Related Document:

• Proposed Legislation

Pursuant to section 221(1) of the Excise Tax Act, those who charge, collect and remit the GST or HST to the Government under the Act do so as agents of the Crown. Similarly, subsection 14(1) of the Air Travellers Security Charge Act designates those who charge, collect and remit the ATSC to be agents of the Crown. In keeping with the protection from civil claims already provided under the Income Tax Act and other federal statutes, the Government proposes to extend the same protection to agents of the Crown who collect the GST/HST and the ATSC in intended compliance with their statutory obligations.

The proposal would apply to past and future transactions. However, the proposed amendments will not affect any case that has been subject to a final determination by the courts before today’s date.

References in the proposed legislation to Announcement Date should be read as referring to today’s date.

Comments on the proposed legislation will be accepted until August 11, 2010. The Government will then consider these comments and introduce legislation at an early opportunity. Comments may be submitted to APConsultations-ConsultationsPA@fin.gc.ca or to:

Tax Policy Branch
Department of Finance
140 O’Connor Street
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0G5

____________________________________
For further information, media may contact:

Jack Aubry
Media Relations
Department of Finance
613-996-8080

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Review of Management of Property Tax Exemptions, Abatements, Discounts and Penalties in Relation to Education Property Tax

		Discussion Paper: Review of Management of Property Tax Exemptions, Abatements, Discounts and Penalties in Relation to Education Property Tax (PDF 153 KB)

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Draft Legislation
Explanatory Notes
The Honourable Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance, today released for consultation a package of draft Income Tax Act amendments relating to Tax-Free Savings Accounts. These proposed amendments, when enacted, will implement the measures announced in the October 16, 2009 news release entitled Government of Canada Proposes Technical Changes Concerning Tax-Free Savings Accounts .

“Our government is committed to enhancing the fairness of Canada’s tax rules,” said Minister Flaherty. “Tax-Free Savings Accounts are an important vehicle for helping Canadians save. We want to ensure that the rules work appropriately for everyone.”

The accompanying explanatory notes provide additional details regarding the proposed legislative amendments.

Interested stakeholders have until May 31, 2010, to submit comments on the proposed amendments. Comments may be submitted to the Tax Legislation Division at the Department of Finance at tfsarules-reglesceli@fin.gc.ca . Once received by the Department of Finance, all submissions will be subject to the Access to Information Act and may be disclosed in accordance with its provisions.

The Government of Canada will proceed with legislation at an early opportunity to implement the proposed amendments, taking into account any comments received.

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Open Ontario builds on progress made over the past six years to support job creation and enhance the programs and services, including education, health care and skills training, that Ontarians value.

The 2010 Budget includes measures to manage expenditures, including compensation restraint and making government programs more efficient. It lays out a realistic and responsible plan to cut the deficit in half in five years, and eliminate it in eight years.

