The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

www.insidehalton.com |OAKVILLE BEAVER |Thursday, October 5, 2017 |10 F ed eral fin a n c e m in is te r fa c e s h o s tile crow d by Marta Marychuk Oakville Beaver Staff Canada' s Minister of Finance Bill Momeau kicked off his public consultation on tax fairness before a hostile crowd in Oakville Friday (Sept. 29) at a town hall meeting at the Unifor Local 707 Galaxy Banquet Hall. Approximately 200 people filled the North Service Road union hall to near capacity The event was also streamed live on the Department of Finance Facebook page, to give people, who couldn't attend, an opportunity to participate. The minister began with a preamble that oudined what has taken place to date. In 2016 Morneau established a panel of experts to look at boosting fairness in the tax system. He said the 2017 budget addresses areas of unfairness in Canada' s tax system and experts have identified three issues: · Income sprinkling - or passing money to people in the family who do not work in the business; · Passive investment income - holding money inside a business, not to grow the business by investing in it, but to shield it from the higher personal rate; and, · Converting a private corporation' s regular income into capital gains to reduce income taxes. But it didn't take long for heckling to begin by the town hall audience. "You kept us waiting a half an hour," one person shouted during Morneau' s preamble. "Let' s get on with it," someone else added. At one point, someone else got up and criticized, "This is worse than a school yard." Morneau said it' s important to listen to people to ensure the impacts are exactly what the government is trying to achieve and that the government has not reached a forgone a pension or a drug and dental plan. I also do not get vacation or sick days or maternity time off. Tax planning strategies help manage these financial disadvantages in a way that my family and I can afford and that allow me to save for the future when I am no longer practising." Former Oakville councillor Sean Weir called on Morneau to stop misleading Canadians that these tax changes are "tweaks" and portraying hard-working Canadians as tax evaders. Weir called on the government to set up a Royal Commission, to study the tax changes extensively Held during the 1960s, the Carter Commission studied changes to Canada' s tax system over a 10-year period. Morneau ruled out a Royal Commission. "We've spent a significant amount of time on this," Momeau told a media scrum after the town hall. "We worked on this for a year with a council of experts." Oakville MP John Oliver noted the public consultation period was open until Oct. 2. "We are listening," said Oakville NorthBurlington MP Pam Damoff. "The ministry is listening." "People are really mad," said Weir, charging there has not been enough time for the government to consult with the public. He predicted panic when changes are implemented. Tim Cestnick, who identified himself a tax columnist for the Globe and Mail newspaper, said the changes would impact many small business owners. He also noted the Carter Royal Commission studied the issues for 10 years before making changes. "This rush is not acceptable," Cestnick added. To view the town hall meeting visit Department of Finance Canada/Ministere des Finances Canada. Canada's Finance Minister Bill Norneau faced a tough crowd in Oakville Friday (Sept. 29) as he kicked off public consultation on tax fairness at the Unifor Local 707 Galaxy Banquet Hall. | Marta Marychuk/Metroland conclusion on tax changes. Many in the audience responded with laughter. The outburst prompted town hall moderator Burlington MP Karina Gould, who is also Minister of Democratic Institutions, to intervene, "We're here to listen, we're here to consult and to have a respectful conversation." Participants had an opportunity to ask Morneau questions, although there was not enough time for many people to speak. "There is a lot of anger in this room," said Brian Laundry, an Oakville insurance consultant. Many doctors in the audience expressed frustration with changes to the tax rules, saying the changes will force many physicians to close their doors. In a letter filed with the Oakville Beaver, naturopath Denise Handscomb wrote: "I have returned to Oakville to set up my integrative health clinic. I was planning to use tax-planning strategies, including a passive investment portfolio, to offset the costs associated with running my own practice. As an independent business owner, I do not have G > I O A K V IL L E R e g istra tio n is n o w o p e n ! If you are 65+ or have a physical disability or medical condition, you may be eligible for the Town of Oakville's driveway snow windrow clearing program. Our winter service will clear the snow pile left at the end of your driveway after the road has been plowed. Pick up an application form at Town Hall, any Oakville library, community or seniors' centre. You can also download a form at oakville.ca. The Town of Oakville intends to control weeds in medians and shrub beds along the following roadsides and parks: Lakeshore Road, Church Street, Robinson Street, Dunn Street, Reynolds Street, Navy Street, Thomas Street, Allan Street, Trafalgar Road, Kerr Street, Bronte Road, East Street, Nelson Street, Jones Street, Marine Drive, Upper Middle Road, Third Line, Dorval Drive, Neyagawa Blvd, Cornwall Road, Dundas Street, Bridge Road, oakville.ca R egister in person u n til N o vem b er 24 Drivew ay Snow W indrow Clearing Program Town Hall, 1225 Trafalgar Road - ServiceOakville counter Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Only $100 ($88.50 plus HST) for the season! For more information, contact ServiceOakville at 905-845-6601 (TTY 905-338-4200) or visit oakville.ca. Rebecca Street, within the Town of Oakville using the pesticide Finalsan Pro Commercial Concentrate containing active ingredient Soap (ammonium salt of fatty acids) Registration No. 30012 under the Pest Control Products Act (Canada). Commencing on April 13, 2017 weather permitting, and ending October 13, 2017. For further information contact ServiceOakville at 905-845-6601 Collect calls will be accepted from individuals calling long distance.