Canadian Taxpayers Podcast

Welcome to Canada, where you pay a federal sales tax so Prime Minister Justin Trudeau can cover the interest payments on his government’s credit card. That’s literally what’s happening. Interest charges on Canada’s debt will be $54 billion this year. GST revenues will be $54 billion. On top of soaring interest charges, the federal budget includes massive deficits, a tax hike, the doubling of the national debt, and no plan to balance the budget. We break down what you need to know about the federal government’s 2024 Budget. All that and more in this week’s Canadian Taxpayers Podcast.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is giving you higher gas prices and giving Quebec a special deal on the carbon tax. Quebec’s carbon tax currently costs $57 per tonne. Trudeau is making you and every other Canadian pay a carbon tax that costs $80 per tonne. And that carbon tax gap is expected to grow… Plus, we break down just how much federal debt interest charges are costing taxpayers. All that and more in this week’s Canadian Taxpayers Podcast.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has lost the people and the premiers on the carbon tax. Seven of 10 Canadians and provincial premiers oppose Trudeau’s April 1 carbon tax hike. But Liberal, NDP, Green and Bloc Québécois MPs decided to stand with the prime minister and voted to make you pay higher carbon taxes. And we break down Trudeau’s April 1 alcohol tax hike. All that and more in this week’s Canadian Taxpayers Podcast.

Governor General Mary Simon took another pay raise this year, bringing her annual salary to $363,000. This is Simon’s third pay raise since being appointed to the role less than three years ago. And the CBC dished out another $15 million in taxpayer-funded bonuses in 2023. All that and more in this week’s Canadian Taxpayers Podcast. And you can get your shirt at taxpayer.com.

Taxpayers are right to be worried about Trudeau’s online censorship. We asked the Canadian Constitution Foundation to break down Trudeau’s so-called online harms bill and how that can impact your free expression and ability to hold governments accountable. All that and more in this week’s Canadian Taxpayers Podcast. And here’s how you can take action against Trudeau’s online censorship. Visit the Canadian Constitution Foundation’s website and help push back: https://theccf.ca/fix-c-63/

Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe comes off the bench to fight Trudeau’s carbon tax. And the vast majority of Canadians don’t support Trudeau’s carbon tax hike on April 1. Plus, we break down how Trudeau’s carbon tax makes your grocery bills more expensive. All that and more on this week’s Canadian Taxpayers Podcast.

The Trudeau government’s three “affordability” cabinet retreats over the course of a single year cost taxpayers more than $1 million. And you better believe they’ve been eating good on your dime… Trudeau also dropped $11,651 of your tax dollars to party with the media at one of his mansions. All that and more in this week’s Canadian Taxpayers Podcast.

The ArriveSCAM app is worse than you think. The Auditor General writes a scathing report into the ArriveCAN app that socially distanced taxpayers from tens of millions of dollars. And we break down Trudeau’s carbon tax rebrand. Trudeau thinks he can make you support his favourite tax by changing the name of his carbon tax rebates. But that’s just lipstick on a pig. The government needs to stop the gimmicks and scrap the carbon tax. All that and more in this week’s Canadian Taxpayers Podcast.

Costs for the ArriveCAN app spiralled out of control to $54 million. Despite their failure, government executives working on the app still took more than $340,000 in bonuses. Most people spend zero dollars not staying in a luxury hotel room. Well, the feds spent $600,000 NOT staying in luxury hotel rooms. All that and more in this week’s Canadian Taxpayers Podcast.

CBC President Catherine Tait was in the hot seat as MPs grilled her over the millions in bonuses she’s been doling out at the state broadcaster with your money. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau thinks he’s figured out a way to stop his polls from plummeting: re-brand his carbon tax rebate scheme! But there’s not enough lipstick on the planet to cover up the big pig that is his carbon tax. All that and more in this week’s Canadian Taxpayers Podcast.

Canadians are paying about 55 cents per litre of gas every time we fuel up. That means you’re paying about $35 in taxes when fueling up a big sedan. And that big tax bill is only getting bigger as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau cranks up his two carbon taxes. READ MORE HERE: https://www.taxpayer.com/media/Gas-Tax-Honesty-Report-2023.pdf Taxpayer funded media and government censorship “How are these people supposed to hold the government accountable when the government is signing their paycheque?” Ryan Thorpe, CTF’s Investigative Journalist, said. “Journalists should not only avoid real conflicts of interest, they should also avoid even the perception of one.” Taxpayers are forced to pay more than $1 billion every year to fund the CBC. The feds also bailed out the corporate press to the tune of $595 million. More bad news: the feds are pushing through laws that could limit your ability to hold the government accountable online. SIGN THE PETITION HERE: https://www.taxpayer.com/petitions/defund-the-cbc-and-end- media-bailout Bureaucrats discover dumbest ways to spend tax dollars Stress balls, charcuterie boards, candles and climate change card games: the Canadian Taxpayers Federation does a deep dive into all the ways the federal government spends your money on branding merchandise. READ MORE HERE: https://www.taxpayer.com/newsroom/stress-balls,-charcuterie-boards- and-climate-change-card-games-inside-the-feds’-branded-merch-shopping-spree

