but a few years ago this was not the case. As I just pointed out, the clawback has been reduced from 5% to 4%. I think the basic benefit per child is higher now as well.

[runningdog]

This is getting silly. How many posts can this guy flood one page of a thread with? Has he noticed no one is listening since his broken record responses are getting so repetitive they must be violating at least SOME of our rules?!

I think just about everyone knows, dobbin, of your deep hatred of anything to do with Harper. It must be killing you to see your Liberals stumbling about with the likes of Dion at the helm. Cheer up, if Dion gets a minority he'll give you your precious GST increases.

keep your personal attacks to yourself, please.

[Michael Bluth]

keep your personal attacks to yourself, please.

A. You aren't a mod.

B. Debateably a personal attack.

C. You had to dig back through three days worth of posts to find it.

Wow, have a great 2008!

Edited January 1, 2008 by Michael Bluth

[jdobbin]

keep your personal attacks to yourself, please.

It's about what you can expect.

The GST cut will continue to be the stupid tax cut as far as Tory policy goes. Even the Canadian Taxpayers Federation say it would be preferable to reduce income tax instead.

[MontyBurns]

I love Dion's idea of raising the GST. I want to pay more taxes to support our beloved social system. That way I can support more feminists and gay lobby groups.

[sharkman]

It's about what you can expect.

The GST cut will continue to be the stupid tax cut as far as Tory policy goes. Even the Canadian Taxpayers Federation say it would be preferable to reduce income tax instead.

But what about voters? You know, the ones who put the Tories in power? I'll bet the average voter is happy about the GST cut, and I also bet that Dion, although a bit slow on the issue(he once promised to raise the GST again if he got in power, and then his handlers made him change his story), respects voters enough to not publicly promise a GST increase again.

[jdobbin]

But what about voters? You know, the ones who put the Tories in power? I'll bet the average voter is happy about the GST cut, and I also bet that Dion, although a bit slow on the issue(he once promised to raise the GST again if he got in power, and then his handlers made him change his story), respects voters enough to not publicly promise a GST increase again.

The voters have been polled a few times. What has it amounted to for the Tories? Minority numbers continue. Last Decima poll had them behind.

As for Harper, he promised to raise the income tax when elected and lower the GST.

[jdobbin]

I love Dion's idea of raising the GST. I want to pay more taxes to support our beloved social system. That way I can support more feminists and gay lobby groups.

How about a lower income tax that actually puts more money in your pockets?

[capricorn]

But what about voters? You know, the ones who put the Tories in power?

Harper's promise to cut the GST was a master political stroke. In spite of what all the experts and anti-Conservatives say that the affluent benefit more than others, poor economic policy, blah, blah, the GST touches every single Canadian consumer, every day. Harper was doing something for EVERY ONE OF US, not just for a specific target group.

Now, any party that tries to raise the GST is playing with fire.

[Michael Bluth]

Harper was doing something for EVERY ONE OF US, not just for a specific target group.

Now, any party that tries to raise the GST is playing with fire.

I really hope the Liberal brain trust tries that strategy. A surefire way to a Conservative majority if they do.

[jdobbin]

Harper's promise to cut the GST was a master political stroke. In spite of what all the experts and anti-Conservatives say that the affluent benefit more than others, poor economic policy, blah, blah, the GST touches every single Canadian consumer, every day. Harper was doing something for EVERY ONE OF US, not just for a specific target group.

Now, any party that tries to raise the GST is playing with fire.

An income tax cut would be better.

Harper said he was going to raise the income tax cut when he ran in favour of lowering the GST. The Liberals just have to run on a promise to lower income tax in the next election.

[sharkman]

We've had an income tax cut AND a GST cut AND a cut for corporations. Harper may have promised to cut the GST and raise income taxes, but then he did one better by cutting both. Sweet.

Bring on the tax hike promises Dion!

Edited January 2, 2008 by sharkman

[Michael Bluth]

Bring on the tax hike promises Dion!

In many respects this is a perfect time for an electoral clash between a centre-right party and a centre-left.

A slowdown in a strong economy leaves two clear options.

Cutting the size of government and staying the course on taxes or;

Increase taxes in order to increase the size of government.

After the GST which tax will the Liberals increase next?

[sharkman]

To feed their spending machine they'd have to go after income taxes next since going after corporations in a slow down would be plain suicide. Of course, with Dion at the helm anything's possible.

[jdobbin]

We've had an income tax cut AND a GST cut AND a cut for corporations. Harper may have promised to cut the GST and raise income taxes, but then he did one better by cutting both. Sweet.

Bring on the tax hike promises Dion!

In the last election campaign Harper only promised to reduce GST and corporate taxes and reverse the Liberal income tax cut.

Dion has promised even more corporate tax cuts. He should offer more income tax cuts as well.

[jdobbin]

To feed their spending machine they'd have to go after income taxes next since going after corporations in a slow down would be plain suicide. Of course, with Dion at the helm anything's possible.

The Tories have increased spending 25% since the last election. Even the National Post in an editorial criticized them for this.

[Michael Bluth]

To feed their spending machine they'd have to go after income taxes next since going after corporations in a slow down would be plain suicide. Of course, with Dion at the helm anything's possible.

If we see any promises from the Liberals on tax cuts they won't be costed out.

If they added the full cost of Kyoto, Kelowna, their newest hare-brained daycare plan and whatever they are going to replace the Millennium Scholarship money pit with we would be well into deficit territory.

Maybe Dion will actually cost those out and propose the tax increases necessary to fund them. Nahhhh ain't gonna happen.

[Pat Coghlan]

An income tax cut would be better.

Harper said he was going to raise the income tax cut when he ran in favour of lowering the GST. The Liberals just have to run on a promise to lower income tax in the next election.

We need income tax reform, not just more cuts.

There is no explainable logic as to why we have tax brackets of $37,179 (22% rate), $74,357 (26% rate) and $120,887 (29% rate).

After meaningful exemptions, there should be just one rate on all family income needed for basic necessities, and a second on all income above this threshold - which should vary according to family size.

A significant reform was introduced in '07 in the form of pension splitting for retirees. This was a step in the right direction in that all retired couples with the same combined income now have the same tax liability. What a concept! Wealthy families have been orgainizing their affairs this way for generations. Now, middle-class retiress can enjoy this benefit as well.

The flaw with pension-splitting is that it created tax brackets which are 200% as wide for couples as those for singles. This is unfair, IMHO. They need to be wider (see above), but not double.

I'm so &^%$#@ tired of governments tweaking the brackets, the GST etc. by a percent here and there in yearly budgets. At least Martin finally indexed the brackets to inflation, which was another useful reform.

The GST cut means my haircuts cost $0.20 less, but I'm still paying THOUSANDS more in taxes each year than families with the same income that by luck of the draw have a nice 50/50 split between the spouses. BTW, my wife works, but she only earns a fraction of my income...anticipating the "well, your wife chose to stay at home" attacks.