Following a Canada Revenue Agency audit of the City of Toronto, the Toronto Transit Commission has asked all city councillors and the mayor to return their tax-free complimentary 2010 Metropasses. The announcement comes after the CRA concluded earlier this year that free transit rides and other perks count as taxable benefits. Councillors choosing to keep the free Metropass will be required to pay taxes on the $1,188 benefit. According to a report in The Globe and Mail, councillors were informed of the news in an April 27 letter from Gary Webster, the TTC's chief general manager. "Can't fight the tax people," Deputy Mayor Joe Pantalone told CTV.ca in a telephone interview Saturday morning. "Every employer provides benefits to their employees. However, Revenue Canada has reached a decision. I personally will accept that decision, and I will be purchasing my own Metropass from my own personal account."
The new tax policy has yet to be applied to other freebies councillors currently receive, including rounds of golf at city-owned courses and passes to the Toronto Zoo. The Globe and Mail reported that the CRA agreed not to tax councillors' city hall parking privileges. That's imbalanced policy making, according to councillor and TTC chairman Adam Giambrone. "It is an interesting point that parking is not being charged. Probably we should apply an even policy across the board," Giambrone told CTV.ca. (more)
2 comments:
Local Government Politicians should be wary of free passes to the zoo. Once in, they may not be let out again.
Do they really need to go the zoo, thought that is what we were already dealing with at City Hall!!!!
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