Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - February 15, 2014, Winnipeg, Manitoba C M Y K PAGE A16 EDITORIALS WINNIPEG FREE PRESS, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2014 Freedom of Trade Liberty of Religion Equality of Civil Rights A 16 COMMENT EDITOR: Gerald Flood 204- 697- 7269 gerald. flood@ freepress. mb. ca winnipegfreepress. com EDITORIAL T HE Harper government is backing away from its 2011 election promise to provide tax relief for middle- class families through income splitting, which was to be introduced when the budget was balanced. Now, however, a year before the balance sheet is scheduled to be out of the red, Finance Minister Jim Flaherty is saying income splitting is not such a good idea after all. He says it would benefit higher- income families, while offering little support for the vast majority of Canadians. Prime Minister Stephen Harper, who has been dangling the plan in front of Canadians for the last three years, is also having second thoughts. He says the government only ever promised to provide tax relief once the budget was balanced. Of course, that's not true, but he clearly wants more flexibility in deciding how to divvy up the surplus. Since 2011, when income splitting was first announced, a series of reports have explained it wouldn't help most Canadians, while providing generous tax relief for higher- income Canadians and for families with stay- at- home moms or dads. Conservatives may have thought incomesplitting would appeal to its base - which it undoubtedly does - but it also carries the risk of alienating the large number of voters who would be left out. Under the plan, married couples with children under 18 would be able to split up to $ 50,000 of income with their partner, allowing the higher- income partner to lower his taxes by shifting income to the lower- paid spouse. The problem is 61 per cent of the benefits would be earned by the richest third of Canadians who make over $ 100,000, while the poorest quarter of Canadians would see an average of $ 20 a year in tax relief. Whatever the motivation, the Harper government should cancel its income- splitting scheme and develop a new plan on how to spend the anticipated surplus. Income splitting unfair Finally Finance Minister Jim Flaherty speaks truth to power ( Tories revise income- splitting vow , Feb. 14). The notion of income splitting should have been labelled what it is right from the start - a gift to the wealthy elite who, by and large, are supporters of the Harper Conservatives. In most middle- income families today, both spouses work. It's increasingly rare to see stayat- home moms or dads - most families simply can't afford to have one of the two stay home. High- income professionals - doctors, lawyers, dentists, business execs, and even politicians - tend to make six- figure salaries, and as a result it's more common for their spouses to stay home full- time. Isn't this where the big tax savings go? Recent estimates forecast income splitting will do little for the bulk of Canadian taxpayers, with the wealthiest reaping most of the benefits. Should average Canadians really have to finance winter getaways for the well- to- do? ROBERT VOSTERS Marquette Tories divide and conquer Prime Minister Stephen Harper and his crew are doing a fine job of vilifying retired civil servants and their " gold- plated pensions" versus the pensions of those in the private sector ( Budget gives Tories, Canada new shine , Editorial, Feb. 12). It's a classic move to pit one group against another - the old divide- and- conquer strategy. What they don't talk about is their own platinum- and diamond- encrusted pensions. A member of Parliament gets a full pension after only two terms ( or six years) of service, not 35 years like most of us. JACK CHRISTIAN Winnipeg Education tax divisive Re: Don't lift school taxes from elderly , Editorial, Feb. 11) As a senior, I would certainly like to be less taxed whenever possible. But I am certainly not in support of the proposed phased- in tax credit for the elderly. I think of the burden of saddling others with higher taxes just because they are younger, of the excellent education I received in this province, and of the greater provincial debt that would be passed on to younger folk long after I have shaken off this mortal coil. I don't have much, but I can limp along on my aching joints and sleep better knowing I am not hurting younger citizens of this province. An education tax credit would not attract a vote from me. CHRIS KENNEDY Winnipeg �� I am an 86- year- old, and have paid education taxes on various dwellings all of my adult life. I am now retired, still pay taxes, and have lived in modest houses all my life so I would be able to pay these taxes. I have paid taxes for my children, grandchildren and great- grandchildren and feel it is time seniors get a break from education taxes. I'd like to enjoy my hard- earned pension. It's up to the younger people to continue paying the education taxes for their own children. HARRY THIESSEN Winnipeg Deficit reduction crucial As usual, Dan Lett rails against a government budget that moves toward deficit reduction ( Focus on deficit reduction comes at tremendous cost , Feb. 12). Lett uses the unemployment bogeyman as one reason why governments need to spend, spend, spend regardless of how much that spending wracks up debt. Lett should review what has happened in Europe over the last few years. When governments in Spain, Ireland, Portugal, Italy, etc. found themselves