QUICK FACTS

Postsecondary Education
Investing $310 million to add 20,000 new spaces to colleges and universities this September. This is in addition to providing $155 million in 2009-10 to fully support enrolment growth at colleges and universities, including $65 million announced through the Fall 2009 Ontario Economic Outlook and Fiscal Review
Aggressively promoting Ontario postsecondary institutions abroad to encourage the world’s best students to study here, settle here and help Ontario build a stronger economy
Improving students’ ability to navigate Ontario’s postsecondary education system by providing additional resources to support the implementation of a credit transfer system.
Jobs and Growth in the North
A three-year Northern Industrial Electricity Rate Program of about $150 million annually, for qualifying large industrial facilities to reduce their electricity prices by an average of about 25 per cent
$45 million over the next three years for a new project-based skills training program to help Aboriginal Peoples and northern Ontarians participate in and benefit from emerging economic development opportunities, such as the Ring of Fire
A new Ring of Fire Coordinator to lead the collective effort in advancing the economic promise in the area of the Ring of Fire
A proposed permanent Northern Ontario Energy Credit to help eligible low- to middle-income northern residents with the higher energy costs they face.
Full-Day Learning
Implementing full-day learning for four- and five-year-olds, beginning in September 2010, which will benefit up to 35,000 children in nearly 600 schools
This program will be phased in over time, with a goal of having full-day learning fully implemented by 2015-16
At full implementation, full-day learning will employ up to an additional 3,800 teachers and 20,000 early childhood educators and benefit about 247,000 children.
Child Care Investments
Stepping in to permanently fill the gap left by the federal government with an investment of $63.5 million a year to preserve 8,500 child care spaces
This initiative will help to ensure that working parents continue to have access to quality child care and play an active role in the labour force.
Completing Stimulus Infrastructure Investments
Record infrastructure investments in 2009-10 and 2010-11 are helping to create and preserve more than 300,000 jobs
According to the Conference Board of Canada, the extra boost to infrastructure spending, partly due to new stimulus measures to counter the global recession, helped lift Ontario real GDP growth by almost one percentage point in 2009 and is expected to add a further 0.4 percentage point in 2010.
Managing Responsibly
Presenting a realistic and responsible plan to cut the deficit in half in five years and eliminate it in eight years
Forecasting a deficit of $21.3 billion for 2009-10 in the 2010 Budget – an improvement of $3.4 billion from the $24.7 billion deficit forecast published in the Fall 2009 Economic Outlook and Fiscal Review
Protecting public services and directing scarce resources to help sustain service delivery by introducing legislation that would:
Extend the current salary freeze for Members of Provincial Parliament from one year to three years
Freeze the compensation structures of non-bargained political and Legislative Assembly staff for two years
Freeze compensation structures in the Broader Public Sector and Ontario Public Service for all non-bargained employees for two years
These measures would help redirect up to $750 million towards sustaining schools, hospitals and other public services
Freezing internal administration costs at or below 2010-11 levels over the medium term
Continuing a comprehensive review of Ontario government programs and services
Managing the growth of health care spending at a responsible rate, including proposing reforms to Ontario’s drug system that would facilitate lower generic drug prices
Slowing the pace of planning and construction of some of the government’s capital projects, once stimulus funding has ended
Transforming the delivery of government programs to improve client service and enhance efficiency
Holding the annual growth in program expense to an average of 1.9 per cent beyond 2012-13.
LEARN MORE

Read background information on the 2010 Ontario Budget:

Ontario’s Economic Outlook and Fiscal Plan
Creating Jobs Through New Investments in Postsecondary Education and Northern Ontario
Managing Responsibly
Ontario’s Tax Plan for Jobs and Growth
Learn more about the McGuinty government’s investments in education, health and other sectors.

Read highlights of the Budget.

Learn more about the government’s Open Ontario plan.

Also available in other languages.

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“This budget continues to be strategic and focuses on the economic and social well-being of Yukoners,” Fentie said. “Our commitment to build for the future is reflected by investments in health care, green energy, resource and land development, housing, education, public and social infrastructure.”

A multi-year capital plan – a schedule of specific capital projects – also included in the budget, will provide strategic direction for the next three years.

For more information visit www.gov.yk.ca.

2010-11 Budget Highlights

Quality of Life

$11.25 million to replace 207 Alexander Street seniors’ housing in Whitehorse. $7 million to replace Korbo Apartments social housing in Dawson City.
$3.7 million to upgrade existing social housing units Yukon wide.
$2.7 million for the design of the new F.H. Collins Secondary School.
$2.6 million over two years commencing 2009-2010 for the Dawson City Community Campus.
$2.2 million for six social housing units in Whitehorse.
$1.5 million for eight-unit seniors’ housing project in Teslin.
$1.5 million to complete 12-unit Watson Lake seniors’ building.
$1.4 million over two years commencing 2009-2010 for the Pelly Crossing Community Campus.
$950,000 to enable Yukon College to develop an interdisciplinary research and commercialization facility to further enhance its research, commercialization, education and training capacity.
$808,000 comprehensive municipal grant increase and $121,000 increase for community operations in unincorporated communities.
$312,000 in the first year of a three-year initiative to implement new Victims of Crime Strategy.
$250,000 to complete six-unit seniors’ housing project in Faro.
$126,000 for the Four Winds Family and Community Literacy Project.