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is giving Quebec a special deal on the carbon tax. The math is simple: Trudeau is forcing drivers in every other province and territory to pay 14 cents per litre of gas in carbon taxes, while Quebecers pay 10 cents per litre. The solution is also simple: Trudeau should scrap his carbon taxes and make life more affordable for all Canadians. We break down everything you need to know about the carbon tax, including Quebec’s special deal. SIGN THE PETITION: https://www.taxpayer.com/petitions/scrap-the-federal-carbon-tax Trudeau rewards failure with taxpayer-funded bonuses Bonuses are for people who do a good job, not people who fail at their one and only job. Bank of Canada bureaucrats got $20 million in bonuses in 2022 while the Crown corporation hiked interest rates seven times and inflation reached a 40-year high. Here’s the worst part: rewarding failure with bonuses is the rule, not the exception, in Ottawa. READ MORE HERE: https://financialpost.com/opinion/ottawa-rewards-failure-taxpayer- funded-bonuses Governor General takes taxpayers for a ride Taxpayers were forced to pick up the tab for a $71,000 bill from “Icelimo Luxury Travel” during Governor General Mary Simon’s four-day visit to Iceland last fall. We’re not saying the governor general should be hitchhiking, but surely she could have gotten around a small island for less than the price of a brand-new BMW. READ MORE HERE: https://nationalpost.com/news/71k-in-limo-service-for-governor- generals-2022-four-day-iceland-trip

The Trudeau government deserves a big chunk of the blame for rising mortgage payments. Ottawa’s never-ending deficits, tax hikes and money printing helped push inflation to a 40-year high. Without this inflation, the Bank of Canada would have little reason to raise rates and Canadians wouldn’t be worried about their mortgage payments going through the roof. READ MORE HERE: https://torontosun.com/opinion/columnists/terrazzano-higher-interest- rates-the-price-of-government-inflation You paid for ex-politician to go to Harvard Welcome to Canada: where losing re-election is like winning a prestigious scholarship. Up to $15,000. All on the taxpayers’ dime. The CTF uncovered a little-known slush fund that former members of Parliament can use to pay for their post-secondary education after they leave Parliament Hill. READ MORE HERE: https://nationalpost.com/news/former-mps-billed-taxpayers-over-90000- in-transitional-benefits No more sex toy shows for Trudeau government Taxpayers just scored a big victory in Ottawa! Global Affairs Canada announced it’s scrapping the multi-million-dollar slush fund known as the Mission Cultural Fund. The MCF was used to pay for a sex toy show in Germany, for old people in Taiwan to talk about their sex lives on stage and to promote Margaret Atwood’s book in Australia. READ MORE HERE: https://www.taxpayer.com/newsroom/scrapping-wasteful-mission- cultural-fund-a-huge-win-for-taxpayers

Trudeau buried a second carbon tax in fuel regulations that take effect this July. By the time the regulations are fully in force, the second carbon tax will cost the average family up to $1,157. There are no rebates with the second carbon tax, and it’s being layered on top of the current tax. READ MORE HERE: https://financialpost.com/opinion/opinion-ottawa-second-carbon-tax Trudeau hands out corporate welfare like candy Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is giving Volkswagen more than $13 billion in corporate welfare. Stellantis is another multinational corporation that’s looking for a taxpayer handout. How many billions of dollars will Trudeau force taxpayers to give multinational corporations? READ MORE HERE: https://torontosun.com/opinion/columnists/opinion-taxpayers-get-soaked- by-volkswagen-giveaway You’re buying the governor general clothes The governor general’s salary is well north of $300,000. But you’re still forced to pay for her clothes. The governor general makes enough money. She should pay for her own clothes. SIGN THE PETITION: https://www.taxpayer.com/petitions/rein-in-governor-general-perks

The Trudeau government told taxpayers it would save money in budget 2023. Here’s a pro-tip for the government: if you increase spending by $85 billion, you’re saving money wrong. READ MORE HERE: https://torontosun.com/opinion/columnists/terrazzano-trudeau-doesnt-know-what-saving-money-means CTF fights carbon tax at parliamentary committee Franco brought a simple message for members of Parliament: Stop hiking the taxes that make our food so expensive. SIGN THE PETITION: https://www.taxpayer.com/petitions/scrap-the-federal-carbon-tax Trudeau scared of taxpayer legal challenge Prime Minister Justin Trudeau finally fessed up and admitted he stayed in the $6,000 per night hotel room during the Queen’s funeral in London, England. Trudeau knew he was going to lose in court. That’s why he fessed up. READ MORE HERE: https://nationalpost.com/news/taxpayers-federation-legal-action-hotel-suite

