Freedom Flyer June 1993 Cover

Freedom Flyer 23

the official newsletter of the
Freedom Party of Ontario

June 1993




Fair Taxes?

NDP COMMISSION
PROMOTES HIGHER TAXES

LONDON (Apr. 13, 1993) - On its first day of scheduled public hearings, Ontario's Fair Tax Commission listened to the views of several London-area individuals and groups who were invited to contribute to the Ontario government's discussion on "searching for fairness" within the current taxation system. The last scheduled speaker of the day, at 8:30 in the evening, was Fp leader Robert Metz, who made it clear from the outset of his presentation that the very concept of "fair taxes" was deceptive, and that high taxes are merely a symptom of Ontario's political and economic problems, not a cause of them.

NO SUCH THING

"I'm a 'fair tax atheist' - I don't believe there is such a thing as a 'fair' tax," announced Metz in his opening remarks. "Since a 'fair' tax simply does not exist, the next best goal to shoot for is the lowest possible tax - for everyone. Any other objective simply guarantees higher taxes - for everyone."

Metz argued that an effective attack on high taxes would mean severely reducing government spending, reducing deficits, and returning economic choice back into the hands of taxpayers.

Among his recommendations to the Fair Tax Commission were some clearly unpopular (with the NDP government) suggestions:

NO CHALLENGE

Committee members Monica Townson, Jane Berman, and Gerard Lafreniere did not question or challenge Metz on any of his arguments or suggestions, in stark contrast to the treatment given presenters who were innocent enough to accept the idea of a "fair" tax.

To the NDP government, "fair" taxes mean more taxes. As was made abundantly clear in the Far Tax Commission's Discussion Paper: Searching for Fairness, "ability to pay" was its sole guiding principle in determining "fairness".

Since lower taxes or reduced government spending are clearly not on the NDP's agenda, the Ontario government is desperate to justify both its increases in existing taxes and its plans to introduce new taxes (i.e., "wealth" taxes) to the electorate. Ontario's Fair Tax Commission is one way that the NDP can appear to be addressing "fairness" when it is in fact implementing the most unfair spending and taxing programs in this province's history.

Public hearings before the Fair Tax Commission were to conclude June 24, 1993 in Barrie.




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