Start Keeping House Repair Receipts

...because everyone will need them in the future.
As long as the Feds allow expenses to be deducted from profit when they start taxing capital gains.

The government is using the illegal actions

 of NON-Canadians as an excuse

 to monitor Canadians’ retirement finances

 – not something this country should stand for.   Ross Kay

 

What? you question, incredulously.
The Feds don't tax capital gains...there's a lifetime capital gains exemption!

Okay, this is where all those who voted for the Liberals federally need to start caning themselves as penance for doing that.
Look what you and your like-minded miscreants have created putting trust-fund baby Junior Trudeau in charge.

Another blog says it so much more succinctly than I could:

"Every Canadian is the real target." Anonymous

Remember that it started (in B.C.) with/because of the 'foreign buyers' tax, but Canada Revenue is very very interested...

"One that slipped beneath the radar was the need for all taxpayers to register their real estate transactions with the federal government in order to claim tax-free capital gains. We were told at the time this was to spank foreign buyers trying to use the dodge.

"Twenty years from now

 as pressure is put on funding

 government pensions,

 having a record of net wealth

 tied up in the family home...."

 

But, really? Here is what we said at the time:

“Buried in the announcement, the background paper, the technical paper and then deep into the CRA website are significant changes to how your Big Brother government will now be policing your family home. Under the guise of whacking foreign buyers – a tiny percentage of whom have been claiming the ‘principal residence’ exemption to avoid capital gains tax – the T2 gang have given the CRA the ability to whack you.

It’s a first in Canadian history.
You’ll have to prove your home is your home.
If you don’t, the money made on its appreciation will be fully taxable.

"Effective today (February 13, 2017)

 your personal residence is a fully-taxable commodity

 unless you take specific steps to avoid it.

 By taking those steps,

 you’re also providing the government

 with information never previously gathered."

 

The suggestion that homeowners selling or buying their personal residence will be a(sic) required to report it on income tax forms sounds innocent, but it’s anything but.  Twenty years from now as pressure is put on funding government pensions, having a record of net wealth tied up in the family home could place unexpected challenges upon those looking to retire."

Don't believe it'll happen?

Read on:

Says housing analyst Ross Kay: “Anyone who believes today’s suggestion that Canadians are now required to give the government the details on selling the family home is not thinking.  The government is using the illegal actions of NON-Canadians as an excuse to monitor Canadians’ retirement finances – not something this country should stand for.”

Here are the facts:

• Taxpayers must report the sale of the family home if you’re claiming an exemption from capital gains tax (in the past that exemption was automatic. If you don’t comply, no exemption.
• The CRA will have authority at assess capital gains tax on real estate that is not reported on the tax return for the year in which it is sold.
• Ottawa will work with provincial governments (which maintain land registry operations) to ensure that all residential real estate transactions are recorded and taxed as required.
• The tax return, starting next April, will require details on the date a property was acquired, the proceeds of disposition and a description of the property. To qualify for a capital gains tax exemption, you must complete and file a separate Schedule. The full exemption may not be granted, depending on the details provided.
• If you sell your home but forget to include this information on your return, the CRA will not allow the proceeds to be tax-free. In that case you must ask the CRA to amend the return. This amendment will be granted “in certain circumstances” but may also come with a penalty equal to the lesser of $8,000 or $100 per month from the sale date to the request date.
• If you have a suite in your home, then sell it, the selling price must be split and reported. Part of it will qualify to the tax exemption and part will not. In markets with elephantine gains in home prices, this could be quite the bombshell.

Effective today (February 13, 2017) your personal residence is a fully-taxable commodity unless you take specific steps to avoid it. By taking those steps, you’re also providing the government with information never previously gathered. Will Canadians accept this? Bill Morneau and his boss think so. After all, they wrapped it in anti-Chinese emotion. How brilliant was that?”

Well, the form is now out, as a page in the T1 tax return. Here it is:






If you comply, there’s a permanent record of what an address sold for, and how much you personally received. Valuable information for any government establishing a property registry in advance of applying a potential tax on real estate, or wanting to track what windfall gain an individual may have made. If you don’t fill it out, you’re pooched – taxed on the entire profit.
Some people believe, with so much of Canadians’ net worth having been shifted from financial assets into real estate that no government can afford not to tax it. Others are musing people might be granted a certain lifetime limit for tax-free real estate gains, then be nailed for amounts in excess. After all, it is fair wage slaves are sucked dry with levies on employment income, while a house in Vancouver or Toronto can double in value, giving millions, tax-free?
Of course not. And this government’s all about fairness, right? "

Source of story here.
Scroll to blog entry dated February 13, 2017 entitled The House Tax

I have NOT asked blog owner Garth Turner for permission to reprint his blog entry...but it is on the internet.  And I'm sure he won't mind me making all those Fed Lib voters choke as they eat their own shoes.  I'll send them my shoes too if there will be any left in the years to come.