on the verge of bankruptcy from runaway spending, unemployment rates skyrocketed. Lett might also look closer to home. The U. S. federal government finds itself mired in debt, raising its debt ceiling every six months just to keep the government operating. Several U. S cites and states are on the verge of bankruptcy. North American governments need to get back to balanced budgets. That may cause short- term pain, but balanced budgets are attainable if governments spend prudently and tax realistically. Saddling our children and grandchildren with a huge debt is not acceptable. CAL PAUL Winnipeg Neutral Senate needed Kudos to Justin Trudeau for believing second sober thought can only be given by a Senate freed from the pressure of power politics ( Trudeau's Senate worst of all options , Feb. 11). On fiscal issues, the will of the elected party should undoubtedly prevail. But what about moral issues? Why should these be dominated and debated by the party in power, whose survival instincts tell it to avoid these potentially divisive issues? A more neutral and liberated Senate could poll and test the wishes of the Canadian people. Referendums could be conducted at election time, with minimal cost. I hope Justin Trudeau takes the next step in renewing and modernizing our political system. LOTHAR SCHROEDER Winnipeg Send Mennonite kids home Re: Mennonite kids not home yet , Feb. 12. Apparently, 36 Mennonite children are still " in care" following a mass apprehension in June 2013. It would have been far less traumatic, and vastly more cost- efficient, if these children had been left in their homes, with social workers working alongside the parents in the community to teach them better parenting skills. Perhaps it's not too late to lessen the emotional damage by returning the children to their homes right away and working more closely with their parents. JEAN MCINTYRE Winnipeg HAVE YOUR SAY: The Free Press welcomes letters from readers. Include the author's name, address and telephone number. Letters may be edited. Letters to the Editor, 1355 Mountain Avenue, Winnipeg, R2X 3B6. Fax 204- 697- 7412. Email letters@ freepress. mb. ca Letters represent the opinions of their writers and do not reflect the opinions of the Winnipeg Free Press or its staff. �� LETTER OF THE DAY In the article Famous bell gets Riel Day showing ( Feb. 14) I am quoted as indicating the display of the Bell of Batoche at the St. Boniface Museum is " no big deal." The context for that reaction was in reference to an earlier online version of the article, which indicated the display of the bell at the museum on Riel Day was a " formal presentation" akin to an unveiling. The Bell of Batoche has been displayed at the museum since shortly after its ceremonious and highly anticipated return to Batoche and the custody of the Bishop of Prince Albert last July. The St. Boniface Museum was asked to house and display the bell when it was not fulfilling its new mission as a travelling symbol of unity and reconciliation. It is in fact an honour and a grave responsibility for the St. Boniface Museum to display and interpret the bell, surrounded by so many other artifacts of significance not only to the M�tis and francophones, but to all Canadians. PHILIPPE MAILHOT Executive director, St. Boniface Museum Winnipeg Scrap the income- split proposal NEWS that a long- term study of Canadian women disputes the benefit of routine mammography screening for women at low risk of breast cancer gives good reason for those older than 50 to have a serious talk with their physicians. Cancer Care Manitoba advises women between 50 and 74 years of age to have a mammogram every two years, and it is not altering that recommendation. The followup 25 years after a trial involving almost 90,000 Canadian women has critics questioning the value, underscored by the potential harm, of screening at any age women who are not at high risk of breast cancer. The authors said they found no difference in mortality rates between women who had the mammography screens and those who didn't. Mammography, with its lower dose of radiation, gave hope decades ago for detecting breast cancer and cutting death rates because it can detect smaller spots than the lumps found in physical exams, allowing for earlier diagnosis. But as the evidence of its benefits has developed, enthusiasm has waned. As risks become clearer and proof of benefit pared back, some see little or no use in screening. There is significant chance of " over- diagnosis," with women being treated for cancers that will never become lethal. Cancer Care Manitoba follows the lead of a national task force that evaluates the oftenconflicting data from medical studies. It stands by its opinion mammography in older women cuts the breast cancer death rate. ( Women of high risk often bypass mammography for MRI screening at younger ages.) The agency notes this study, among eight the task force weighs, is the only one concluding routine screening does not reduce mortality rates. The national study has added valuable data on the risk of over- diagnosis. Cancer Care wants to study the incidence of over- diagnosis in Manitoba for a clearer picture. It is this risk that women at low risk need to weigh in discussion with their physician. Review the risks Bell of Batoche a big deal KEN GIGLIOTTI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES St. Boniface Museum executive director Philippe Mailhot stands with the Bell of Batoche. A_ 16_ Feb- 15- 14_ FP_ 01. indd A16 2/ 14/ 14 9: 01: 01 PM ;