Finally....

[Robertbarlage]

Has this union did anything good for farmers ever?

[Braveheart]

It is an unholy union of Socialist misfits. An opinion column that once again let's down farmers instead of villifying a gov't whose spending is out of control.

[Hamloc]

In the financial post article according to Statscan the top 10% of income earners in Canada earn 35% of the income but pay 54% of the of the provincial and federal income taxes. How much do you think they would have to pay before our illustrious Prime Minister would feel they were paying their fair share?

[seabass]

Told ya he's a dumbass

[grassfarmer]

Predictable, ill-informed, hysterical rantings by people who still haven't bothered to read or understand what is being proposed and who may be affected.

I agree with the NFU statement that "If a farm is prosperous enough to clear well over $200,000/year after all expenses are paid (including salaries), it should not be a hardship to pay taxes at the same rate that someone would who earns that much money in a salaried position."

How can you argue with that? Why should farmers not pay the same rate?

[GDR]

You guys gotta quit being so stubborn just cause it's grass farmer and nfu. I don't like the NFL either but that statement is pretty good. There suggested changes are spot on, keep the investors out of our land base, help young farmers, higher cap gains exemption - pretty tough to argue against that???

It's right about getting farmers all riled up over something they don't understand. I've been thinking all week we are just looking like a bunch of winers.

FJ the comment about paying MORE to transfer to the next generation than strangers is fear mongering started by someone with absolutely no truth behind it. It may cost more tax than it does now but not more than selling out.

[Braveheart]

It's an easy argument. A farm may clear $200,000 or more a year but not consistently. With weather and market risk, good financial results cannot be assured every year. So retained earnings from the good years are needed to shore up the lean years.

Plus, if we want to pass our family businesses on to our children without a crippling tax burden that would put them at a disadvantage from the start, these tax change have to be stopped. Shouldn't a strong sustainable industry be the goal? We surely don't want any more foreigners buying farms. They seem to carry the socialism disease.

But back to the NFU, why, why would any organization that claims to represent farmers support in anyway these measures? Does the NFU doctrine promote envy of the successful? Does the handbook suggest heavy taxation as a way to return us to the Peasant State?

[grassfarmer]

Thanks GDR - finally a voice of common sense.

It's an easy argument. A farm may clear $200,000 or more a year but not consistently. With weather and market risk, good financial results cannot be assured every year. So retained earnings from the good years are needed to shore up the lean years.

Yeah and the guy getting the $200,000+ salary may lose his job - does that mean he should pay less tax every year too?

[Braveheart]

He will likely lose his job when the small business he works for is crippled with unreasonable taxation.

[grassfarmer]

Weak answer, evading the question.

[Braveheart]

Not that many salaried jobs are affected by drought, floods, oversupplied markets,etc. Seems like the Liberal target is not salaried jobs, rather, it's wealth creators, risk takers, etc.

Should doctors and dentists be able to incorporate just to avoid higher tax rates? I don't think so. But I don't think farmers should be labeled tax dodgers either. I've seen too many take large risks chasing too elusive rewards.

[Horse]

Not that many salaried jobs are affected by drought, floods, oversupplied markets,etc. Seems like the Liberal target is not salaried jobs, rather, it's wealth creators, risk takers, etc.

Should doctors and dentists be able to incorporate just to avoid higher tax rates? I don't think so. But I don't think farmers should be labeled tax dodgers either. I've seen too many take large risks chasing too elusive rewards.

Talk to the oil workers and then make that statement. I may be wrong but my newborns that are incorporated are paying 14% tax ,those sole profiteers are paying 54% if in the same bracked, Mabry you need a new accountant. Suppose to be enamours not newborns.

[Oliver88]

Has this union did anything good for farmers ever?

Not for real farmers...they seem to prefer rooftop gardeners or hipsters with a few chickens in their backyard.

They probably support a carbon tax as well.

[Horse]

oliver88. That poses a good question, what is a real farmer? Someone who farms 10/20/50,000acres,mabey 100 cows or 10,000.
It posses me off every time I hear someone brag on how big they are,i have farmed for going on 60yr and never tried to climb the golden ladder, but I can tell you what is mine is mine and there are a lot of bots that can't make the same claim, and I still have some close nabors But thanks to the greediest my fortune in land is far larger than expected

[Oliver88]

Horse, I should not have used the word "real" in my post above.
Not a fan of the NFU for all the non-agriculture and loony activism they take part in.

I would be very surprised if the NFU was opposed to a carbon tax. (I hope you can prove this is wrong.)