Stop blaming the Baby Boomers

Posted on April 5, 2012 by Stephen Pate

The hand-wringing over aging populations is too-little but not too late

We built this economy (photo credit - Jesselangham Wikiality)

Every day we are being told the problems of Canada and the United States are too many aging Baby Boomers.

It’s as if they want us to move onto an ice flow and disappear in the Arctic spring.

Well, it’s not our fault if we built the strongest economic boom in history. Through hard work we provided the great standard of living our children would like to inherit without the same amount of effort. Continue reading →

Tax system benefits 1% Wealthy

Posted on October 18, 2011 by Stephen Pate

For those with jobs, life is a drudgery – for those with capital, life is a comedy

The 99% protest at Occupy Toronto (photo CBC)

The Canadian and US tax systems reinforce the concentration of wealth in the hands of the 1%.

It will take a major shift in how the government structures the tax system to see any transfer in wealth from the 1% to the 99%. Continue reading →

PEI is not an accessible tourist destination

Posted on June 29, 2011 by Stephen Pate

Parks Canada wheelchair ramp at Brackley Beach is one of the many obstacles to tourists with disabilities

Announcement of website to document accessible tourist facilities is a small start in moving PEI towards accessibility

The Federal and Provincial governments have a new website (under construction) that will rate PEI tourist facilities as accessible or not.

The website will disclose that PEI is a disaster for the disabled. Both Federal and Provincial governments have ignored their role in leading the public to accept people with disabilities.

A year in development, the website is still not operational.
Continue reading →

Vote Canada

Posted on May 2, 2011 by Stephen Pate

illustration Google

Corporate tax cuts cost you $500 a year

Posted on April 18, 2011 by Stephen Pate

Stephen Harper is working hard to give your money to the big corporations

A new website and Facebook page is taking the satirical approach to Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

They want to thank him for working hard to make corporations and their executives richer.

The videos will appeal to some voters, already disinclined to support Harper.

Will they make any impression on the millions of Canadians under the hypnotic spell of Stephen Harper?

[yframe url='http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mz2RqAShG6U&feature=player_embedded']

Links – People for Corporate Tax Cuts , Facebook and Twitter

Watching this video may get you a CSIS file

Posted on April 13, 2011 by Stephen Pate

The Harper Song (Steve It’s Time to Leave) by John Roby

The Harper Song by John Roby

Shoemaker’s elves posted this video.

Laugh quietly in the privacy of your home or cubicle.

The Harper Song AKA Steve Itʼs Time to Leave Words and music by John Roby Video recorded and edited by Scott Stephenson.

[yframe url='http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iLfbp-HEylU&feature=share']

Prime Minister Harper creeps out Facebook

Posted on April 7, 2011 by Stephen Pate

Conservative Party blames it on RCMP but RCMP deny it – just following orders from Conservatives

Prime Minister Harper is ejecting people from his political rallies if their Facebook pages show any connection with the other political parties. You have to register to attend. It hardly seems like democracy.

Awish Aslam is a young student excitedly trying to take in Canada’s Election.

She attended a Liberal rally. She had her picture taken with the Leader Michael Ignatieff.

Then she posted the picture on her Facebook page. Just another event in her life, thought Awish, to share with friends on Facebook.

Wrong, Canada is becoming a police state and your Facebook page can get you in trouble.

When she tried to attend the rally for Conservative Prime Minister Harper, his security police told the RCMP to eject her as an undesirable.

Only “true conservatives” can attend rallies for Stephen Harper.

[yframe url='http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o6hDv6gCe1I']

The innocence of the young clashes with the button down, control freak world of our Prime Minister

Words that come to mind: control freak, intolerant, fascist, liar.

Elections often show more about real motives than politicians would like.

Do not let the facts interfere with good story

Posted on February 10, 2011 by Stephen Pate

CBC and Toronto Star exaggerate facts to spin so-called scandal about Disability Tax Credit

CBC and The Star falsify tax costs for 'the story' - click for larger graph

In the rush to get a headline, both CBC and The Star have resorted to distorting the facts about companies who help Canadians with disabilities.

When the basic facts in a story are wrong, how can we rely on the rest of the story for balanced reporting?

The truth behind the Disability Tax Credit is the real scandal. Continue reading →

Canada Revenue kicks people in wheelchairs

Posted on February 10, 2011 by Stephen Pate

Decade long attack against people with disabilities takes new turn

Canada Revenue kicks people in wheelchairs with DTC project audit (photo Stephen Pate)

Recent stories about alleged Disability Tax Credit (DTC) fraud are another chapter in the decade old battle of Canada’s tax man against people with disabilities.

Canada Revenue Agency had a project to deny the DTC prior to 2001. That year it tried to disqualify hundreds of thousands blind, mentally ill and wheelchair bound Canadians with a single letter.

Ten years later the battle continues with an attack on firms who help people with disabilities get passed the complex bureaucracy that enshrouds the DTC.

While National Benefit Authority is the prime target, Canada Revenue has targeted all the firms that prepare the DTC forms. The Toronto Star and CBC are making headlines with stories that distort the real situation.

The Disability Tax Credit is a non-refundable tax credit worth $1,100 annually. It is allowed by law for people who have a severe and prolonged mental or physical impairment. Generally it only applies to people who are working and earning an income, since it is non-refundable. Continue reading →

NDP have policy on disability Liberals and Tories have squat

Posted on February 7, 2011 by Stephen Pate

Jack Layton throws Hail Mary on human rights and disability rights for 4.4 million Canadians

Jack Layton, NDP leader with Jeanne-Le Ber

NDP Leader Jack Layton has released a substantive election platform for the much-anticipated 2011 Canadian Election.

Layton lays out a comprehensive program for women, people with disabilities, Aboriginal , multicultural and LGBT Canadians.

Where are the Liberals on human rights?

Stephen Harper has the RDSP, a savings plan for the upper middle class who have children with disabilities which isn’t much help.

Here’s the NDP platform for the disabled. Continue reading →

Disability Tax Credit Billion Dollar tax scam or media frenzy

Posted on January 21, 2011 by Stephen Pate

Recent stories in the Toronto Star and CBC imply the DTC is a $5.9 billion cash cow for the disabled – what a whopper that is

Disability Tax Credit is only worth $1,000 and less than 40% of taxpayers who qualify get it (illustration Stephen Pate)

Stories this week in the Toronto Star and on CBC Investigative Reports mislead the public into believing the cost of the Tax Credit is spiraling out of control at $5.9 billion annually.

The truth that the DTC costs taxpayers $415 million, 7% of the CBC report. Neither media would correct their stories.

Less than 40% of Canadians with disabilities who qualify are able to get past the gate keepers at the Canada Revenue Agency.

See - Dispelling the myths about controversial Disability Tax Credit

The CBC and Star purport to be running an expose of National Benefit Authority, a company which helps the disabled get their deductions. More about that later.

Both stories are full of whopping distortions. We emailed the reporters with the facts but they did not correct their stories. Continue reading →