A Successful Budget??

The budget was introduced today by Finance Minister Jim Flaherty. Read about it in the Toronto Star and on the CBC website.

2007 Budget highlights
- $4.4 billion new spending, $3 billion tax cuts this year
- $14.1 billion surplus last year, $10.4 billion projected this year
- Federal debt cut $9.2 billion last year, $3 billion this year
- Tax credits for fuel-efficient vehicles; levy on gas guzzlers
- New $2,000 child tax credit means up to $310 per child
- Pension income splitting for seniors
- $1.5 billion more to poorer provinces
- $1.2 billion more for health care
- $250 million to provinces for daycare spaces
- Extension of gas tax for cities
- $4.2 billion for environment: greenhouse gas reduction, biofuel production, clean water plan
- $300 million for national HPV program to protect women against cervical cancer
- $64 million for anti-drug strategy, $80 million over 2 years for "national security"
- Hike in capital cost allowance for manufacturers

Why Not Pay More Tax?

Who wouldn't want to contribute more tax dollars to the provincial and federal government? However no one would want to pay more munciple taxes would they?

Well its another reason not to live in Toronto, with the extra taxes. The extra taxes includes a munciple land transfer tax that would earn $300 million dollars to the city budget, enough to pay for the Toronto City Fire Department.

CONrad INNOCENT OR GUILTY?

The question will be decided in his Chicago trial. Is Conrad a victim of changing times? US legislation has pushed for increases standard setting, whih have made men like Lord Black on the hook for what they did before the new laws came into effect. I fail to see a lot of the point of this trial... the judiciary appears to want to make an example of Black ... the man owned 70% of his company... I think a lot of the money he received in non- competition agreements is perfectly acceptable... they may have him on the US tax evision issue... how can a US court uphold a warrant in a Canadian court and add it to the American charges against him... Just a few thoughts on a a former Canadian who aspired to an American rags to riches story...

Taxpayers told not to send in tax returns...

Ottawa orders halt to online tax filing

Check out the big yellow alert box on the Canadian Revenue Agency's website. I bet their gratefull it didn't happen around April 30th :)