OK, kiddo! Here are all the fantastically amazing posts tagged with Taxes
Anti-Gay Church Stripped Of Charitable Status
The Kings Glory Fellowship, a Protestant church in Calgary, Alberta, has lost their tax exempt status because they spent too much time involved in political activities outside the church, including actively campaigning against gay rights.
Religious officials are pretty miffed, including Calgary’s Bishop Fred Henry, who said this incident was “clearly meant to muzzle religious leaders.”
Yes, I can see it now… Dusk falls at the offices of Canada Revenue Agency. The government’s tax regulators congregate in full accountant regalia, sworn brothers in a secret plot to locate Calgary’s religious leaders and attach leather jaw restraints while they sleep.
I’m actually a little disappointed that the truth is so much more boring.
Tax exemptions, you see, are only available for charitable causes, not political ones. If a church wishes to actively affect policy for those that have nothing to do with its religion or beliefs, it becomes part of the public sphere and must contribute to it with income and property taxes. Once they do, they’re free to go outside of their congregations to lecture, publish, organize, put on charming foil hats, bang on pots and pans for effect, terrorize minority groups with neon placards, and do all the other things that wacky, anti-gay lobby and activist groups do. No leather jaw restraints required.
If a church doesn’t want to contribute to the public realm with taxes, then they can abide by their own decision and limit their political influence to inside their private congregations. Well, at least 90% of their influence, anyway. They’re allowed 10% for some reason. See? Who said the CRA isn’t generous?
Tax Break Announcement
Finally, a tax break for the hard-working gay guy!
Wait; I don’t think that came out right. I hope I didn’t give off the impression that taxes have been cut in any meaningful way. And certainly not for us gays—who, until last year, couldn’t even file as spouses like other couples. No, no. What I meant to say was that I’m taking a break from this site today to do my taxes.
In the meantime, though, let me extend a hearty thanks to our conservative government for giving us the 1% GST cut instead of implementing the opposition’s income tax reduction. Now, in addition to paying a delightfully crippling amount of tax, I get to receive a smaller GST rebate this year!
Well, until Wednesday, folks: Has anyone seen my calculator? It’s big and cumbersome, eats batteries faster than a flashlight in storage, and draws blocky graphs more slowly than it would take by hand.
Pension Battle Goes To Supreme Court
Think you can be too old for a lengthy court battle? Think again! George Hislop’s class-action suit to receive same-sex survivor benefits will face the Supreme Court of Canada tomorrow. The kicker? If Hislop gets to keep his partner’s pension, he won’t be able to enjoy it; he died in October at 78.
To make matters even more interesting, the federal government is actually fighting the deceased’s cause, saying it could set a precedent and cost taxpayers $80,000,000 or more. This is, of course, glossing over the fact that this figure (hmm… heavily inflated, you think?) was pretty much paid for by the same-sex couples themselves, through years and years of payments into the Canada Pension Plan. You know, because they just loved paying money into plans that only heterosexuals can benefit from.
Luckily, Doug Elliot, the lawyer representing Hislop, is painting a more realistic picture for the misguided feddies.
There would be no significant impact on the CPP—no increase in premiums or on benefits paid to anyone else. But the extra monthly support would make a huge difference for several claimants who desperately need it.
Well, a huge difference to the non-deceased claimants, at least. Although, I guess the estates of the others could always decorate up their headstones a little…
- Epic battle brewing for same-sex survivor benefits [Globe and Mail]
- Gay rights pioneer’s fight continues after death [CTV News]
