Persons of the West Vancouver persuasion must be statistically among the highest potential victims of the Trudeau-Morneau “incredibly hypocritical” tax proposal.
That quote is from an NDP MP. It seems a long time since I quoted a New Democrat favourably. It feels funny.
Hypocrisy is nothing new in these parts. Premier “Honest John” Horgan – that’s sarcasm, you knew that – told big stretchers to get elected and then obfuscated (i.e., creatively lied further) about having ever told them.
But back to Ottawa, where Finance Minister Bill Morneau has infuriated even staunch Liberals who have a little jingle in their portfolios with his plan to “close loopholes that result in high-income individuals gaining tax advantages that are not available to most Canadians.”
Pause to define “tax loopholes” in the Shorter Ottawa Dictionary: “Any money that government reluctantly returns to individuals after more than 50 per cent of their income is removed by taxes of all kinds; an orifice overlooked and yet to be closed by tax authorities.”
It was NDP ethics critic Nathan Cullen who pinned with a stiletto the “incredibly hypocritical” tag on Morneau, his boss Justin being too goldarned charming and beautiful to be splashed with his minister’s political blood.
The proposed tax changes are aimed at ending “sprinkling,” meaning distributing income among family to lower one’s own tax rate; using private corporations to make investments; and converting income into lower-taxed capital gains.
This is scarcely news to some deliriously rich (as opposed to only one-Porsche) West Vancouverites, who instruct their accountants to spread fairy dust for them – thus the magic of turning one of the highest-income towns into one of the poorest ones in average income tax paid.
Yet within WV are property-rich, income-low widows clinging to their detached homes of half a century and eating Kraft Dinner and Domino’s pizzas (I describe our own family staples), and not trying to gull anyone.
The suspect abusers, however, are mainly concentrated among amply rewarded company executive, doctors, accountants (ahem), and farmers striving to keep and pass on their land to family – and here I drop any tone of genial sarcasm to state that I don’t give a bowel movement how they do it, I support their intent absolutely, our agriculture being Canada’s top now and future asset.
But not to leave NDP critic Cullen stamping impatiently at the door. Cullen, quoted in the Globe and Mail, declared: “The reason Mr. Trudeau and Morneau are comfortable with what’s going on” – their tax revision proposal – “is because they don’t suspect it will impact them and their own tax dodge at all.”
“Tax dodge” – my land, isn’t that what only African dictators, and fabulously wealthy offshore unscrupulous Chinese, fully backed by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the People’s Republic, do?
Ah, the bitter truth hurts. Inclusive, tolerant, immigrant-welcoming, open-hearted Canada. And here are Trudeau and Morneau earnestly trying to close loopholes used by such individuals in order to benefit the “middle class” – whatever that is, every definition arbitrary and ultimately absurd – who don’t have access to these hoops.
Yet, as the nosy journalists found, the Trudeau family wealth is held in three numbered corporations. And Morneau owns a numbered holding company and, with siblings, four numbered real estate holding companies, apparently including Florida real estate. (I advocate numbered companies should be outlawed and forced to be lettered ones.) Reportorial attempts to dig further ran into privacy walls.
But – fairness! My only journalistic fault. God knows I’ve tried to cure it. I can’t stress enough that Trudeau and Morneau are honourable men. Clearly they are doing nothing illegal. If they are wealthier, with far greater assets than the middle class they are endeavouring to help in the name of equality, Cullen’s claim that they are employing a “tax dodge” should be dismissed.
We must assume they are rigorously following tax rules that allow some wealth to be generated, accumulated and passed to future generations under terms that are different from other taxpayers. Sort of … kind of … loopholes.
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WV’s Ambleside Orchestra, under conductor Nicolas Krusek, held an enjoyable open rehearsal at Kay Meek Sunday – its 25th anniversary.
And how many such anniversaries are honoured by the presence of the founder – can’t say that about Canada’s 150th – and still an orchestra member? That founder, Hilary Clark, who has artistic credits beyond this space, started with the germ of an idea while teaching at Capilano College (now University) and is still beating the drum for the orchestra. Figuratively and literally: She’s the youthful lady, somewhere north of 80, in the percussion section.
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You’d think she’s done it all – journalist, cabinet minister, senator – but another formidable lady in that age bracket, Pat Carney, rebooted herself as a novelist and is working on a second tome following the great success of On Island: Life Among the Coast Dwellers, in the top three of the B.C. Bestseller list for 22 weeks, the top two for two weeks. Understated humour, flesh-like people. Merits awards.
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The Greater Vancouver Board of Trade recently chose its directors – 20 women, 16 men. Hey, what ever happened to equality?
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