[ridenrain]

$1:

Cancel tax cuts think tank urges Ottawa
Published: April 28, 2006
OTTAWA -- An economic think tank wants the federal government to withhold tax cuts and invest another $36 billion of the surplus in Canada's social and environmental "quality of life" over the next three years.

In its annual alternative federal budget, the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives says the Conservatives' own estimates indicate they would have to cut program spending to pay for their full slate of tax cuts.

Instead, the centre argues that Canadians would be better served by investing the surplus in a range of public services that address the country's most important problems.

The group's alternative budget calls on the government to honour past commitments to workers, child care, First Nations, the environment, young Canadians and cities and communities.

Its mock budget would build on these priorities and invest an additional $36 billion in Canada's social and environmental quality of life over three years - all while maintaining balanced budgets with no tax increases.

Co-ordinator Judy Randall says the document addresses "necessities" such as health care, education, clean air, safe drinking water, and affordable housing.

So, why always with the taxes?

[PluggyRug]

Get everyone under the social umbrella, and hand out pararchutes.

[Zeipher]

Stephen Harper isn't going far enough in my opinion. As Canadians we shouldn't be scared of cutting wasteful and ineffective spending. The middle class is paying close to 50% in total taxes, but Canada simply doesn't have the programs and quality of life to show for that.

[MissT]

Avro Avro:

I would like to see billions invested in education, health care and infastructure.

I also would like to see the corporate taxes reduced and implemetation of the Tobin tax but that's just me.

I'm with you on the investment and the Tobin tax. Not so sure about reducing corporate taxes though, unless I could see that the Tobin tax was more than making up for it.

[MissT]

Funny how some people want tax cuts and resent the government spending it all on health, education, infrastructure and environment; but then are all for big military spending... How fucked up is that?

[Numure]

I'm all for corporate tax cuts. And, a we need major investments in Infrastructure. Does could go a long way in helping out the eastern economy.

[Zeipher]

Corprate tax cuts create jobs, that's a fact.

MissT, I do not support big miltary spending, and no one in this topic even mentioned it.

The federal government should not be focusing on provincial infrastructure at all.

[Numure]

Zeipher Zeipher:

Corprate tax cuts create jobs, that's a fact.

MissT, I do not support big miltary spending, and no one in this topic even mentioned it.

The federal government should not be focusing on provincial infrastructure at all.

Infrastructure gives a boost to the economy. So does corprate tax cuts.
The federal government also has an obligation to fund infrastructure.

[Patrick_Ross]

Avro Avro:

I would like to see billions invested in education, health care and infastructure.

I also would like to see the corporate taxes reduced and implemetation of the Tobin tax but that's just me.

I hear that.

Except, I am of the opinion that the only way a corporate tax cut benefits anyone other than the corporations is if they're accompanied by marginally comparable wage increases.

[Zeipher]

Having the federal government tax just to send it off again simply wastes money in the administration of the whole thing. Let the feds cut the taxes so the provinces can raise thier own and cover the whole thing directly, rather than throguh this excessive burracracy we have now. Too bad most politicians are way too self-serving to see that this is a much better model in which to base of tax system on.

Avro, I agree that there are certain areas that the federal government should be investing into. Just taxing to send it off to provinces again is a waste though.

[MissT]

Zeipher Zeipher:

MissT, I do not support big miltary spending, and no one in this topic even mentioned it.

It was a pre-emptive strike.

[Zeipher]

The border one is a great example of where federal involvement is nessecary. It's a fact though, that provnices take from the feds all the time to fund their provinical hgihway systems for example.