Canadian Taxpayers Federation

Interesting that you should bring up the CTF, as I've just returned from a meeting with the chief accounting officer of our Regional District.

I had used CTF numbers to suggest that the District's spending was out of control. For example, over the last 5 years, property taxes have increased three times more than inflation and five times more than population growth.

I asked them to provide some basic numbers: increases in employment per 1,000 and pay/benefits costs for selected job classifications.

While I haven't done all the analysis yet, I noticed that an accounting clerk makes $31.00/hr in pay/benefits, while the same job in the private sector runs about $14 - $16/hr plus benefits - which does not usually include the pension plans available to gov't workers.

I brought the issue up before our Regional Board of Directors previously and was accused by an NDP affiliated member of the board, of wanting "a race to the bottom" for civic workers.

But as a hard pressed taxpayer (property taxes increased 25% last year alone) I would really describe civic jobs as a quest for the top which is extorted through union membership, which is unfairly subsidized by the private sector accounting clerk who sets the standard for what the job is really worth.

The public sector is a tremendous and unwarranted drag on the economy. If those unwarranted and unearned salaries and perks were available for reinvestment by the private sector we'd have both fairness and a much more robust economy.

FYI Response to No Guff: Take a look at the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) 2008 December Report titled Wage Watch. Their opening remarks are as follows. "Detailed analysis of 2006 Census findings on full-time earnings by sector and occupation show that government and public sector employees are paid roughly 8 to 17 per cent more than similarly employed individuals in the private sector. In addition, taking into account significantly higher paid benefits and shorter workweeks, the public sector total compensation advantage balloons past 30 per cent. Expressed in dollar terms, public sector employers have a combined wage and benefits bill that is $19 billion higher than if they had kept costs to private sector norms."The link is as follows. http://www.cfib.ca Use the search criteria 2008 Wage Watch.

Also, in Ontario public sector salary wages and benefits are released annually by the Ontario Ministry of Finance. The information listed cover the years 1996 up to 2007. The link to their website is as follows:
http://www.fin.gov.on.ca/english/publications/salarydisclosure/

Also ask questions about benefits like the SICK LEAVE GRATUITY BENEFIT. In many municipalities employees can save unused sick days. Upon retirement they can be paid up to an additional 6 months pay for their accumulated sick leave. The annual cost of this benefit is substantial as is the accrued liability on the municipality's financial statement.

Yes, the private sector, non-unionized workforce is woefully underpaid.

About a year ago I started my project to get a Patent and IP protection for my Radical concept for a fridge.
But after seeing all the hurdles to get it built and to the market , I changed my Business plan to use the least amount of high-paid Union workers as possible because my intention is to provide it at a price for the most numbers of buyers.
My Micro-business supply system will shift the wealth down to local Small-Business and workers that spend their pay check where they live , the Licensing Contracts will have strict workers-rights to protect my image and assure buyers i have a direct local benefit from wages and profits.

I will not use the Dragon's Den to raise money because it makes them richer while i did most of the work and they also haven't produced anything in life other than Money-making machines built on the backs of workers.
The type of retail sales I plan to use will by-pass all the H.R. workers,Lawyers and Accountants so that existing Small businesses use their systems and can offer a high wage since I'm not transferring my costs or creating layers of paper work that is realy duplications of jobs at each level.

I figured out how to lower the building time in labour costs and reduce the weight for shipping along with the carton size by 25% compared to a similar 26 Cubic Foot fridge.
The Modular power/cooling Unit allows for better ECO protections for gas leaks or the Life-Cycle for the whole fridge going to a dump or consuming more energy to dispose of it , the Cooling Unit section creates more direct job for AC/Refrigeration installations at the Point Of Sale from a Local Appliance repair shop or an upgrade to a better compressor in the future.
The Universal design makes it a Global product that adapts to any Power System since Compressors have Global Standards for the Universal design and Gas systems , I also made it Tool-Free out of the Box for assembly because of our aging population that should not be expected to fool around with wrenches and screw drivers after paying almost $2000.00 for a normal mid-range fridge.

