Taxpayers Federation unveils its annual spending 'Naughty and Nice List'

A media president and the Prime Minister have topped the Canadian Taxpayers Federation’s (CTF) annual “Taxpayer Naughty List” for 2024.

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Outgoing CBC CEO Catherine Tait was announced as number one following a rocky year that saw its fair share of criticism against the public broadcaster president.

Tait has faced scrutiny for giving out bonuses to senior management after cutting hundreds of jobs.

CBC/Radio Canada paid out $18.4 million in bonuses to roughly 1,200 employees, according to documents obtained by The Canadian Press.

More than $3.3 million of that was paid to just 45 executives.

When reached over email, CBC’s media relations said it had no comment.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was the list’s runner-up.

The CTF has long railed against the Liberal carbon rebate, which its president Franco Terrazzano calls a “taxpayer waste.”

“Santa would give Trudeau a big lump of coal, but Trudeau would probably carbon tax that, too,” Terrazzano said Monday.

Though the carbon price enjoys widespread support among economists, a large number of Canadians are convinced it costs more than it gives back in rebates. Many experts believe it’s been a victim of Ottawa’s confusing communication.

“It’s just a popular tax to criticize now, because it’s highly visible,” Mount Royal University political scientist Lori Williams said.

“In a period of affordability, the carbon tax has just become a lightning rod. Any tax is going to be unpopular if you’re already paying too much for groceries and other things, and most people don’t understand the calculation of how much they’re (getting back in) rebates.”

The tax was the focus of much of the list.

Three Canadian premiers — including Albertan Danielle Smith — made the “Nice List” for rallying against the pricing.

“Smith is taking the carbon tax back to court over the carve out, and Santa couldn’t be happier,” Terrazzano said.

That too caught Williams’ attention.

“Danielle Smith promised a tax cut in the 2023 election, and has not delivered,” she told CTV News. “You think that would bring her into line for criticism, and it is certainly something that a lot of taxpayers in Alberta are criticizing her for.”

The province has pledged to bring that cut in its next budget, tentatively scheduled for the end of February.

“If Smith doesn’t make good on (her long-delayed campaign tax cut) promise in 2025, she’ll find herself on the naughty list next year,” Terrazzano said.

The CTF unveils its list every year “to hold politicians and bureaucrats accountable,” according to Terrazzano.

“They land on the naughty list when they raise taxes, when they’re not transparent about how they’re spending their money or when they waste our tax dollars.”

Complete Taxpayer Naughty List:

• CBC President & CEO Catherine Tait;
• Prime Minister Justin Trudeau;
• Ontario Premier Doug Ford;
• Global Affairs Canada;
• Winnipeg Mayor Scott Gillingham; and
• The entire federal bureaucracy.

Complete Taxpayer Nice List:

• Former Kensington Mayor Rowan Caseley;
• Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe;
• Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Andrew Furey;
• Alberta Premier Danielle Smith; and
• Parliamentary Budget Officer Yves Giroux.