Lethbridge Mayor Chris Spearman (left) and Premier Jason Kenney (right). (Photos by LNN and Government of Alberta)

By David Opinko

Lethbridge City Council makes CTF Nice List, UCP lands on the Naughty List

Dec 23, 2020 | 11:04 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) has released its annual Taxpayer Naughty and Nice List.

It reflects how various politicians, political parties, and governments were when it comes to utilizing taxpayer money.

“It’s important to show Canadians who’s on the naughty list, who’s reaching further into the taxpayer cookie jar so that Canadians can hold our politicians and our bureaucrats accountable so we can hold our politicians’ feet to the fire,” says CTF Alberta Director Franco Terrazzano.

“It’s also very important to recognize politicians when they do good stuff for taxpayers.”

The Naughty List:

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At the top of the naughty list was Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Terrazzano explains that, despite promises to not increase taxes in 2020, the federal carbon tax went up by $20 per tonne in April to $30 per tonne.

Then in December, the new federal climate plan included intentions to increase it to $50 per tonne by 2022 and to $170 by 2030.

Also in the CTF’s bad books is the Alberta United Conservative Party (UCP).

“The UCP is on the naughty list for acting like a rich guy at the soup kitchen and taking the federal wage subsidy that is meant for struggling businesses.”

Terrazzano says he knows that many Albertans are worried about being able to pay their bills and for small businesses to stay afloat, “but I don’t think too many Albertans are worried that [Premier Jason Kenney] doesn’t have enough taxpayer money to fund his political attack ads.”

The other selections for the naughty list include Ontario Premier Doug Ford, the mayor of Beauceville, Quebec, and both Vancouver and Montreal City Halls.

The Nice List:

Likely to the surprise of many, some politicians and governments actually made the nice list – at least when it comes to using tax dollars appropriately.

Terrazzano knows that some people have “mixed perceptions” of Lethbridge City Council and he does agree with its detractors to an extent, but he has to “give kudos where kudos is due.”

This is because the new 2021-2022 Operating Budget includes a 10 per cent pay cut for city council.

“Usually, we’re talking about politicians reaching deeper into the taxpayers’ cookie jar, but it’s good to see politicians – at least some politicians across Canada and in Lethbridge – willing to show solidarity with struggling taxpayers and take a pay cut.”

Also on the nice list was Cypress-Medicine Hat MLA Drew Barnes.

Earlier this month, he requested that “all Alberta politicians, including Alberta’s 34 Members of Parliament to take an immediate 20 % pay reduction for the next six months.”

READ MORE: Southern Alberta MLA asks elected officials to take 20% pay cut

“He’s showing leadership and he’s pushing all Alberta politicians and Alberta’s top bureaucrats, those that are making big six-figure paycheques, to show leadership, to show taxpayers that they’re willing to take a pay cut,” says Terrazzano.

The full CTF Taxpayer Naughty and Nice List can be found here.

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