Because I sure won't let them forget it.
So stand tall, Fed Lib voters.
'Coz I want to see who these people are.
Didn't the fact that T2's pere (Pierre) loved Marxism give you any idea just how the kid might turn out?

And to think that people hated Harper....incredible!
So they traded him for a trust-fund baby who decided that one of his most important projects (of all the fixes he could have selected) would be to legalize marijuana...

So start keeping your repair receipts (which you paid for with after-tax dollars!)
...we'll have to fight hard to get T2 to allow our using receipts--and maybe even long-ago-paid-off mortgage interest--if he's going to start taxing capital gains.

"Yeah, sure," Kia would've said, "as though anybody kept repair receipts for 40 years of living in their home!"

I smell a hammer 'n sickle armband blowin' in the wind.

As an anonymous commenter stated "Every Canadian is the real target."
Mark his words...

So Why Spend It?

Vernon will host the 55+ B.C. Games in September this year.
Approximately 4,000 people will be welcomed to our area mid-September.

Mayor Akbal Mund reports that $25,000 will be spent to market the Greater Vernon area, with the money coming from the hotel room tax fund.

So 4,000 seniors will spend approximately $525 for their five days of activities.  That's about a hundred bucks a day, which will no doubt be welcomed by the hotel and restaurant sector.


"Why not spend it on a target audience that isn't already scheduled to visit," Kia would've said, "versus something already scheduled."
 

Seniors aren't the only ones who'll be spending...

"Host Community – Vernon & Area

• The Host City are also a Funding Partners committing cash and in-kind contributions."

from here.

Save the $25,000 for target events that aren't planning on already holding their event here.

Maybe the $25,000 could help with the amortization of the College sports field oval.
Nah....

Fleming "Fail"

Agonizing over whether RDNO's "negative media reports" would/could have been prevented by a more user-friendly website and social media involvement is Director Bob Fleming's idea of  "fixing" RDNO problems, as reported by Rolke in the Morning Star newspaper today.

"Recently, RDNO endured significant criticism over its handling of the Okanagan Rhythmic Gymnastics club..."

Fleming's going down the wrong path.

Fleming should ask himself whether

spending $4,000 more

 on updating the website

 would have prevented the problem(s)...

then resigned as director

if his answer is affirmative. 

He thinks he can just throw more of our money at the problem, ("RDNO budgeted $10,000 in 2016 for the website and about $6,000 was spent..."), a sentiment often typical of both elected officials and bureaucrats.

Fleming should ask himself whether spending $4,000 more on updating the website would have prevented the problem(s).
Then resigned as director if his answer is affirmative.

It was RDNO people that screwed up not only the recent initial "complaint" about the facility, but also that owner Camille Martens had, at the outset of her operation, received approval from RDNO (an "approvals" person).

Old RDNO records prove that.
Too bad the initial approver's successor at RDNO didn't research his own department's file.

So, again, the problem lies with a person or persons at RDNO.
Certainly not the lack of social media.
And certainly not because the website shows "director Herman Halvorson with a beard, something he hasn’t had for a couple of years."

The Gymnastics Club isn't the only example of how badly RDNO screws up.

"But we'll leave it to RDNO to research their old files themselves," Kia would've said, "to help them learn what they've done to numerous people in this area."

There's no dearth of examples.

The omnipotent RDNO.
God almighty.

A Missed Opportunity?

Or is it a case of the media not doing its job?

Today's Morning Star story on the two "mud slingers ripping up a local watershed" who pled guilty and were ordered to pay fines for mud bogging in the Duteau Creek watershed last spring is, frankly, infuriating.

"Don't do anything foolish that gets your name

 into the newspaper!" 

Anonymous parent, 50+ years ago

Why?

Consider for a moment (even if you do not believe it) that getting one's name into the newspaper for a selfish and dangerous act that can--and does--impact the quality of a community's drinking water might...just MIGHT...be a deterrent to others who disrespect both authority and the environment.