The Local small business parts makers will be mostly under the Employee level for a Union , and if my profit margin is generous the workers can get a raise for the same amount of work as then Employer makes more money too compared to the current systems.
We need to bring jobs back to North America and get rid of the failed Corporate Models to suck money from neighbourhoods and then close up shop to create a slum , my fridge will be a pretty tough item to try to sell as Knock-offs like a Rolex or Gucci purse .

The Life-Cycle for current fridges is listed on the Stats-Can data as 15 years average on new fridges, but my Modular comcept with a rigid structure and changable upgrade parts should be about 30-40 years by the scalable Iniversal parts and tool-free assembly.

The big feature is the wobble-resistant self-adjusting feet and the Dust-Bunny free design from the easy clean underneath and a cordless concept from the Plant.

I feel sorry for people that went through the maze of legal and Governmental paper work that can bankrupt you before you even show your product to buyers and makers that want to screw you on the Royalties.
Plus , imagine trying to market your Invention
after the Dragons bash you on Global TV as a loser with a poor product .

About a year ago I started my project to get a Patent and IP protection for my Radical concept for a fridge.
But after seeing all the hurdles to get it built and to the market , I changed my Business plan to use the least amount of high-paid Union workers as possible because my intention is to provide it at a price for the most numbers of buyers.
My Micro-business supply system will shift the wealth down to local Small-Business and workers that spend their pay check where they live , the Licensing Contracts will have strict workers-rights to protect my image and assure buyers i have a direct local benefit from wages and profits.

I will not use the Dragon's Den to raise money because it makes them richer while i did most of the work and they also haven't produced anything in life other than Money-making machines built on the backs of workers.
The type of retail sales I plan to use will by-pass all the H.R. workers,Lawyers and Accountants so that existing Small businesses use their systems and can offer a high wage since I'm not transferring my costs or creating layers of paper work that is realy duplications of jobs at each level.

I figured out how to lower the building time in labour costs and reduce the weight for shipping along with the carton size by 25% compared to a similar 26 Cubic Foot fridge.
The Modular power/cooling Unit allows for better ECO protections for gas leaks or the Life-Cycle for the whole fridge going to a dump or consuming more energy to dispose of it , the Cooling Unit section creates more direct job for AC/Refrigeration installations at the Point Of Sale from a Local Appliance repair shop or an upgrade to a better compressor in the future.
The Universal design makes it a Global product that adapts to any Power System since Compressors have Global Standards for the Universal design and Gas systems , I also made it Tool-Free out of the Box for assembly because of our aging population that should not be expected to fool around with wrenches and screw drivers after paying almost $2000.00 for a normal mid-range fridge.

The Local small business parts makers will be mostly under the Employee level for a Union , and if my profit margin is generous the workers can get a raise for the same amount of work as then Employer makes more money too compared to the current systems.
We need to bring jobs back to North America and get rid of the failed Corporate Models to suck money from neighbourhoods and then close up shop to create a slum , my fridge will be a pretty tough item to try to sell as Knock-offs like a Rolex or Gucci purse .

The Life-Cycle for current fridges is listed on the Stats-Can data as 15 years average on new fridges, but my Modular comcept with a rigid structure and changable upgrade parts should be about 30-40 years by the scalable Iniversal parts and tool-free assembly.

The big feature is the wobble-resistant self-adjusting feet and the Dust-Bunny free design from the easy clean underneath and a cordless concept from the Plant.

I feel sorry for people that went through the maze of legal and Governmental paper work that can bankrupt you before you even show your product to buyers and makers that want to screw you on the Royalties.
Plus , imagine trying to market your Invention
after the Dragons bash you on Global TV as a loser with a poor product .

We'll have to get some tips from the Liberals on how to play around with EI funds to help lower the projected deficit.

