COUNTERPOINTS
ARTICULATED MY UNEASE
Re: “Higher taxes table stakes for buying into East Coast shabby chic lifestyle.” I want to give a huge shoutout to Ceilidh Michelle for her most enlightened, highly knowledgeable and well-written opinion piece on May 14.
Oh my gosh! She spoke the words and made the points I was struggling to deliver to a group of folks from away — in my case, mainly from Ontario — who flooded my email expecting me to take their side on the non-resident property tax, which has since been withdrawn.
Although I sympathized with their receiving such a sudden and unexpected expense, which no doubt was stressful, I tried in vain to explain why I did not wish to take sides right away until I could really absorb the impact and meaning of this tax to Nova Scotians. That comment was not received well and unfortunately correspondence became somewhat uncomfortable.
As things turned out, I’m happy for my friends with summer homes, but I do feel something was missed in all of this. Ceilidh, you said it for me. Thanks!
Cris Sonntag, Tatamagouche
NAILED IT
Thank you to Ceilidh Michelle for putting into words the thoughts and feelings of so many Nova Scotians regarding non-residents and their view of our people. She has succinctly told it as it is.
Mary Anne Earle, Dartmouth
THOUGHT-PROVOKING
Congratulations to Ceilidh Michelle, and also to Gerard Naddaf, for their compelling pieces in the May 14 edition of The Chronicle Herald, regarding Premier Tim Houston’s attempts to change the property tax structure for non-residents. Well-written and thought-provoking. Too bad the premier lost his pluck.
Muriel West, Kingston
CURB BRACKET CREEP
Now that the premier has succumbed to public pressure and removed the non-resident property tax, his government can now, hopefully, turn its sights to bringing about inflation indexing: cost-of-living adjustments built into the province’s tax provisions to keep pace with inflation.
Each year, the federal government increases personal tax brackets, tax credits and most benefits so as not to penalize taxpayers from the increase in the cost of living. Not the case in Nova Scotia, as since at least 2017, personal tax brackets have not been adjusted upward, nor have tax credits and benefits been increased — an unfair tax grab.
Without indexing, income taxes are subject to bracket creep and individuals can be subject to a higher tax rate without any benefit from receiving increases to their income.
Some examples of tax credits that have not been adjusted upward since 2017 include the basic personal amount, the age amount affecting seniors along with the $1,000 age tax credit, the spouse and dependent amounts, and two especially deserving adjustments that include the disability amount for self, both over and below the age of 18, and the Nova Scotia volunteer firefighters tax credit of only $500. This is a paltry amount for these mostly unpaid individuals considering the dangers of their job (including being fired upon). Premier Houston, Nova Scotia taxpayers are deserving of inflation adjustments, considering these trying economic times.
Bob Wornell, Dartmouth
FLORIDA UNSCATHED
I wonder how many residents of Nova Scotia own properties in Florida. I’m not about to do the research — perhaps someone will take this on.
I do know that property owners who are not residents of Florida pay higher taxes. (Plus, Canadians pay more through the higher value of the American dollar.) These higher taxes for non-residents (including American citizens) haven’t hurt Florida’s reputation as “The Sunshine State.”
Would such taxes have really hurt the reputation of Nova Scotia as “Canada’s Ocean Playground?”
Something to think about. Too late now!
Gwen Marble, Dartmouth