Garth Turner seeks tax input
First public Town hall meetings in Halton in 13 years
Voters and taxpayers are being asked to come forward and tell their member of Parliament what changes they want to see in the coming federal government budget – the first one by the new Conservative government. MP Garth Turner says the financial plan is slated to be delivered in late April, and Finance Minister Jim Flaherty is expecting a pre-budget report from the people of Halton.
“The first budget should cut the GST, give a break on capital gains taxes and usher in the child care allowance,†Turner says, “which were all election promises. But there are many suggestions I have heard from middle class families over the last few months which we should also be encouraging Flaherty to consider – like income-splitting, RRSPs for stay-at-home spouses and a break on runaway property tax bills.â€
Turner says the finance minister is awaiting this report, and in order to get as much public input as possible, the Halton MP will be holding a round of Town Hall meetings over the next few weeks.
“It was a promise of mine that the people of this riding would have their voices heard in Ottawa,†Turner says. “My job is not to come and tell families here why the government is doing the right thing, but rather to try and ensure you have a saying in making sure that happens. So, I hope many folks will come out to the meetings and speak up. It’s the first time since 1993, when I was last an MP, that such meetings have been held. They will only succeed if we all contribute to the process.â€
The meetings are free, open to anyone, and all begin at 7 pm. If you are unable to attend, but have some ideas on what changes to the tax system or other measures you’d like to see in the budget, please call Garth at (905) 330-8581 or send an email to garth@garth.ca.
Notice: The following meetings will be podcast on garth.ca
Town Hall meetings
Campbellville & Nassagaweya
Tuesday, February 28
Brookville Community Centre
11264 Guelph Line
Kilbride and North Burlington
Monday, March 6
Kilbride United Church
206 Kilbride Road
Milton
Tuesday, March 7
Hugh Foster Hall
43 Brown Street, Milton
Oakville
Wednersday, March 8
Dynasi Family Restaurant & Hall
399 Dundas Street W.
(1 mile west of Trafalgar Road).
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2 comments ↓
“They will only succeed if we all contribute to the process.â€
I’d be happy to offer free childcare to River Oaks constituents should any parents express a need for childcare in order to attend the Oakville Town Hall meeting?
These Town Halls are a terrific thing!
Town Halls are much much much better than NOTHING as has apparently been the case for the last 13 years in Halton.
But Town Halls tend to invite participation by vocal, and self-selected, individuals who are extremely oppinionated.
Now being opinionated is not a bad thing (trust me… I know) it’s just that most Average-Adrians are not opinionated and even if they are they are reluctant to share their opinions in a public forum. Therefore, what always happens in Town Halls is that the Average-Adrian’s point of view never gets expressed nor does it get considered.
Now that’s a problem when you’re trying to represent the views of your average, and majority-in-number, constituent’s view and welfare.
A much better approach is DELIBERATIVE POLLING!
Investigate Deliberative Polling, Garth, and see if you can eventually and cost effectively incorporate DP in your digital democracy experiment.
From what I saw yesterday Deliberative Polling through Breeze is definitely the way to go to engage Average-Adrian in the political process while cost-effectively accumulating Average-Adrian’s true feelings with respect to policy.
Best Regards,
Mark