Environment

$33.923 million for remediation work at Faro Mine. $1.052 million for the expansion of Yukon’s forestry research Infrastructure including the upgrading and renovation of greenhouses and the development of a research laboratory at the Forest Management branch compound and research centre at the Gunnar Nilsson and Mickey Lammers Research Forest.
$1 million for Firesmart program.
$844,000 for the Cold Climate Innovation Centre.
$175,000 for the Yukon Placer Secretariat working in partnership with the Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in government to increase the ability of individual First Nation governments to participate in the adaptive management process related to the Fish and Habitat Management System for Yukon Placer Mining.
$115,000 for Champagne and Aishihik First Nations’ spruce beetle impact mitigation project.
$100,000 for Ross River to develop a resource plan involving the Ross River Dena Council and the mineral industry for the traditional use area of the Ross River Dena and to enhance community capacity through an outdoor education program of environmental management and cultural awareness.

Economy
$10.3 million for the Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre new public library that will be the centerpiece in the development of the Whitehorse waterfront.
$4.375 million Labour Market Development Agreement for the design and delivery of skills development and employment programs funded under the Employment Insurance program.
$1.146 million over three years to the Northern Institute of Social Justice at Yukon College to deliver training programs to enhance the capacity of Yukoners whose work involves social justice.
$334,000 to provide on-the-job First Nation resource management training.
$250,000 Northern Strategy Funding for the Yukon Mine Training Association to provide mine training to Yukoners.

Good Government

Implementation of new Corrections Act and Victims of Crime Strategy, reflecting a new philosophy of corrections that emphasizes the protection of the public, holds offenders accountable and provides appropriate opportunities for rehabilitation, resulting from the Corrections Consultation.
Implementation of the Climate Change Action Plan and the Energy Strategy for Yukon through such initiatives as the Yukon Research Centre of Excellence established at Yukon College, connecting the Whitehorse-Aishihik-Faro grid to the Mayo-Dawson grid, and upgrading the Mayo hydro dam.
Implementation of the findings of the Yukon Health Care Review and Taking the Pulse report through the all-party Oversight Committee on Health Care Sustainability, setting priorities and development of a new wellness strategy.
Development of a new Social Inclusion Strategy, a significant social policy initiative.
Development of a multi-year capital plan providing a schedule of specific capital projects including:
– $40 million for highways and airports,
– $15 million for land development,
– $12 for capital building maintenance, and

– $6.5 million for a three-year plan of annual core expenditures related to information technology.
Continued implementation of cooperative governance with Yukon First Nations including support for Yukon First Nations in concluding new Financial Transfer Agreements with the federal government to properly fund First Nations governments.

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A collaborative process is now underway to review the way provincial and municipal tax revenues are distributed, says Finance and Municipal Affairs Minister Wes Sheridan.

The review responds to the Commission on Land and Local Governance recommendation that the provincial government initiate consultations with municipalities to establish a process for the implementation of an equitable transfer of tax room.

Minister Sheridan met this week with the president of the Federation of PEI Municipalities and the mayors of Charlottetown, Summerside, Stratford and Cornwall to discuss new tax sharing options.

“As minister with responsibility for both finance and municipal affairs, I am very pleased that we have been able to initiate this collaborative process,” said Minister Sheridan. “We are all optimistic about working together to review our taxation systems, examine other models, and develop a fair and predictable solution that works for us all.”

A sub-committee of senior staff from the province and municipalities will be established to carry out the review. It will meet in mid-April and report every three months to a steering committee of the minister, the four mayors and the Federation of Municipalities president.
“Municipalities are very pleased to be full participants in this process,” said Federation of Municipalities president Bruce MacDougall. “We look forward to exploring options that could provide municipalities with a more progressive funding model and more predictability in projecting revenues.”

The report of the Commission on Land and Local Governance is available at www.gov.pe.ca/landandlocalgovernance.

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The provincial government today delivered a balanced budget by reducing overall government spending by $121.3 million or 1.2 per cent from last year’s budget.

“This Budget was built on the principles of caution on the revenue side, restraint on the spending side and a firm commitment to government living within its means,” Finance Minister Rod Gantefoer said. “These are the principles Saskatchewan families use to manage their own money and are the principles our government will follow in managing taxpayers’ money.”