Here's my idea for a 1 billion dollar stimulus package - sell the CBC and give Canadians 1 billion dollars in tax cuts.

What self respecting business person can actually appear on show put on by the CBC? If they like the CBC so much all those "dragons" should be forced to pay its billion dollar operating cost out of their private funds.

test

While I might well enjoy the CTF's presentation on the "Dragon's Den", I would find it truly nauseating to sit through the presentations of the special interests represented by shills like Suzuki and Hargrove, who think it's a great idea to use economic fear to advance their case for further funding their despicable agendas.

But I would tolerate even that if the CTF would add de-funding the CBC to their presentation.

I'd love for Kevin to rip into Hargrove and Suziki with some common sense.

Will they say to lower the level of Immigration to cut some costs of our costly immigration policy.

They can't find enough ESL teachers in Toronto....

And how much of the recession is the fault of Suzuki oids "we have to hamstring North American industry under green regulations so we can ship jobs to Asia," Oh look our market looks more like a black hole.

Love it. Dragons Den is the only CBC show I watch. This is a golden opportunity for people to see how business people respond to the pitches. I like the guy who states quite often "Do you think I'm stupid." when it comes to what a product is worth. Go for it Buzz. Bring up daycare, socialized living and a few other pie in the sky deals and see how the numbers go. I don't think any idea will pass scrutiny.

I ponder on a question : when people in private sector loose jobs and tax base shrinks, shouldn't the public sector be reduced in a proportion?

Government employees should never be paid more than minimum wage. From the PM to the lowest janitor.

"I ponder on a question : when people in private sector loose jobs and tax base shrinks, shouldn't the public sector be reduced in a proportion?

Posted by: xiat at January 21, 2009 11:35 AM "

Yes it should,except for the EI(now there's an oxymoron!).With less people working in the private sector to be screwed over by the "public" service,you would think that it would be common sense,but we all know it will never happen.If anything,it will increase,with more "commissions",etc.to study the problem of why the public sector is losing ground. Typical socialism in action.

As a professional accountant who has worked in the federal civil service (twice!), the hospitality and property management industry and the provincial public service as well as soldiering for several years before becoming an accountant, I have some insight into the public vs. private sector.

If the government department/agency/branch is small with a clear purpose, it works as well and efficiently as private enterprise. If the department becomes large or has a lousy goosey purpose, it quickly falls into bureaucratic inertia and waste.

The discussion surrounding stimulus and tax cuts has not even touched on tax reform. It is disappointing that the CTF was not better able to get the message out with respect to increaed personal exemption and flattening rates. I tried making similar suggestions to get this into the discussion with limited success.
Unfortunately now, it is to late for public perception to be swayed, and incorporated into the budget. It is an opportunity lost for tax equity reform. Keep at it CTF.

Further to Norm Matthew's point about 'loosey goosey' purposes, under 'New Departments (Services) my taxing authority, the Regional District of Nanaimo, lists 'D68 Restorative Justice' and 'D69 Community Justice'.

Now what the heck is a 'Regional District' (ie: municpality) doing funding 'justice' programs? Their job is to see that garbabe is picked up, the streets are in good repair and that we have a decent swimming pool.

This is what is known as 'mission creep' or empire building and there is no end to it unless we are eternally vigilant.

With a complaint having been lodged against the Suzuki foundation for violating the license of a Non-Profit entity, I'd say that should be one interesting pitch. Of course they won't be talking about their own financial and legal woes.. just pitching for us taxpayers to cough up more money to fund their crap for brains projects.

Now if I were a Dragon the first thing I'd go for would be their legal status and viability.

But I doubt if these paper dragons will be doing much in the way sphincter redundancy operations that the members of the entitlement gang deserve.

The only effective stimulus that the government could offer would be a dramatic cut in taxes, especially income taxes. What is proposed is throwing good money (our money) after bad money, which would receive a failure in any economics class.