We should have known right from the get go not to get our hopes up, but many of us did anyway, hell, I even recall giving them a pre-election pat on the back when Harper announced the Children’s Fitness Tax Credit. The promise was:
Harper said a Tory government will allow parents who register their kids (under 16 years of age) in organizations that promote physical fitness to claim a federal tax credit on registration fees to a maximum of $500 per year, per child.
– but that was before the election, and it looks like, in this case, that the reality will be far less attractive than the promise.
At this point Harpers panel is not looking at $500 per year, per child, it’s looking at $500 per year per family to a maximum of $78.50 per child, the legislation is not going to be introduced until the 2007 tax year, and the kid better do some heavy sweating to be eligible for it.
Considerably different from the promise isn’t it?
I know a guy, your average working type guy, who has a son who really, really, wanted to get into hockey - an expensive sport at the best of times….. and his son wanted to be a goalie - the most expensive position on the ice.
Armed with the promise of a $500.00 tax credit the boys’ father enrolled him in hockey for the season, it cost $ 505.00 ….. but no worries, $500.00 of that was gonna come back in one form or another.
Then it was off to the used sports equipment store, $700.00 later a full set of good used goalie gear was in the truck ….. but no worries, that $500.00 fitness credit was gonna help out in one form or another.
This father paid out $ 1,205.00 to get his son into a sport he really wanted to play with the expectation of a $500.00 tax break; he’s gonna get nothing this year, and if the recommendations are accepted he’ll get a $78.50 tax credit at the end of next year, but not in time to help out with the 2007/2008 hockey season.
Basically the Children’s Fitness Tax Credit, like the promises concerning Arctic sovereignty (which I also gave Harper a pre-election pat on the back for) is a bust, the Canadian public has been duped again.
The only other thing Harper got a pre-election pat on the back from the bunker for was his tax break on public transit - will he screw that one up to?
Listening to the radio yesterday, some lady was talking about which sports were eligible.
Golf - yes.
Badminton - no.
Anyone ever play badminton? It’s a tough sport, and much more active than Golf. But who plays Golf? People with money.