Closing the Loop – Part II

Corporate tax loopholes and how we should close them. This is the second part in a series. Thanks to the Little Red Umbrella for continuing to host my articles. You can find part II here.

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Closing the Loop

Corporate tax loopholes and how we should close them. This is the first part of a few pieces I’m going to write on what is a complex and under-reported issue. The Little Red Umbrella has been kind enough to host the articles here.

Where is My Father’s Money?

As some of you know, I’ve been working on a book for the last few years. Here is a sneak peak.

The Mystery of “The Man”

The Little Red Umbrella posted an essay of mine recently. It’s one of my favourites. Enjoy.

“Big Government”

Watching Ontario’s political debate was painful. I’m annoyed that each candidate felt personally obliged to thank people for their questions. Oh, thank you so much, Sanjay, for that question that I will now proceed to ignore. The name-calling was excessive. With all due respect Mr. McGuinty, your energy plan shows that you’re a loser and your adam’s apple is WAY too big for your neck. They each blatantly plug “selling points” instead of answering questions. Hi Ontario, I’m going to fix everything using only five bullet points!

Letters to Rob Ford: How to cut a deficit in 22 seconds

Dear Mayor Ford,

Have you ever used ESPN’s trade machine? It’s a simulation that allows everyday people like you and me make the personnel and financial decisions that NBA General Managers do. I found a similar simulation that allows me to be the mayor!

Letters to Rob Ford: Tea Party Connection

Dear Mr. Mayor,

I admire you. It took a lot of determination to tune out 22 hours of whiny complaints by the public regarding proposed service cuts for the city. Most politicians would have been moved by such a demonstration, but not you. I can only imagine how annoying they were. I guess all of us at Ford Nation were too busy since nobody came to support you.

Politics in Numbers

As there is no shortage of opinions on what transpired this past Monday, here is a numerical look at Canada’s 41^st General Election using the statistical stylings of the Harper’s index:

“renter rip-off”

The price of rents is a hot issue in Toronto as there are very few vacancies these days. For those of us that live in big rental complexes, you know, those old tall buildings with an always absent superintendent and strangers loitering in the front lobby, there is a coalition of concerned citizens that has formed a simple and pointed campaign at reducing rents: Fair Tax Fair Rent

I believe that this proposal would work, and generally speaking I get excited when “concerned citizens” want to take control of such an important thing such as the price of rents, but there is a huge flaw in the proposal.

Chow Time

I got this pamphlet in the mail. I live in the Trinity-Spadina riding, which is currently run by Olivia Chow. Normally, I just toss pamphlets like this away, but there was something compelling about the woman on the pamphlet. You see the way she has taken off her glasses and is pinching the top of her nose? As an accountant, I know exactly what that is about. That’s what you do when the numbers don’t make sense (or sometimes, you do that when you’re adding a really long list of numbers, and then you type something in wrong and have to start over).