Less taxes, less waste

Less taxes, more money in pockets – that’s the message Maureen Bader delivered in Abbotsford.

The B.C. Director for the Canadian Taxpayers Federation spoke to the chamber membership at its monthly luncheon on Wednesday.

Bader maintained she didn’t favour any particular political party or organization.

“I’m non-partisan . . . which means I engage in equal opportunity slamming,” she told the crowd.

Bader says government is creating a huge deficit, not because revenues are down, but because spending is up.

“Government is spending more and more of our money to provide lots of services we don’t want.”

She advocates reducing taxes, thereby putting more cash in people’s pockets and giving government “less money to play with.”

Deficit spending is a no-win situation, according to Bader, who says if government continues on this path, an impossible tax burden will be left for future generations.

“If I want to go into an old folks home, I’m going to have to fund my own stay. And work there as well.”

She says taxes have to go where needed, and be spent wisely. They should not go toward “salary enhancement programs for bureaucrats.”

“We are suffering from a dysfunctional system that isn’t going to get better by throwing more money at it.”

She also advised that Abbotsford stay away from a possible agreement to join TransLink.

“I’d think twice about that,” she said.

She believes Trans–Link mismanages its money and needs reform.

After her presentation, Bader took several questions from the audience.

When asked about a proposed two cent municipal gas tax – a proposal supported by the Abbotsford Chamber – Bader provided a strong response.

“That is a horrible, horrible idea.”

David Hull, executive director of the chamber, attempted to explain the chamber’s position that the tax would be a direct benefit tax, with all of the money going toward road maintenance.

However, Bader maintained, “You will be doing your own businesses more harm because people won’t buy gas here.”

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