Before the government can give, they have to take. If they they plan on giving more, then you can bet they plan on taking more.

Toker

Jacking Up Taxes:
http://www.liberal.ca/SayAnything/pr.html

Layton Misleads Canadians On Tax Reductions; Calls for 33% Small Business Tax Hike

In a desperate attempt to cover up his own misstep, Jack Layton is advocating a 33% tax hike on small businesses from coast to coast. Caught in a lie, or with shoddy and inaccurate research, Say Anything Jack is now scrambling to save face and is putting Canadian jobs at risk in the process.

NDP Leader Jack Layton has repeatedly suggested that a $4.4 billion corporate tax cut is scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2004:

"Well, who are we going to believe? Are we to believe the former Finance Minister who only weeks ago said that there was to be a $4.4 billion tax cut on January 1?" (Jack Layton, Newsworld, "Politics", Dec. 16, 2003)

Mr. Layton's many statements like this example are both incorrect and deliberately misleading.

In fact, the government's tax cut for small businesses and companies was a relatively modest part of the overall tax reductions commenced in 2000. Only the last scheduled reduction of corporate tax, $1.1 billion, takes effect on January 1, 2004. Nonetheless, Jack Layton insists that a $4.4 billion corporate tax cut is about to take effect. Caught in this lie by journalists, Say Anything Jack continues to bull through refusing to admit that he has not been telling the truth.

To avoid recognizing his lie, Mr. Layton is now advocating a huge tax hike, rolling back the reductions of the past four years. The proposal would result in job losses in all sectors of Canada's economy. These losses would most heavily impact small and medium-sized businesses, which employ about seven of every ten Canadians working in the private sector. Eliminating the entire tax reduction as Mr. Layton suggests would result in tax hikes to Canadian small businesses of 33%.

"Small business is the economic engine of our country, accounting for 85% of new jobs created," said the Hon. Joe Fontana, Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister with special emphasis on Science and Small Business. "Taking actions that will devastate small businesses will also punish the men and women who work for them. It is beyond me how Jack Layton can purport to speak for working Canadians and then propose a tax hike that will put their jobs at risk."

Fontana noted that the government's corporate tax cuts will disproportionately benefit small and medium-sized businesses, which account for roughly 7 of 10 jobs in the private sector. This represents the hometown grocer, the shop on the corner, and the local laundromat - the types of businesses that make our communities strong.

In calling for higher taxes, it appears that Say Anything Jack is turning his back on working Canadians.

The fact is that 75% of the government's tax cuts have gone towards reducing the tax burden of Canadian families and individuals, not corporations. In fact, by next year, Canadians' average personal income tax will be 21% lower. And for families with children, it will be 27% lower than in 2000.

Stick to the Facts, Jack!

It is well known in political circles that NDP leader Jack Layton will say anything to get himself on television, but it appears he's more than willing to make things up for radio, too.

The NDP leader has proven himself quick to invent allegations, especially when on the defensive over his own record, but on a disastrous outing last Saturday on CBC Radio's "The House," Layton may have set a new land-speed record for the most number of fabrications per minute.

When the radio host put Layton on the hot seat and quizzed him on his low-ball tactics, personal attacks, vacuous stunts and self-promotion, a desperate Say Anything Jack began inventing "facts":


Layton claimed that the new parliamentary secretary responsible for public private partnerships (or P3s) has been given a "specific mandate to look at how any public service could be turned over to the private sector." That's wrong, Jack. As Layton acknowledged in the interview, one of the "P"s in P3 stands for "public" and these partnerships do not represent "the privatization model" as Layton claims. Nor has any member of Prime Minister Martin's government been given the mandate to pursue the mass privatization of government services. That's a Layton fabrication.


Layton yet again claimed "we are looking at a multi-billion dollar corporate tax cut as the very first act of government." In the past week Layton has maliciously claimed that Prime Minister Martin is bringing in a $4.4-billion tax cut on January 1, 2004. Wrong again, Jack. What we are in fact looking at is one of the final stages in a multi-year tax reduction package that is focused 75% on reducing the tax burden of Canadian families and individuals, not corporations. By next year, Canadians' average personal income tax will be 21% lower than 2000. For families with children the reduction is 27%. The government's tax cut for small businesses and companies was a relatively modest part of the overall tax reductions, which began in 2000. The last scheduled corporate tax reduction represents $1.1 billion, not $4.4 billion, as Layton claims. Perhaps Layton's invented attack is an attempt to cover the fact that his party voted against the budget that announced these tax reductions which have done so much to help working families. Or perhaps he is hoping to obscure the fact that his call to roll back the corporate tax reductions of the past four years would increase small business taxes by 33% and cost many Canadians their jobs.


Layton suggested that the Prime Minister will walk away from his commitment to share revenue with municipalities because the issue is "complicated". Under questioning from the host, Layton had to admit that Paul Martin had been a long standing friend of municipalities and that he had made good in the past by moving on Federation of Canadian Municipalities suggestions in his budgets. Layton then squirmed as the interview put directly to him the inconsistency between his personal attacks and Martin's actual record. "Good point" he finally allowed.


Layton stated: "I'm not going to call Mr. Martin names" and then broke his promise about 15 seconds later when, after the radio host doubted his sincerity, he called Mr. Martin a "practicing coal baron."


Layton claimed Prime Minister Martin will "walk away from Kyoto". Wrong. The Prime Minister remains committed to Kyoto protocol. In fact, he has stated that Canada's commitment to address the causes of climate change will proceed regardless of the status of Kyoto: "The fact is the quality of life that comes out of clean air, clean water ... has its own impetus and its own merit regardless of what international treaties are being signed."(Paul Martin, Toronto Star, December 6, 2003)


Layton further suggested that Prime Minister Martin will sign "Star Wars agreements." No. Prime Minister Martin has only said that Canada should have a seat at the table to ensure Canada's interests are respected as the U.S. pursues national missile defence. This proposal, by the way, involves 40 land- and sea-based interceptors. Sorry Jack, no Death-Stars here.