Children were lined up in the cafeteria of a Catholic elementary school for lunch. At the head of the table was a large pile of apples. The nun made a note and posted on the apple tray: “Take only one; God is watching.”
Moving further along the lunch line, at the other end of the table was a large pile of chocolate chip cookies. A child had written a note, “Take all you want. God is watching the apples.”
It’s reassuring to know there’s a non-profit organization watching over our government and challenging them to be fiscally responsible. I’m speaking of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, which revealed some eye-opening information that I’ll share with you.
In the next two years our national debt will be $8 billion more, and a large part of this consists of paying interest on the debt. Currently, Canada’s national debt is $655 billion and our personal debt levels are the highest in the world. The average Canadian currently pays 53 to 70 per cent of their income to taxes and government fees.
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Most of us work over 50 per cent of the year for the government, rather than for our families and for our future. The federal debt for every Canadian citizen equals $17,800. That amount doesn’t include personal debt. In addition, there is provincial debt added on to that amount.
In Saskatchewan, every person can add $7,700 on to their federal and personal debt. Other provincial amounts are as follows: Alberta – $10,000, B.C. – $14,000, P.E.I. – $15,000, Nova Scotia – $16,000, Manitoba and New Brunswick – $19,000, Ontario and Quebec – $22,000, and Labrador and Newfoundland – $24,500.
So you can see why a government that cares about balancing the budget, and eliminating unnecessary waste, is a dire need.
Our leaders need to count the cost of decisions, such as doing away with medical inadmissibility in our immigration system, so future generations won’t have to count the cost. After all, what did Canadian children do to deserve this financial burden, other than be born at this time?
Speaking of counting the cost, Bill C-75 will reduce the penalties for serious crimes. Currently crimes that have a penalty of two or more years could be reduced to as little as a fine. These include crimes such as assault with a weapon, participation in activity of a terrorist group, or leaving Canada to participate in activity of a terrorist group. The judge would have the discretion to decide the final outcome.
Speaking of punishment, currently more than 1,400 applications were rejected for summer job funding because they refused to sign a values attestation.
This uncompromising stand for integrity has resulted in organizations and businesses being unable to provide jobs to young people, even though those jobs have nothing to do with any area of controversy. One small business is taking the federal government to court on the grounds that the values requirement directly violates the Charter’s protection under section 2(b).
At the same time, numerous Islamic organizations (who are known to be pro-life) have been approved for funding. Did they sign the attestation? Only government officials know the answer.
My question is: why are people with integrity forced to go to court, denied funding, taxed excessively, while other groups are given free access to benefits and funding, and criminals are issued reduced sentencing?
It all causes me to be grateful for organizations like the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, who are keeping watch over the government apples.
However, they can’t do it on their own; they need our help and co-operation.
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