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Bringing about a higher level of transparency and accountability in provincial and federal governments to help protect taxpayers from abuse

Bringing about a higher level of transparency and accountability in provincial and federal governments to help protect taxpayers from abuse.

Canada Revenue Agency monitoring Facebook, Twitter posts of some Canadians 

The Canada Revenue Agency is scrutinizing the Facebook pages, Twitter feeds and other social media posts of Canadians it suspects could be cheating on their taxes.That’s just one example of the agency’s increasing focus on what it can learn by collecting and analyzing many kinds of data — both its own internally generated information and what it calls “publicly available information.”

“The CRA does practice risk-based compliance, so for taxpayers identified as high risk, any relevant, publicly available information relating to the specific risk-based factors for the taxpayer may be consulted as part of our fact-gathering processes,” said spokesperson David Walters.

Source: Canada Revenue Agency monitoring Facebook, Twitter posts of some Canadians – Politics – CBC News

BC’s housing market pitting one generation against the other

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – For years, we have been hearing about the entitled nature of millennials. The story goes that those born in the ’80s and ’90s grew up on participation awards and inflated self-esteem.

They were told that the world was their oyster and that they should follow their passion. The cautionary tale, of course, is that this set of values came at the expense of building the grit and work ethic that their elders had. Whenever someone in the younger generation complains of accessing affordable housing, or poor economic prospects, the comments section blasts their entitlement, lack of work ethic and realism, and points disapprovingly to the fact they can afford a flat-screen television and an iPhone.

Source: BC’s housing market pitting one generation against the other – NEWS 1130

Billions wasted on drug spending in Canada, research shows

Canada wasted $15 billion over the last five years on highly priced prescription drugs, in part because of questionable drug company sales tactics, according to exclusive research and a hidden camera investigation by the fifth estate.

John Herbert, a director for Express Scripts Canada, says money can be saved by Canadians and their employers choosing to take advantage of ‘lower-cost, clinically effective medications.’ (Express Scripts Canada )

The research conducted for the fifth estate by health benefits company Express Scripts Canada shows employer-funded private insurance plans in Canada wasted more than $3 billion per year between 2011 and 2015 by covering the cost of expensive drugs that have cheaper options, as well as paying for unnecessary dispensing fees.

Source: Billions wasted on drug spending in Canada, research shows CBC

Ontario’s top-billing doctors overcharged OHIP, Health Ministry audit suggests 

The province’s 12 top-billing doctors — who received payments of between $2 million and $7 million in one year — are overcharging the Ontario Health Insurance Plan, documents obtained by the Star suggest.

A Health Ministry audit into their billing practices uncovered significant “concerns” about their claims to the taxpayer-funded plan.

According to the documents, six allegedly charged for “services not rendered,” five “upcoded” or billed OHIP using fee codes for more expensive procedures, and three charged for “medically unnecessary” services, which the plan is not designed to fund, the probe found.

Source: Ontario’s top-billing doctors overcharged OHIP, Health Ministry audit suggests | Toronto Star

Alberta minister says province ‘still standing’ on Day 2 of carbon tax 

Alberta Environment Minister Shannon Phillips said the province was “still standing” a day after its carbon tax took effect, and Albertans who opposed the levy could start seeing rebate cheques within days.But Opposition Wildrose critic Don MacIntyre said the majority of Albertans continue to oppose the tax, and that the science isn’t settled on whether humans are responsible for the majority of climate change.

Source: Alberta minister says province ‘still standing’ on Day 2 of carbon tax – Edmonton – CBC News

Ottawa spending half a billion dollars for Canada’s 150th anniversary

The federal government is spending half a billion dollars to commemorate the 150th anniversary of Confederation – with everything from a cross-country RV tour to a Parliament Hill extravaganza marking the occasion.

The largest share of the money – $300-million – is being delivered by regional development agencies through the Canada 150 Community Infrastructure Program. The previous Conservative government created that fund to fix up public facilities and for community infrastructure, culture and recreation. It was given a $150-million budget shortly before the 2015 election.

Source: Ottawa spending half a billion dollars for Canada’s 150th anniversary GLOBE AND MAIL

Canada could end up caught in the crossfire of a Trump trade war 

When Donald Trump rants against Mexico or China, he puts Canadian jobs at risk. Tuesday was particularly risky.

By tweet-slagging GM for selling Mexican-made cars into the U.S., as the president-elect did Tuesday, and by appointing Robert Lighthizer, a China-basher, as United States trade representative, Mr. Trump reinforces his determination to bring American manufacturing jobs home, even at the risk of launching a global trade war that could damage both the American and Canadian economies.

“It’s going to be a scary, scary ride,” predicts Gordon Ritchie, who was part of the Canadian team that negotiated the 1989 Canada-U.S. free-trade agreement. Canada, China and Mexico are the United States’s three biggest trading partners. If Mr. Trump riles up the other two, it can’t possibly be good for us.

Source: Canada could end up caught in the crossfire of a Trump trade war – The Globe and Mail

Change of heart on foreign buyer taxes too late for Langley family 

Premier Christy Clark’s announcement on Sunday that a tax on foreigners buying property in Metro Vancouver will be changed to exempt people who have work permits and pay taxes in B.C. came too late for Langley resident Nic Benner.

“Unfortunately, the province did not act in time to keep me from losing my property,” Benner said.

Benner, a U.S. citizen, told the Times he was forced to back out of buying a townhouse in Langley last year because the tax raised the price by an unexpected $78,000, more than he could afford.

 

Source: Change of heart on foreign buyer taxes too late for Langley family – White Rock News

CRA spends millions but fails to stop tax workers from snooping on Canadians, documents show

Canada Revenue Agency workers continue to snoop on the confidential tax files of businesses, acquaintances and others, despite at least $10.5 million spent so far to try to stop them.CBC News has uncovered nine significant cases reported since Jan. 1 in which tax workers improperly poked around the government’s electronic records to extract sensitive private information about income, deductions, benefits, payments and employment.

Source: CRA spends millions but fails to stop tax workers from snooping on Canadians, documents show – Politics – CBC News