Reductions have been realized in 14 ministries and there will be lower debt-servicing costs this year, as a result of the government paying down debt by more than $2.6 billion in recent years. As part of the restraint measures, the government has embarked on a process to reduce the size and cost of government operations.

“We began this process last fall by managing job vacancies and looking for other efficiencies in government,” Gantefoer said. “These efforts are reflected in this Budget and will continue as we strive for a smaller, more efficient public service.

“Our goal is to reach a 15 per cent reduction in the size of the public service over four years primarily through attrition, meaning many who retire or move to other opportunities will not be replaced. This will require careful consideration of the workforce to ensure services remain relevant, responsive and affordable for the people we serve.”

Government will continue to move Saskatchewan forward in 2010-11 by investing in key infrastructure programs; $632 million in total capital dollars for infrastructure in the province, including $177 million dedicated to municipal infrastructure and $302 million for road and highway projects.

“While this is a reduction from the record high levels of infrastructure spending in the previous two years, it is the third-largest capital spending budget in Saskatchewan history and brings our government’s total capital investment to nearly $3 billion in three years,” Gantefoer said.

Government will protect and enhance core services in Health, Education and Social Services and other priority areas across government. Highlights include:

• $123 million increase (5 per cent) to Regional Health Authorities (RHAs) to provide base funding of $2.6 billion to maintain and improve delivery of health care services to Saskatchewan people;
• $10.5 million to begin the process of reducing surgical wait lists and wait times and $7 million for a Patient-First Initiatives Fund, to support the health system in adopting a patient- and family-centred care approach;
• $109.3 million, a $10 million increase (10.1 per cent) to Saskatchewan Cancer Agency (SCA) funding for drugs and medical supplies, and operating costs;
• $2.5 million in new funding to enhance Autism services;
• $3.8 million increase for the Irene and Leslie Dubé Centre for Mental Health;
• $186.5 million to support individuals with intellectual disabilities;
• $321.3 million in other income assistance programs, including an increase of $29.9 million to support program utilization;
• $182.3 million for Child and Family Services, including $24.5 million for caseload increases, enhanced programming and to develop new child welfare spaces;
• $976.5 million for the Operating Grant for Education, representing a $33 million increase to total school division operating funding including property taxes; and
• $391.2 million for universities, federated and affiliated colleges, including increases of $16.3 million to help minimize growth in tuition costs.

The province will also provide $16 million in grants to support agricultural research and development, $16.6 million for the Saskatchewan Research Council to continue its current research and development projects and $3 million provided by Crown Investment Corporation for First Nations’ economic development initiatives.

“We will move Saskatchewan forward by training our future workforce through labour force development programs and supporting our post-secondary institutions to minimize tuition cost increases,” Gantefoer said. “And we have shown responsible leadership by continuing our efforts to improve the daily lives of Saskatchewan people, including society’s most vulnerable citizens.”

Revenue is forecast at $9.95 billion, with non-renewable revenues expected to generate $2.1 billion, including $1.1 billion from oil and $221 million from potash. The General Revenue Fund surplus is forecast to be $20 million, which includes a transfer of $194.2 million from the Growth and Financial Security Fund, leaving a balance of $510.8 million in the fund. Government public debt will remain unchanged at $4.15 billion.

Gantefoer said he was pleased the government was able to avoid broad-based tax increases in the 2010-11 budget.

“The only taxes that will increase are on tobacco – up 2.7 cents per cigarette effective midnight tonight,” Gantefoer said. “We are also reducing the number of tax-free cigarettes that First Nations individuals can buy on reserve – from three cartons a week to one – which will take effect once legislation is proclaimed.

“These two measures will generate $35.7 million in new revenue this year, but more importantly, they will help to reduce smoking and its deadly effects on Saskatchewan people.”

The price of spirits, wine and beer in Saskatchewan liquor store will also see an increase effective April 1, as a result of changes to liquor mark-ups. These changes are expected to generate $18.1 million.

Gantefoer said the government used caution in its non-renewable revenue forecasts considering the circumstances faced in the last fiscal year.

“The Saskatchewan economy remained strong through the worst of the global recession,” Gantefoer said. “And with the recovery now well underway, there is plenty of reason for optimism.

