NDP White Knights!
New Democratic Party to the rescue! The golfing industry is complaining that they've been left out in the cold with respect to their desired tax-relief status. And two NDP Members of Parliament are riding to their rescue. After all, why should corporations and individuals be allowed to use tax write-offs for food and drink purchased at golf courses, but not golf-green fees and club memberships?
It's an issue of fairness, we're told. If other corporate entertainment options for recreational-business expenses can be allowed for hockey games, concerts and cultural events to be written off during tax time as business-related expenses to the tune of 50%, then why not golf? So to rectify that dreadful unfairness Peter Stoffer has assembled an All Party Golf Caucus to convince government that golf represents a valid business expense.
Imagine, the NDP stooping to this issue. And Mr. Stoffer has assistance in his zealous mission to right that unforgivable wrong, and give the golfing industry a leg up. NDP MP Randall Garrison is busy drafting a private member's bill to ask for a 50% deduction for golf games, excluding club memberships. They'll settle for half a pie if they can't have it all.
The CEO of the National Golf Course Owners Association Canada claims he has been busy lobbying government to reinstate the tax deduction for decades; one that was unfairly rescinded decades earlier. He had seen success in convincing government to allow tax write-offs for food and drink at golf courses, but not green fees, alas.
"The Income Tax Act is encouraging people not to play golf. Quite frankly, this is hurting our golf industry", he moaned. "The 50% acknowledges the personal recreation enjoyment factor, blended together with the business objectives." And, claims Mr. Calderwood, the green fee tax write-off would cost a mere $15 to $20-million yearly, barely impacting the budget.
Mr. Calderwood, CEO of the National Golf Course Owners Association Canada, finds it offensive that his request was denied because it is "politically easier" for government to bypass the issue in view of high unemployment and the fact that for many Canadians just getting by is struggle enough. Well, he's right there. And he's wrong, thinking that the cost of implementing that tax break is negligible.
That $15 to $20-million 'rounding figure' could go a long way to helping hospitals buy needed new medical-surgical-diagnostic equipment, or furnishing day-care facilities, or any number of socially useful initiatives. That golf is 'mainstream', no longer the purview of the elite and the wealthy is quite irrelevant.
Anyone wanting to take advantage of recreational games can do it on their own dime; the taxpayer should never be called upon to subsidize fun and games, even for purported 'business' advantage purposes. Quite frankly, for the NDP to be engaged so strenuously in this kind of endeavour stinks to high heaven.
Finance Minister Jim Flaherty seems to agree. And the federal director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation is none too thrilled with the prospect. "We don't support these boutique tax breaks", he said. "It comes across to the non-golfer as special treatment for people golfing. We believe what government really needs to do is hunt down and eliminate sketchy tax breaks, like they did back in 1972 with green fees."
Amen.
It's an issue of fairness, we're told. If other corporate entertainment options for recreational-business expenses can be allowed for hockey games, concerts and cultural events to be written off during tax time as business-related expenses to the tune of 50%, then why not golf? So to rectify that dreadful unfairness Peter Stoffer has assembled an All Party Golf Caucus to convince government that golf represents a valid business expense.
Imagine, the NDP stooping to this issue. And Mr. Stoffer has assistance in his zealous mission to right that unforgivable wrong, and give the golfing industry a leg up. NDP MP Randall Garrison is busy drafting a private member's bill to ask for a 50% deduction for golf games, excluding club memberships. They'll settle for half a pie if they can't have it all.
The CEO of the National Golf Course Owners Association Canada claims he has been busy lobbying government to reinstate the tax deduction for decades; one that was unfairly rescinded decades earlier. He had seen success in convincing government to allow tax write-offs for food and drink at golf courses, but not green fees, alas.
"The Income Tax Act is encouraging people not to play golf. Quite frankly, this is hurting our golf industry", he moaned. "The 50% acknowledges the personal recreation enjoyment factor, blended together with the business objectives." And, claims Mr. Calderwood, the green fee tax write-off would cost a mere $15 to $20-million yearly, barely impacting the budget.
Mr. Calderwood, CEO of the National Golf Course Owners Association Canada, finds it offensive that his request was denied because it is "politically easier" for government to bypass the issue in view of high unemployment and the fact that for many Canadians just getting by is struggle enough. Well, he's right there. And he's wrong, thinking that the cost of implementing that tax break is negligible.
That $15 to $20-million 'rounding figure' could go a long way to helping hospitals buy needed new medical-surgical-diagnostic equipment, or furnishing day-care facilities, or any number of socially useful initiatives. That golf is 'mainstream', no longer the purview of the elite and the wealthy is quite irrelevant.
Anyone wanting to take advantage of recreational games can do it on their own dime; the taxpayer should never be called upon to subsidize fun and games, even for purported 'business' advantage purposes. Quite frankly, for the NDP to be engaged so strenuously in this kind of endeavour stinks to high heaven.
Finance Minister Jim Flaherty seems to agree. And the federal director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation is none too thrilled with the prospect. "We don't support these boutique tax breaks", he said. "It comes across to the non-golfer as special treatment for people golfing. We believe what government really needs to do is hunt down and eliminate sketchy tax breaks, like they did back in 1972 with green fees."
Amen.
Labels: Economy, Government of Canada, Politics of Convenience
posted by Pieface | 8:05 PM
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