OP/ED: CTF pushes for municipal political hopefuls to sign contract on taxes
By Contributor
By: Jordan Bateman, B.C. Director, Canadian Taxpayers Federation
As hundreds of municipal politicians gathered in Vancouver last week for the Union of BC Municipalities conference, the Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) released the contract with taxpayers they will be challenging B.C. candidates to sign ahead of the Nov. 19 municipal elections.
“Taxpayers are stretched thin and every level of government needs to do its part to lighten that burden,” said Jordan Bateman, the CTF’s B.C. director. “Property taxes have been an increasing drag on homeowners for years and our supporters are demanding a new, tougher approach on taxation from municipal candidates. This Contract with Taxpayers is a big step in that direction.”
The contract with taxpayers includes ten points, including keeping tax increases at or below the provincial rate of inflation, encouraging direct democracy, supporting transparency in expenses and a municipal auditor general and resisting downloading from senior levels of government.
Candidates signing the contract are also committing to introducing a taxpayer protection bylaw in their community if elected. This bylaw would enshrine the contract’s principles and enforce a provision for a 15 percent mayor and council pay cut if property taxes are raised beyond the rate of inflation without explicit public consent.
“It’s not enough for politicians to talk tough on taxes during election time—we need to raise the bar,” said Bateman. “The taxpayer protection bylaw would instruct municipal staff to come forward with budgets that are in line with the rate of inflation and ensure taxpayers’ rights are put first and foremost in every civic decision. This has to be part of the DNA of city halls across B.C.”
A list of candidates who sign the contract with taxpayers will be widely circulated by the CTF through email, web, press releases and social media, although this is not an endorsement by the organization.
The full Contract, backgrounder, and draft bylaw can be found here.
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