Taxpayers release Naughty and Nice List

The Ghost of Christmas Waste tops the Taxpayer Naughty List for billing taxpayers $6,000 per night on a single hotel room during the Queen’s funeral.

“Taxpayers were visited by the Ghost of Christmas Waste this year,” said Franco Terrazzano, Federal Director of the CTF. “Someone spent $6,000 per night on a hotel room but Prime Minister Justin Trudeau won’t say who it was so this mysterious waste continues to haunt taxpayers.”

Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem made the Taxpayer Naughty List for giving central bankers $45 million in bonuses and raises during the pandemic and as inflation took off. Saskatchewan Finance Minister Donna Harpauer also landed in Santa’s bad books for spending $8,000 on a private plane to fly from Regina to North Battleford.

Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston made the Taxpayer Nice List for recalling the legislature to freeze MLA pay and cut his own pay by more than $11,000. The Parliamentary Budget Officer also made the Taxpayer Nice List for improving accountability and transparency in Ottawa.

“Governor General Mary Simon landed in Santa’s bad books for getting an early start on the festivities and billing taxpayers for her fancy airplane feasts in March,” said Kris Sims, Alberta Director of the CTF. “Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is keeping more money in families’ pockets this year, and so are the premiers in New Brunswick and Ontario. That fills taxpayers with joy.”

Taxpayer Naughty List:

• The Ghost of Christmas Waste

• Federal Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland

• Governor General Mary Simon

• Federal Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault

• Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem

• Saskatchewan Finance Minister Donna Harpauer

Taxpayer Nice List:

• Alberta Premier Danielle Smith

• Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston

• New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs

• Ontario Premier Doug Ford

• Parliamentary Budget Officer Yves Giroux

The Ghost of Christmas Waste

For spending $6,000 a night on a hotel room

Taxpayers were visited by the Ghost of Christmas Waste this year. Someone in the federal government billed taxpayers $6,000 per night for a single hotel room during the Queen’s funeral. Who could it have been? The governor general says it wasn’t her. Prime Minister Justin

Trudeau won’t say who it was. It must have been the Ghost of Christmas Waste!

Federal Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland For spending $20 billion over her own budget

Lots of us spend a little extra during Christmas. But Freeland spent extra all year long! In April’s budget, Freeland said she would spend $452 billion this year. But in the mid-year budget update, Freeland said she would spend $472 billion. In just seven months, Freeland is on track to spend $20 billion over budget. That amount of money could pay for thirty million Play Station Fives.

Governor General Mary Simon For feasting while Canadians struggle

Christmas is a time for celebrating with friends and family. Governor General Mary Simon got an early start on the festivities when her and her entourage spent nearly six-figures on airplane food during their week-long trip to the Middle East in March. They enjoyed Beef Wellington, beef carpaccio and stuffed pork tenderloin. Simon’s trip proves that it’s always holiday season at Rideau Hall.

Federal Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault For fibbing about the true cost of the carbon tax

Telling tall tales is a sure-fire way to land yourself on Santa’s Naughty List. Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault claims “8/10 families get back more than they paid” in the carbon tax. The Parliamentary Budget Officer shows that’s magic math. This year, the carbon tax cost the average household between $299 and $671 even after the rebates. We hope Guilbeault knows the carbon tax cost for a bag of coal because he’s getting a few this year.

Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem For giving failing central bankers bonuses

‘Tis the season for giving ... and Canada’s central bank sure loves giving. The Bank of Canada is giving Canadians sky-high inflation and rising interest rates. Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem also gave his failing central bankers $45 million in bonuses and raises during the pandemic. This leaves Santa with one question: what do you have to do at the Bank of Canada to miss a bonus?

Saskatchewan Finance Minister Donna Harpauer For taking a golden sleigh ride at taxpayers’ expense

Saskatchewan Finance Minister Donna Harpauer spent $8,000 on a private flight from Regina to North Battleford instead of driving. For Canadians not familiar with the drive: if you leave Regina early, you can stop at Timmies, still get to North Battleford before lunch and be home in time to open stockings on Christmas Eve. No need to fly higher than the reindeer to get there.

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith

For cutting taxes and paying down credit card bills

Many Canadians rack up credit card bills during the holiday season. Not Alberta Premier Danielle Smith. The government is making the largest debt reduction payment in the province’s history. More good news for taxpayers: Smith ended the sneaky backdoor income tax hike known as bracket creep and suspended all provincial gas taxes. Candy canes for Smith.

Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston

For cutting his own pay and stopping MLA pay hikes

Houston is proving that politicians don’t need to give themselves bigger pay every year. Houston recalled the legislature to stop a pay raise for his MLAs and cut his own pay by more than $11,000. For his non-Scrooge act of generosity, Houston landed himself in Santa and taxpayers’ good books.

British Columbia MLA Todd Stone also made Santa’s Nice List. After Stone applied the pressure, the provincial government stopped a scheduled MLA pay hike.

New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs For the gift of income tax relief

Higgs is giving taxpayers a Santa-sized income tax cut. The relief could save taxpayers up to $1,386 per year. Higgs isn’t forgetting about Tiny Tim’s family, either. Taxpayers earning less than $19,177 won’t have to pay provincial income tax during the 2022 tax year.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford

For keeping more money in families’ pockets this season

Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s decision to cut the provincial gas tax for another year really takes the (cheese) cake for taxpayers. Families will have a bit of extra money left in their wallets to buy cookies and eggnog this holiday season.

Parliamentary Budget Officer Yves Giroux

For the gift of government accountability and transparency

Taxpayers deserve the gift of transparency and accountability in Ottawa. And the PBO delivered in droves in 2022. From showing the full cost of the carbon tax to analyzing budget and tax plans, the PBO has been holding politicians in Ottawa accountable all year. And that warms taxpayers’ hearts.