Layton/NDP plan to vote against budget no matter what

[madmax]

MUnciipalities have the power of taxation

Municipalities do not have broad taxing capabilities. The burden of taxes is born by the property owner, unlike many other forms of taxation.

This is going to be a difficult year if municipalities somehow believe that people can pay more in property tax.

[fellowtraveller]

Municipalities do not have broad taxing capabilities

How so?

Nothing prevents them from raisong taxes or inposing any of the hundreds of user fees available to them.

Where did you expect the money to come from?

Nothing is free.

Raise federal taxes for municipal projects? Raise provincial taxes for municiapl projects? Or raise municpal taxes for municpal projects?

There is only one taxpayer.

[madmax]

There is only one taxpayer.

The property owner pays more in taxes then the non property owner. The number of people who pay property taxes is significantly less then those who pay GST.

[jdobbin]

Nothing prevents them from raisong taxes or inposing any of the hundreds of user fees available to them.

That's not true. Under our constitution, the municipalities have no protection from the provinces overturning any decision they make. In many cases, the provinces have overturned hotel taxes, user fees and other forms of taxation.

Where did you expect the money to come from?

Cities have wanted to do their own economic development. Many provinces didn't allow the cities to impose hotel taxes aimed at tourism and convention promotion. That was the case for many decades in Winnipeg.

There is only one taxpayer.

Not exactly true either. Some municipalities can only really tax their property owners even when many other people use their roads and services.

[fellowtraveller]

That was the case for many decades in Winnipeg.

Ah yes, Manitoba.

They probably did not want any intelligent action by a municipality that would threaten their storied dependence on other provinces for basic services. Good call.

How then do you explain the traditionally horrific property taxers in Winnipeg? Were they imposed by the province?

Edited February 5, 2009 by fellowtraveller

[madmax]

Ah yes, Manitoba.

They probably did not want any intelligent action by a municipality that would threaten their storied dependence on other provinces for basic services. Good call.

The Province of Alberta has a Hotel Tax.

[fellowtraveller]

The property owner pays more in taxes then the non property owner. The number of people who pay property taxes is significantly less then those who pay GST.

Hiow do you figure that?

Every property has an owner, and that owner pays property taxes.

If you are renting a home or business and the taxes rise, so inevitably will your rent.

In the end, owners and non-owners both pay. Of course.

[fellowtraveller]

The Province of Alberta has a Hotel Tax.

Yes, but they end up giving it all up to havenot provinces like Manitoba and Quebec.

Like I said, municipalities, provinces adn the Feds all have taxation powers.

Edited February 5, 2009 by fellowtraveller

[Smallc]

Yes, but they end up giving it all up to have not provinces like Manitoba and Quebec.

I see you have no idea how equalization works. That's alright though.

[fellowtraveller]

I know exactly how it works.

It is like Robin Hood, a fine and moral tale of spreading the wealth.

Edited February 5, 2009 by fellowtraveller

[Smallc]

I know exactly how it works.

Obviously not if you believe that Alberta's hotel tax would fund any part of it.

[Hydraboss]

In the end, it doesn't matter how it is collected. Albertans pay for the lazy asses in the rest of Canada. Call it a tax, a user fee, or what it really is...national welfare.

[fellowtraveller]

Obviously not if you believe that Alberta's hotel tax would fund any part of it.

I was just spoofing you on that.

Why are Winnipeg proerty taxes so high?

Do you receive first class services?

[Smallc]

Why are Winnipeg property taxes so high?

Winnipeg is the only city in Canada with declining property tax revenue despite a growing population....because the tax has been frozen for 12 years. If anything, they're too low on the city side. Much of the cost on the school tax side makes it high.