Those of us (mostly over the age of 50) can remember our parents' warnings:  "Don't do anything foolish that gets your name into the newspaper!"

That, in itself, years ago was indeed a deterrent to some teenagers who otherwise had no qualms about disrespecting authority.  They didn't want to let down their parents, who were hardworking "good citizens".

Kids may not be that caring today.
Same with some parents.
There must be some, though, who do care what their civic reputation is!

But what if their names were printed in the newspaper--after pleading guilty in court--was all that it took to prevent one person from doing the same thing?

"Or many others," Kia would've said.

What a missed opportunity, Morning Star!

By the way, isn't "reporting" the job of a community newspaper?

Liberal Lies

A sham, bordering on misconduct.
All in the name of being re-elected this Spring.

But Bob Johnston isn't fooled.

 "I guess we are all idiots if we do so..."

Bob Johnston                       

His letter to the editor is entitled "Math Questioned":

"Once again, there's another version of the truth from the Liberals in Victoria:  'We have cancelled the planned increase of four per cent for MSP for 2017 as these premiums are a hardship on families.  Thank you, thank you, vote for me.'

"...a four per cent increase

 to a whopping $141

 is way worse than paying

 a flat $150 a month."

 

"I guess we are all idiots if we do so, especially after we get our MSP bill and discover that we will now pay $150 for a two-person family.  Somehow a four per cent increase to a whopping $141 is way worse than paying a flat $150 a month."

"When it comes time to vote, would a four per cent increase equal fewer votes, while an 11 per cent increase will equal more votes, in the Liberals(sic) warped sense of humour?  I, on the other hand, think this will actually result, when added to all the other half-truths and lies, 44 per cent more votes for the NDP."

"The provincial Liberals have learned how to talk down to their constituents," Kia would've stated, "by copying bureaucrats."

...more likely the Liberals instructed their bureaucrats in the fine art.

Loose Fillings?

Loose fillings?
Lose fillings?
Same thing, really.

My friend actually voiced something the other day that I hadn't thought to ever put onto the blog.
Despite it driving me nearly INSANE!
I felt there's no solution at all, so why even bring it up?

Well, bless my friend for voicing what I've agonized over for ages:

"Why the hell are all these manhole (personhole?) covers ALWAYS under either your vehicle's left--or right--wheels?

  Can't they put the gawd-awful things in the middle of the lane?  i.e. under the car's driveshaft?

  And why oh why are they an inch or two lower than the road?"

Why indeed!

One of the worst roads for haphazard manhole cover placements is 27th Street, the curb lanes, while travelling north and south, especially between the Courthouse and 48th Avenue.
Add to that the new light at Beairsto School/Tim Horton's, which routinely kills the supposedly green-wave traffic light system during rush hours, and frustration accrues quickly.

Potholes?  Sure they occur, especially at this time of year.  But crews seem to be filling problem holes in fairly good time.

City missed this memo?...manhole covers 1/4" below finished grade!

Back to road irregularities.  There's the new affectionately named launchpad on the recently paved 30th Street (at 30th Avenue) where the "bike lane ends" at the N corner of the under-construction seniors' complex.  Under construction?  The complex is, yes.  But the road's already paved, and the launchpad is easily a 10-inch difference between paved sections!

Coldstream hasn't been immune to manhole "incidents", but they finally--after probably 15 years--skirted out the manhole cover on Kal Lake Road (heading east, between Kidston and McClounie Roads).  That manhole cover used to be 2 inches higher than the surrounding pavement!  A wheel alignment Ouch if ever there was one!

I laughed as my friend itemized numerous locations of Vernon's enemy manhole covers.

On parting, we promised to get together again...and wondered if we shared the same dentist.
Because we're going back to 27th Street to find our dental fillings.

New Federal Tactic?

Government threateneth...
and then they un-threateneth.

A new tactic to buoy their leader's flagging popularity?
Perhaps.

But whatever it is--and I hope it's in response to the hue and cry from Canadians--they've rescinded their plans to tax health benefits for employees.

Here's the Canadian Taxpayers' Federation's take on it:

"Dear Supporter,

We’ve got some good news. You spoke and Prime Minister Trudeau listened. Today in Question Period, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was asked about his plans to make employer-sponsored health and dental benefits taxable. He responded saying that his government would not be doing this.

You can watch the exchange here:
http://globalnews.ca/news/3220630/health-dental-benefits-tax-justin-trudeau-liberals/

This tax could have cost 6 in 10 Canadian families $1,000 or more a year in additional taxes.

