Gordon Campbell has a parting gift for BC

He's cancelling the income tax cuts:

Premier Gordon Campbell backed away Wednesday from the major tax cut he announced on prime-time television last month, saying it would place too many restraints on his successor as premier.

“I felt it was important, when I decided to step aside as leader, that there be an unfettered opportunity for the new potential leaders to move ahead and make their own decisions about what they wanted to do,” Campbell said.

“I didn’t think it was right for me to lock in — or for this executive council to lock in — the new leader and the potential next executive council in making that decision.”

The planned tax cut had been scheduled to take effect Jan. 1, 2011 and would have meant a 15-per-cent reduction in personal income tax rates for the first $72,000 of an individual’s income.

From the Vancouver Sun. Now for what it's worth, I actually agree with this decision; the last thing the province needs now is to lose revenue that's desperately needed for social programs and the like. However, this isn't likely to do his party any good... not that I'm complaining of course.

Will Steve really cut your taxes?

Not unless you're pretty well off already, it seems:

The new message Canadians are sending their politicians is very clearly about better access to services, not tax cuts.

The Harper government wants you to believe that average families are squarely at the centre of their budget spending this year.

Before you celebrate this "something for everyone" approach to politics, consider this: A striking number of Canadians actually won't benefit from much of what is promised in this budget.

Most Canadian tax filers — 59 percent — report incomes of less than $30,000. Most of them will not be eligible for this budget's billions in promised tax credits.

Why? Revenue Canada statistics show people with incomes of less than $30,000 make up 99 percent of those who pay no taxes — 7.3 million tax filers. Tax credits don't reach people who don't pay taxes.

The only income "relief" for this group of voters goes to people who earn more than $3,000 but less than $9,500 in a year (or a family that earns less than $14,500).

The good news is that these people get a $500 benefit. The bad news is, that's the only help on the horizon — a measure designed to help encourage those on welfare to join the ranks of the "working poor" offers $1.37 a day.

No Canadian truly believes $1.37 a day can address the real needs of those struggling to pay the rent and feed the kids, let alone put them through school or save for retirement.

From here. Not that most people who read this here will be surprised, but it's a worthwhile talking point.