Justin Trudeau’s government is gearing up for its first big battle against for-profit health care and it’s armed with some dire warnings.They come from an expert report commissioned by the federal government for a court case in British Columbia in which the government sought and received intervener status.The report, which was obtained by CBC News, lists many potential negative consequences if there were to be more access to private health care in Canada, including greater income inequality, more people in dire financial straits, and even doctors encouraging longer wait times in the public system in order to nudge patients into the private system.
Why Canada’s Olympic medalists can’t outrun the taxman — yet
When Canada’s Olympic athletes returned home from Rio this week with a 22-medal haul, they were met at the airport by cheering family and friends as well as autograph-seeking fans. But some of them may also soon be greeted by the taxman looking for a piece of their Olympic winnings.In addition to the hardware the winning athletes brought home from the games, each Canadian medal winner will also receive a cash award courtesy of the Canadian Olympic Committee’s Athlete Excellence Fund. Canada’s four gold medal winners will each receive $20,000, the three silver medalists will take home $15,000 per medal and each of Canada’s 15 bronze medal winners will receive $10,000. Note that the prizes apply to each member of a winning team such that, for example, each of the 18 players on Canada’s bronze-winning women’s soccer team will receive $10,000.
Source: Why Canada’s Olympic medalists can’t outrun the taxman — yet | Financial Post
Ottawa runs $1B deficit in first quarter, down from $5B surplus last year
OTTAWA — The federal government ran a deficit of $1.0 billion for the first quarter of its fiscal year, down from a surplus of $5.0 billion in the same period last year though “broadly consistent” with projections in the 2016-17 budget, the Finance Department said Friday.”The financial results for the first three months of the fiscal year provide limited information with respect to the outlook for the year as a whole,” the department said in its fiscal monitor report.”This is because the timing of revenues and expenses can vary from year to year and because the results do not yet reflect several significant government initiatives, such as the introduction of the Canada child benefit.”In the spring budget, the Liberal government projected a $29.4-billion deficit for the 2016-17 fiscal year, which included billions in spending. Those expenditures included the Canada child benefit, which began going out to families in July.
Source: Ottawa runs $1B deficit in first quarter, down from $5B surplus last year | The Chronicle Herald
Canadian Finances Worsen After Tax Revenue Dip
Canadian tax revenues were down 2.1 percent for the first three months of the 2016-17 financial year, which began in April, with Canada posting a budget deficit of CAD1bn (USD769.1m).Revenues decreased by CAD1.5bn to CAD71.8bn, while government program spending rose by 8.3 percent.Canada’s finances performed significantly worse this first quarter than a year ago; Canada reported a CAD5bn surplus in the first quarter of the 2015-16 financial year.
Source: Canadian Finances Worsen After Tax Revenue Dip TAX-NEWS
Between Government And Unions, Taxpayers Have No Voice
Wages and benefits for unionized government employees make up more than half of every dollar spent by provincial and local governments in Canada.This is why the current legal battle between the B.C. teachers’ union and the B.C. government is so important. Their decade-long fight is expected to be heard by the Supreme Court of Canada this November, and if the union wins, it will mean no duly-elected government in Canada could legislate policy contrary to anything negotiated with a union.Government union bosses across the country know that the result is vitally important in keeping their gravy train running. Eighteen unions applied to the Supreme Court for intervenor status – 12 were accepted. Only one citizens’ group on the other side of the argument applied – the Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) – and it was rejected.
Source: Between Government And Unions, Taxpayers Have No Voice | Jordan Bateman HUFFPOST
Canadians spend more on taxes than basic necessities
The tax man is getting greedy and living in Alberta won’t give you the big break many hope for according to the Fraser Institute.
Its Canadian Consumer Tax Index says Canadians are spending more of their incomes on taxes than basic necessities.
According to the report, in 2015, the average Canadian family (including single Canadians) earned $80,593 and paid $34,154 in taxes.
That’s compared to the $30,293 spent on housing, food and clothing combined.
Source: Canadians spend more on taxes than basic necessities: Fraser Institute – 660 NEWS
Total payments to doctors in Canada reach $25B
Physicians in Canada were paid a total of $25 billion in 2014–2015, up from $24.1 billion during the previous period, according to a new report.
The average payment per physician remained virtually unchanged at $339,000 nationally, the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) said Tuesday in its annual report.
Total gross payments to physicians represent an increase of 3.7 per cent over the previous year — the second-lowest increase since 1999–2000.
Source: Total payments to doctors in Canada reach $25B CBC
Medical fees reduced for Alberta specialists
Alberta radiologists and ophthalmologists will see a handful of their medical fees reduced starting this fall as the province pushes ahead to reform the physician compensation system.The decision to reduce fees for cataract extractions, eye injections and fluoroscopies was one of the first major accomplishments of a joint physician-government committee, which now hopes to use the same process for a wider review of payments.“The value of this decision, even though it affected a small number of fees, is that it demonstrated the process can work,” said Dr. Carl Nohr, president of the Alberta Medical Association, which represents doctors.“This is a unique structure in Canada where we can have a discussion about what the value of a fee code can be. We can agree or disagree with Alberta Health, but at the end of the day, a decision is made so we don’t end up in gridlock.”
Source: Medical fees reduced for Alberta specialists | Edmonton Journal
Canadians Celebrate Tax Freedom Day on June 7, 2016
In 2016, the average Canadian family will earn $105,236 in income and pay a total of $45,167 in taxes (42.9%). If the average Canadian family had to pay its total tax bill of $45,167 up front, it would have worked until June 6 to pay the total tax bill imposed on it by all three levels of government (federal, provincial, and local). This means that in 2016, the average Canadian family will celebrate Tax Freedom Day on June 7.
Source: Canadians Celebrate Tax Freedom Day on June 7, 2016 | Fraser Institute
PQ leadership candidate calls on Quebecers to focus on corruption-free government
Parti Quebecois leadership hopeful Jean-Francois Lisée is trying to appeal to youth and to Quebecers who are not terribly interested in independence.Meanwhile Alexandre Cloutier is calling on international students to move to Quebec’s rural areas to find work.Campaigning on Sunday, Lisée pitched his plan for youth in poorer neighbourhoods to have equal access to education.