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4- The Oakvilie'Beaver,' Friday March 31, 2006 Turner delivers taxpayers' budget message to Parliament By Melanie Hennessey SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER Here's w hy the outdoors are so great. D u n h a misa N ewB a la n ce P e rfo rm a n ce B ra n d fth in h a m .R fs . 523 Dunham Waffle Stomper Alcatraz · ABZORB® SBS provides ultimate midsole cushioning in the forefoot and rearfoot for outdoor performance · Nufoam tongue design keeps sand and stones where they belong · Available widths: Men's D-4E / -Women's 2A-D V . v k ; Oakville rbcAa oakvilie Upper M iddle Rd E & 8"' Line 905.337.9393 n e w h a la n c e o a k v ille .c a The largest selection of New Balance apparel, accessories and footwear in multiple widths. After hearing what more than 10,000 residents from far and wide had to say, Halton MP Garth Turner is telling the new federal government to axe some of its election commitments and bring in a family-friendly tax system. These are a few of the recom mendations the local politician delivered to Finance Minister Jim Flaherty yesterday in a report that echoes what citizens -- both local and from across Canada -- told him they want to see in the 2006 budget. "Canadian voters and taxpay ers told me loudly and clearly they're ready for some decisive moves in this first Conservative budget, but they want change that makes sense," Turner said. "The middle class is rightly demanding attention and some of what we proposed in the elec tion doesn't make sense for them right now. That said, they're more than ready to see this government take them in a ·new direction." Amongst the recommenda tions in Turner's report are calls for the federal government to: · Deliver the promises Canadians are expecting, like the GST cut, debt reduction, military spending, etc.; · Create a family tax return and allow income splitting; · Scrap the capital gains tax deferral; · Allow retired couples to share their income for tax pur poses; · Make the budget process Halton MP Garth Turner more democratic and transpar ent;7 A · Enact balanced budget leg islation; · Give families the choice of taking the $1,200 annual child care allowance or opting for a family tax return with the abili ty to income split. The document also says the Conservatives should abandon the income tax cut the Liberals implemented and instead "take the political hit now." "Canadians have not yet become accustomed to the slight reduction in personal income tax, so make this change before it becomes perceived as a Tory tax hike," the report notes. "Use the Qjoney to do what you said you would." To further illustrate what res idents want Flaherty to do, Turner included 100 randomly Selected e-mails he received in the report, such as one from Oakville resident Geoffrey Holloway, a young professional whose wife stays at home with their two children. "Please push the income splitting concept as this is long overdue," he urges in his e-mail. "Parents should not have to worry about whether or not they can afford to have a spouse stay at home." Miltonian Jeremie Hacker also dropped Turner a line to voice his thoughts on things like the childcare allowance. \ "With my fifth child coming in May (all under seven years old), I also like the childcare allowance since it puts money back in my pocket instead of a massive government-funded daycare system that has no ben efit to my family," he writes. "Anything the federal gov ernment can do to improve effi ciency and reduce the tax bur den it places on the middle class and all taxpayers is welcome by me and my family." Turner expressed enthusiasm about the response he received from the public when he asked for input on the federal budget. "It was overwhelming to see the interest and enthusiasm folks had for this project," he said. "If anyone wondered whether Canadians care about how they are taxed or have good ideas to be implemented, there' s no question of it now. This proves Canadians want input into the process of budget mak ing and how their money is spent." In addition to voters, Turner consulted with academics, sen ior economists, public policy experts and financial planners to craft the report % c C 8 Cancer Surgery I Cardiac Procedures I Cataract Surgery i Hip or Knee Replacement i MRI or CT Scan It's worth knowing If y o u o r so m e o n e y o u k n o w is w a itin g fo r o n e o f th e a b o v e p ro c e d u re s , it's w o rth k n o w in g th e r e 's so m e th in g y o u c a n do rig h t now . G o to o u r n e w w e b s ite fo r in fo rm a tio n o n h o s p ita l w a it tim e s rig h t a c ro s s th e p ro v in c e . You'll a lso find m an y h e lp fu l fa c ts y o u a n d y o u r d o c to r c a n u s e to m a k e b e tte r d e c isio n s a b o u t y o u r h e a lth care. F o r m o re in fo rm a tio n call 1-888-779-7767 (TTY 1-800-387-5559) o r p le a s e v isit w w w .o n ta rio w a ittim e s.c o m