Taxes up. MP pay up. We’re fed up. Politicians think you can afford to pay more tax at the gas pump and the liquor store. Meanwhile, MPs say they need a pay hike. A good budget with big promises (that we’ll make sure they keep) The Alberta budget had a lot of big promises for taxpayers, but politicians had better keep their word or else. Bureaucrats don’t hit targets, but they still get bonuses Franco and Ryan wouldn’t dare ask Old Man MacKay for a bonus if they missed their targets, but things are different for bureaucrats. Like this show? Subscribe and give us 5-stars! This podcast is brought to you by the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, Canada’s premier grassroots advocacy group pushing for lower taxes, less waste and accountable governments. Sign-up as a Canadian Taxpayers Federation supporter at no-charge TODAY: https://www.taxpayer.com/join.

The number of CBC staffers taking home a six-figure salary has doubled under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. The state broadcaster also handed out $16 million in bonuses last year, for an average bonus of $14,000. And it’s all paid for with your tax dollars. READ MORE HERE: https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/cbc-employees-paid-16-million- bonuses-2022?utm_term=Autofeed&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1678367749 Taxpayers Fight Trudeau’s Gun Ban Boondoggle Canadian Taxpayers Federation supporters push to stop the government from expanding the gun ban and buy back is paying off. Members of Parliaments on the committee trying to expand the scheme had to withdraw their amendments after Canadians flooded their emails. SIGN THE PETITION: https://www.taxpayer.com/petitions/scrap-the-gun-ban-and-buy-back Failing Government CEO Gets Huge Raise The head of Metrolinx, Ontario’s transit infrastructure agency, is now making $851,000 a year, which is a 52 per cent pay bump over the last handful of years. The increase in pay comes despite Metrolinx spending 75 per cent over budget with Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s signature transit project, the Ontario line. Rewarding failure with pay raises has become the rule with government agencies. READ MORE HERE: https://www.taxpayer.com/newsroom/ford-needs-to-end-the-metrolinx- fiasco

Government bureaucrats are trying to bend the rules to keep you from knowing who stayed in the $6,000 per night hotel room during the Queen’s funeral. You paid the bill, you deserve transparency. That’s why the Canadian Taxpayers Federation launched a legal challenge to force the government to disclose who stayed in the hotel room. READ MORE HERE: https://www.taxpayer.com/newsroom/cbc-staff-earning-six-figures- doubles-under-trudeau Fight Against Online Censorship Members of Parliament want to censor what you see online. But Senators and Canadians are fighting back against this push for censorship. READ MORE HERE: https://www.thesuburban.com/opinion/op_ed/bill-c-11-canadas- senators-should-say-no-to-censorship-and-government-control/article_02c03930-e3b8-5167-8f1f-cd0f95591670.html Email MP and Government House Leader Mark Holland: mark.holland@parl.gc.ca $20 in Tax for a Case of Beer President and CEO of Moosehead Breweries Andrew Oland joins the show to break down how federal politicians are making your beer more expensive with an automatic escalator tax hike. SIGN THE PETITION: https://www.taxpayer.com/petitions/reduce-liquor-taxes

Governor General’s $40K pandemic pay hike The governor general’s salary in 2022 was $342,100. That means the governor general’s salary increased by almost $40,000 since the beginning of the pandemic. Why does the governor general need an extra $40,000 when they can expense taxpayers for as much beef wellington as they can stomach? READ MORE HERE: https://nationalpost.com/news/governor-general-40k-pay-raise-pandemic Government union bosses milking you A federal government union is pushing for up to 47 per cent more in pay and benefits over three years. That would cost taxpayers $9.3 billion. That’s an extra $27,500 per bureaucrat each year on average. And they want you to pay for it. READ MORE HERE: https://financialpost.com/opinion/opinion-taxpayers-cant-afford-federal-union-demands?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1676471130-1 World Cup a rip off for taxpayers Taxpayers will be on the hook for about half a million dollars for every minute of game time in the World Cup. That means every minute of game play could build a family a home. And the government’s economic claims aren’t worth the paper they’re written on. READ MORE HERE: https://torontosun.com/opinion/columnists/jay-goldberg-ford-is-skeptical-about-fifa-and-hes-right https://www.taxpayer.com/newsroom/world-cup-cost-leave-taxpayers-scratching-our-heads

The Canadian Taxpayers Federation just added more muscle to go after government waste with our new Investigative Journalist Ryan Thorpe. Ryan built his career by infiltrating a white supremist group and going after union bosses. In his first week with the CTF, Ryan broke stories about the governor general’s $40,000 pandemic pay hike and government bonuses. And he’s just getting started.