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Turner - Getting Tossed Out Of Caucus Was Worth It

MP Garth Turner Media Release ******************** Today Finance Minister Jim Flaherty, in a surprise announcement, said Ottawa will allow retired couples to split their income for tax purposes, starting in 2007.
Kate Adams
MP Garth Turner
Media Release

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Today Finance Minister Jim Flaherty, in a surprise announcement, said Ottawa will allow retired couples to split their income for tax purposes, starting in 2007. This means more than two million pensioners will see a basic tax unfairness corrected, says MP Garth Turner, who has championed the reform and hosted a national conference on the issue just three weeks ago.

"I am delighted beyond words that Flaherty has recognized that these people need this recognition and this help," Turner said. "Today's retirees lived and worked in families where one spouse usually stayed home with kinds, which means pension income now flows in through the hands of just one person. That increases the tax rate, and seriously impairs the lifestyles of millions of people on fixed incomes. Finally, we have a bright light at the end of the tunnel for these folks."

Turner has spearheaded a group of 17 pension groups representing more than 2.4 million retired people pushing for pension-splitting. The effort culminated in a conference on Parliament Hill on October 3rd, which more than 30 MPs, representing all parties in the House of Commons, attended.

"This is a victory whose time has come," says Turner. "Today's retirees usually have no more income options, and to tax them at the highest marginal tax rates - as has happened for decades now - is to rob them of precious purchasing power. This change sends out a signal that the Conservative federal government understands, and is prepared to reverse a long standing wrong."

Turner ironically notes that he was ousted from the national Conservative caucus just days ago, in part because of his lobbying inside and outside caucus for policy issues that were not on the Stephen Harper Administration agenda. "Yes, I pushed hard for this one," says Turner, "and I know the finance minister was not happy with me. But suddenly, getting tossed out of caucus was worth it - about two million times over!"

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