Last week tens of thousands of CTF supporters got our Action Update, signed our petition, and sent emails to the finance minister and their local MP telling them to not tax our health and dental benefits.

It worked!

This is the power that thousands of Canadians speaking at the same time on the same issue can have.

That said, it’s important that we tell the politicians when we’re happy, and not just when we’re upset.

Plus, there are still millions of Canadians without employer-sponsored health benefits that don’t get a tax break.

Can you email the Prime Minister (pm@pm.gc.ca), Finance Minister Bill Morneau (Bill.Morneau@parl.gc.ca) and your local MP (click here for their contact info) and thank them for listening to Canadians on this issue? You might also want to encourage them to still find a positive way to level the playing field for those Canadians who purchase their own health and dental benefits (i.e. without raising taxes).

Thanks for all you do. It’s clearly making a difference!

• Aaron, Scott, Shannon and the entire CTF team

P.S.: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation doesn’t take government funding. We are 100% funded by small and medium donations from Canadians like you. If you think we provide a valuable service, please consider making a donation through our secure donation website: https://www.taxpayer.com/donate/"

  
Good news indeed.

...which, in itself, is kinda rare from Ottawa.

So is T2 gonna be more popular now among taxpayers?
He has a long trip ahead of him.
 

No Shortage of Squeaky Wheels

...that need grease.

"...mayors of eight forest-dependent communities

wrote to de Jong and Premier Christy Clark,

 asking for PST relief for lumber, pulp and paper producers in their communities."

 

Add to the possibility of PST relief last year's plea to Coldstream Council from a local forestry company to attain a reclassification of their Industrial mill rate for property tax purposes and there'd be considerable savings for industrial giants.

This from Bob Spiers' blog today: 

"Wednesday, February 01, 2017

B.C. considers business sales tax relief

by Tom Fletcher - BC Local News Victoria BC posted Jan 25, 2017 at 1:00 PM
B.C. is the only place in North America that charges sales tax on business electricity bills, a cost the finance ministry is considering removing to help the struggling forest and mining industries.The issue was identified in November when an expert panel on tax competitiveness reported back to Finance Minister Mike de Jong. It noted that the province takes in $160 million from provincial sales tax (PST) on electricity bills, part of a generally high-tax environment for business and investment in B.C. relative to the national average. Last week, mayors of eight forest-dependent communities wrote to de Jong and Premier Christy Clark, asking for PST relief for lumber, pulp and paper producers in their communities."Communities in rural B.C. are not experiencing the same economic growth enjoyed in Lower Mainland communities," wrote the mayors of North Cowichan, Quesnel, Vernon, Port Alberni, Mackenzie, Powell River, Taylor and Port Alice.

"Eliminating the PST on electricity for businesses is meaningful action you can take that would not only help the forestry industry and the jobs it supports, but will also benefit the mining industry and other energy-intensive job creators in our province." The finance ministry issued a statement Tuesday acknowledging that de Jong is "considering this proposal along with many other spending priorities as we prepare the upcoming provincial balanced budget and longer-term fiscal plan." Energy Minister Bill Bennett said the issue has come up over the years, but the Commission on Tax Competitiveness report has created a "unified focus" among groups including the B.C. Business Council, the B.C. Chamber of Commerce, the Vancouver Board of Trade as well as mining and forestry associations. It would be a cabinet decision that would only be revealed when de Jong tables the provincial budget Feb. 21.

"Taking PST off the purchase of electricity would help pulp mills, would help the sawmills, would help the mines," Bennett said Wednesday. "It would help small business, and B.C. is one of the only, if not the only jurisdiction that charges sales tax on purchase of electricity." The commission found that B.C.'s PST is an impediment to investment in machinery and equipment, which it found to be the third lowest of any Canadian province.
CommissionOnTaxCompetitiveness Nov 2016"

While I don't have quick (I'm lazzzzzzy today) access to my horrendous (remember the 15 hp submersible pump in the irrigation pond?) hydro bills from summer, hopefully any tax relief--both PST and property classification--extends to all industry.

Not just the ones who have lobbied government.
The phrase "it would help small business..." is encouraging as it indicates small business would also benefit.

It sure would.
I sure would.

"But remember that any concessions from government are ALWAYS made up in other areas," Kia would've said, knowing full well how local and provincial governments operate.

It's government's way...unaffectionately known as reverse accounting.

Who'll be left to pay what governments need to meet their budgets? 
Who indeed!