“All the independent forecasters say Saskatchewan will be one of the economic leaders in Canada in 2010 and 2011. Saskatchewan’s economy is strong, and this budget will give our province the solid fiscal foundation it needs to stay strong.”

For more details on Budget 2010-11, go to www.finance.gov.sk.ca or see “Related Documents” at the bottom of this news release.

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Five-year Economic Plan to Grow the Economy, Invest in Key Services: Wowchuk

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VICTORIA – Setting the foundation for decades of renewed economic growth, protecting vital services, adding to British Columbia’s competitiveness and building on the tremendous momentum of the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games are core elements of the 2010 provincial budget tabled in the B.C. Legislature today by Finance Minister Colin Hansen.

“We are enhancing support for B.C.’s families, meeting our financial targets, maintaining our commitments to health and education, and we are on track to return to balanced budgets in 2013,” said Hansen. “Recognizing the many opportunities resulting from the global exposure provided by the Olympic Games, we are also furthering our investments in areas such as clean energy, arts and culture and international commerce while ensuring future job growth across B.C.”

Budget 2010 maintains the government’s priority of protecting core services in health and education and commits every dollar raised through the Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) and four other revenue streams to be used for health services funding when the HST comes into effect July 1, 2010.

By 2012-13 the Ministry of Health Services’ budget will increase by over $2 billion from the 2009-10 level. Total health spending will reach $17.9 billion or 42 per cent of all government expenditures over the next three years. Funding increases are focused on sustaining front-line service delivery, including $1.3 billion for the regional health sector to fund acute-care, community, assisted-living and other health services.

In education, per-pupil funding for students in the K-12 levels will rise from $8,200 in 2009-10 to an estimated $8,301 for 2010-11, the highest ever. Further supporting families and early-childhood education, the introduction of full-day kindergarten for five-year-olds is being phased in starting this September, and as it becomes fully operational, annual funding will rise to $129 million by 2012. In the post-secondary sector, funding remains stable at $1.88 billion in 2010-11.

With Budget 2010, the B.C. government continues to invest in job-creating construction projects such as highways, schools, bridges, hospitals and other needed infrastructure throughout British Columbia.

$5.3 billion has been committed to over 850 accelerated capital projects across British Columbia, an increase of $1.9 billion since the September Update 2009. This is generating and protecting approximately 34,000 construction jobs over the life of the projects in communities across B.C.

Budget 2010 also provides a new property tax deferral program for homeowners with children under the age of 18. Eligible homeowners will have the option of deferring their provincial and local property taxes in recognition of the high cost of raising a family. This program will come into effect in the next few months.

An additional $26 million in funding over three years has been set aside to support child-care programs that assist low and moderate income families with the cost of child care through direct assistance to families for child care and funding to child-care operators.

As part of the Province’s long-term vision for economic growth, expansion of the International Financial Activity Program will greatly increase B.C.’s potential as a hub for international companies. Major changes include adding digital-media publishing and distribution; certification and trading of carbon credits; and clean technology to the list of businesses that qualify for tax reductions under the program.

A new tax credit has also been introduced for digital media and enhancements to provincial film-tax credits have been made to reflect the convergence of these sectors and their importance to the B.C. economy.

To maintain B.C.’s leadership in addressing climate change, Budget 2010 commits $100 million to climate action and clean-energy development, initiatives that will support new jobs and investments in B.C. communities, while lowering greenhouse gas emissions. An additional $35 million will be invested in the successful LiveSmart BC program for household-energy audits and energy-efficiency retrofits.

The budget also provides $60 million over the next three years as a legacy for sports and the arts. Of the $60 million, half will be used to enhance opportunities among British Columbians in the arts, such as visual art, music, theatre and dance. The other $30 million will facilitate increased participation in youth sport, including improved athlete and coach development.

“Building on the legacy of the most successful Winter Games ever, we are positioning British Columbia for renewed growth and prosperity, while ensuring our financial resources are clearly focused on areas that meet tomorrow’s needs as well as today’s,” said Hansen. “Through effective and prudent management of the Province’s finances, we are setting the foundation for the province we want — not just five or 10 years from now — but for generations to come.”

For the Finance Minister’s speech and more details on Budget 2010, visit www.bcbudget.ca.

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