Bits and pieces, this and that

A few things on this Saturday, the last day of May:

• After being overly consulted by so-called tax experts for months now, it will be interesting to see what the Liberals ultimately do with the Green paper's many recommendations? The big question here (which I'm sure is looming on the minds of many NB taxpayers) is: will they "shift" the tax burden in their next budget or will they actually cut personal and corporate income taxes deeper then when they found them?
  


• Oh yeah, and according to Finance Minister Victor Boudreau, when it comes to tax cuts for NBers, his government is listening. But to "who"are they actually listening to anyway? I think that's a reasonable question since they were the only provincial or federal jurisdiction in Canada to raise personal or corporate taxes since they entered office. Remember, "New Brunswick’s provincial income tax increase in 2007 meant that all individuals earning more than $52,700 paid more income tax then the previous year. Individuals with incomes below $52,700 paid less thanks to federal tax reductions, but their savings were smaller than other Canadian taxpayers because of the province’s tax hike." So let's hope they listen to the right people this time around.
  


• One or two rate hikes with a large surplus sitting there was bad enough for NBers, but three? That is definitely not 'the nature of forecasts', Mr. Morrison. Plus, rate hikes, as I said in the past, are like a hidden tax on rate payers. (See Update)
  


• I remember when Stockwell Day was leader of the Canadian Alliance back in 2001-02, he got caught up in a spy-for-hire scandal. Looking back, I'm sure he's thinking that he should have hired this gal instead.


• When the New Brunswick government suggested possible pay raises for MLAs last year, it got a very lukewarm reception from many NBers who saw it as unnecessary (it has since been past into law). Anyway, it looks like another provincial government is ready to boost salaries. Although in this particular case, unlike in New Brunswick, there was no panel, no polling and no openness to the process. Stelmach's government sneakily buried a notice in the daily compendium of Orders in Council, of something called the 'MLA Remuneration Order.' So how buried was it? Just click on the link and let Scott Hennig explain.


• I don't know about you, but I found this mulling a bit comical to say the least. I mean, come on, Alfonso Gagliano having another mandate (be it municipal) for how taxpayer's money should be spent? what a joke. Although, I know one guy that would disagree with my scribblings. lol
  


• Howard Dean...bonehead! Did I mention, he's a bonehead?