The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF)describes itself as “a non-partisan, non-profit advocacy organization committed to lower taxes, less waste and more government accountability.” But it takes advantage of the positive associations people often have with the word “taxpayer” and attempts to fill it with neoliberal and anti-Indigenous political ideas.
Throughout my research, I have tracked the CTF. The organization has often been treated with kid gloves when news stories position it as representative of “the taxpayer” — a group of people that don’t exist outside of one’s personal relationship with the Canada Revenue Agency.
Over the years, my research has documented the CTF’s political tactics. In a recently published study in the Canadian Review of Sociology, sociologist Alec Skillings and I collected almost every document the CTF has published on its website from 1998 to 2019 that addressed Indigenous policy — over 400 documents.
These documents ranged from shorter blog posts to press releases and longer reports. We used site searches to narrow down and track when, how and what the CTF wrote about Indigenous Peoples.
Assimilation in the name of “taxpayers”
Findings from our study show the CTF focused on reducing and eroding the legal differences between Indigenous people and Canadians. Based on its statements, its political mission seems clear: the assimilation of Indigenous people into Canada and creating the appearance that “taxpayers” are abused by Indigenous people.
“The federal government should phase out the Indian Act, the Department of Indian Affairs and all the policies that go with it. Establish private property rights for Indians, develop systems of governance, accountability and transparency, and begin the process of providing Indians with the same rights and responsibilities as other Canadians. The best thing for Indians and Indian communities is to stop treating them as though they are different from other Canadians.”
The CTF argued that the Indian Act was a barrier for equality, using language to disguise what appears to be its assimilative beliefs: “The CTF believes Canadians — all Canadians — are fundamentally alike. Therefore all legislation and government policy must be based on fairness and equality — not race.”
After 2008, the CTF accomplished its goals by focusing on chief salaries and “transparency,” sometimes drawing on tips from band members. Many Indigenous political thinkers saw right through the CTF’s strategy. Hayden King observed that “while taxpayer activism is certainly common, it seems to provoke a special kind of fury when involving Indigenous Peoples.”
None of this is to suggest that First Nations governments are perfect — but the question must be asked: why did the CTF pursue and publicize these kinds of stories? It certainly wasn’t to highlight colonialism and ongoing attacks on Indigenous sovereignty, nor to argue for more support.
This begs the question: Why does the media continue to consult an organization with such a demonstrably and consistently antagonistic relationship with Indigenous people?
Consulting the CTF
When the media consults the CTF, it demonstrates contemporary hostility towards Indigenous nations. Viewing the CTF’s advocacy as whole demonstrates its orientation very clearly.
Despite claiming to be non-partisan, its statements and some of its alumni indicate the CTF stands firmly on the right side of Canada’s political spectrum. Some alumni include current Alberta Premier Jason Kenney and conservative provincial and federal politicians. More recently, a former provincial CTF spokesperson ran for the far right People’s Party of Canada.
The message our research shows is that if Canadian journalists are committed to reconciliation and combating racist myths about Indigenous people, they need to pay more attention to who they consult about Indigenous policy and politics, while being wary of groups like the CTF.
Challenging neoliberal and anti-Indigenous politics can be as simple as asking who gets to be considered a “taxpayer” when the CTF claims to speak on “their behalf.”
OTTAWA – Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the NDP is caving to political pressure from Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre when it comes to their stance on the consumer carbon price.
Trudeau says he believes Jagmeet Singh and the NDP care about the environment, but it’s “increasingly obvious” that they have “no idea” what to do about climate change.
On Thursday, Singh said the NDP is working on a plan that wouldn’t put the burden of fighting climate change on the backs of workers, but wouldn’t say if that plan would include a consumer carbon price.
Singh’s noncommittal position comes as the NDP tries to frame itself as a credible alternative to the Conservatives in the next federal election.
Poilievre responded to that by releasing a video, pointing out that the NDP has voted time and again in favour of the Liberals’ carbon price.
British Columbia Premier David Eby also changed his tune on Thursday, promising that a re-elected NDP government would scrap the long-standing carbon tax and shift the burden to “big polluters,” if the federal government dropped its requirements.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.
Simon Jolin-Barrette, minister responsible for consumer protection, has tabled a bill to force merchants to calculate tips based on the price before tax.
That means on a restaurant bill of $100, suggested tips would be calculated based on $100, not on $114.98 after provincial and federal sales taxes are added.
The bill would also increase the rebate offered to consumers when the price of an item at the cash register is higher than the shelf price, to $15 from $10.
And it would force grocery stores offering a discounted price for several items to clearly list the unit price as well.
Businesses would also have to indicate whether taxes will be added to the price of food products.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 12, 2024.
Quebec legislature member Youri Chassin has announced he’s leaving the Coalition Avenir Québec government to sit as an Independent.
He announced the decision shortly after writing an open letter criticizing Premier François Legault’s government for abandoning its principles of smaller government.
In the letter published in Le Journal de Montréal and Le Journal de Québec, Chassin accused the party of falling back on what he called the old formula of throwing money at problems instead of looking to do things differently.
Chassin says public services are more fragile than ever, despite rising spending that pushed the province to a record $11-billion deficit projected in the last budget.
He is the second CAQ member to leave the party in a little more than one week, after economy and energy minister Pierre Fitzgibbon announced Sept. 4 he would leave because he lost motivation to do his job.
Chassin says he has no intention of joining another party and will instead sit as an Independent until the end of his term.
He has represented the Saint-Jérôme riding since the CAQ rose to power in 2018, but has not served in cabinet.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 12, 2024.