Putting Things Into Perspective
Few people do it as well as Robert Reich. And there are lessons here for Canada as well: I don't know who needs to hear this, but refusing to disclose…
offshore tax havens
Friends In High Places Are Good (For Some)
Having friends in high places is certainly something the wealthy must savour as they continue to hide money in offshore tax havens. Yes, the very same havens the Trudeau government…
Our Timid Canadian Revenue Agency
Over a year ago I posted about the sad record of the CRA in pursuing offshore tax cheats as revealed by the Panama Papers. It seems that little has changed…
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh wins Burnaby South by-election, clearing key hurdle ahead of federal campaign
Jagmeet Singh will soon take his place as leader in the House of Commons. This is where the puck hits the sidewalk. With Trudeau on the ropes over the…
Less Than Meets The Eye?
Given its recent rather dubious pursuits of lost tax revenue, I readily admit that I don’t know what to make of the latest report that the CRA has actually begun…
Seeking Some Substance – Part 2
In Part 1, I tried to establish that there is a gross discrepancy between the rhetoric and the reality of Justin Trudeau’s promise to makie sure corporations pay their fair…
Canada’s financial system one of the most secretive in the world: Report
The Tax Justice Network’s 2018 Financial Secrecy Index says Canada’s financial system is less transparent than that of notorious tax havens and countries often portrayed as corrupt by the mainstream…
Seeking Some Substance – Part 1
In yesterday’s Star, Christopher Hume had occasion to call Prime Minister Trudeau the princeling practitioner of the politics of appearance. In light of an alarming shortfall in revenues that is…
Trudeau Town Halls: Baubles Of Distraction, Not Questions Of Substance
Prime-Minister-For-A-Day Kim Campbell is probably best remembered for saying, “An election is no time to discuss serious issues.” She might just as well have been talking about town halls, particularly…
On Tax Fairness
Ed Broadbent recently wrote on the need for real tax reform, calling for an end to the various favours our government bestows on the ultra rich. His thesis was compelling:…
Canadians React To The Paradise Papers
If you aren’t yet outraged over recent revelations, check your pulse to make sure you are still amongst the living. Happily, signs of life are plentiful among Toronto Star readers:…
The Point Is
In her latest iPolitics article, Kady O’Maley offers the view that the revelations of The Paradise Papers do not constitute a scandal for Justin Trudeau and his government. And while…
Politics and its Discontents 2017-11-08 20:20:00
PM Justin Trudeau says he’s satisfied with Liberal fundraiser Stephen Bronfman’s explanation of his ties to offshore accounts, but Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer calls those remarks inappropriate. The Prime Minister…
Behind The Curtain
Ah, Star letter writers rarely disappoint. Truth, rather than political spin, always improves my mood. Liberal Party fundraisers held family millions in offshore trust, Nov. 6 From Panama to Paradise,…
Paradise Lost
“We don’t pay taxes. Only the little people pay taxes.”-Leona Helmsley “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person…
The Paradise Papers
The prospect of real tax reform in Canada just got a lot dimmer. Today’s release of the Paradise Papers suggests why. CBC News is reporting this about Justin Trudeau’s chief…
Enemies Of The People
I hardly think that is too harsh a description of both those who park their money offshore to avoid taxes and those who facilitate such evasions. Indeed, an open letter…
Wisdom From A 91-Year-Old
Don’t worry. This is not one of those bromides on how to live a long and happy life. It is, however, a realistic recipe for social cohesion and progress. The…
A More Realistic Appraisal of Jim Flaherty
If, like me, you were rather appalled by the hypocritical yet predictable enconiums offered to Jm Flaherty by his political foes, you will likely enjoy this letter from Ottawa Star…
Harper Lies: The Dismal Truth About Corporate Tax Evasion
My friend Gary recently alerted me to this, which should sicken all Canadian citizens. It is a story of corporate greed, massive amounts of lost tax revenues, and a government…