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Ontario's surplus power giveaways could be nearing end The days when customers in New York or Quebec get paid to use Ontario electricity may be drawing to a close. The Independent Electricity System Operator will consider halting the practice when its board meets next week should save Ontario electricity ratepayers — who now collectively pick up the bill for the payments — about $10 million a year. While out-of-province customers will no longer enjoy the "negative prices," big industrial customers inside Ontario would still be able to use the better-than-free power when it's available. "This rule would eliminate those negative price exports, so in essence you're not paying someone else to use your power. Paying customers to use power sometimes happens when Ontario Has surplus power.Nuclear power plants and some of the big hydro-electric stations tend to churn out the same amount of power all the time, no matter how low demand falls. The market price can colla...

 Apr. 27, 2012 – Say the word “tax” and most Canadians roll their eyes in dismay. But with the deadline for filing our income tax returns around the corner, we’re forced to temporarily think about taxes. The deadline, after all, is a sharp reminder of how much income tax we paid throughout the year. While some gladly pay their share – thinking of the numerous government programs these tax dollars finance – others feel their income tax burden is too high. No matter where you fall in this debate, to truly gauge whether you’re getting value for your tax dollars, you must have a complete understanding of all the taxes you pay – in addition to income taxes. Income taxes only the beginning.For that, you must look beyond your income tax returns because income taxes form only a portion of the total tax bill imposed on us by all levels of government (federal, provincial, and local). In 2011, a Canadian family with average income of $74,233 paid $9,137 in income taxes. Personal income taxes ...

As a country, we provide universal access to medically necessary hospital care, diagnostic tests and physician services based solely on need. If s a point of national pride. But Canadian "medicare" — as it is affectionately known — ends as soon as a patient is given a prescription to fill. Provincial drug plans cover only limited populations, such as seniors or social assistance recipients, or limited costs (such as costs exceeding "catastrophic" deductibles). Private drug insurance is a perk not easily obtained by Canadians who are retired, self-employed or employees of small companies.when the asthma gets out of control. Canada's health insurance system was developed in stages, starting with the components of health care that were the most important at the time. Coverage for hospital care and diagnostic tests was established in the 1950s, followed by coverage for medical care in the 1960s. The fathers of our medicare system intended that pharmacare and home-ca...

Under the most likely current budget scenario, Medicare spending for the typical 66-year-old would rise to $9,600 in 2030, or about 75 percent more than now, the Congressional Budjet Office projected. But under Ryan's plan, spending would rise more slowly to $7,400, or about 35 percent more than current levels. That difference would result in a cost shift of thousands of dollars to individual retirees, critics say. Under the previous version of Ryan's plan, a typical 65-year-old retiree would have been responsible for about two-thirds of his or her health care costs in 2030, according to the budget office. That translates to a cost increase of $6,350 a year, says the Obama campaign. Ryan's proposal for turning Medicaid into a block grants program for the states would also have far-reaching consequences. It sharply reduces the future size of the program relative to the overall economy, the CBO said.

OHIP- And Out Of Country Health Services In 2005, the Supreme Court ruled that Canadian governments  federal and provincial — had created a "virtual monopoly" over health care. That monopoly, the court further ruled, had proven itself incapable of providing timely care to many patients. Even so, governments had made it illegal for Canadians to pay for treatment on their own when the government monopoly could not or would not provide it. That was putting Canadians' lives at risk with no possibility of escape, which the court determined 6-1 was a violation of our Charter rights. Unfortunately, because the Chaoulli challenge was brought only against Quebec's health care law, the court's decision applied only in Quebec. For it to apply across the country, it may be necessary to bring similar challenges in every province. The Calgary-based Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms has decided to start with Alberta. Both Allen and Cross (the two patients who will serve...

Canadian Immigration Minister Jason Kenney outlined his plan to reduce health benefits for refugees. Earlier this month, all refugee claimants — except for government-sponsored refugees, such as those who arrive in Canada as permanent residents — lost federally funded supplemental health benefits for prescription drugs, dental work, vision care and medical devices, such as walkers and wheelchairs. Those refugees who are rejected after exhausting all appeals are also no longer eligible for free health care of any kind, unless their conditions pose a risk to public health or safety, such as infectious diseases like tuberculosis and HIV. When the Conservative government eventually comes up with its list of designated "safe" countries, refugee claimants hailing from nations on that list will face the same restrictions as rejected claimants. The changes are expected to save the federal government $100 million over five years. Doctors have been protesting the cuts by interrupting m...

WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court's decision to uphold most of President Barack Obama's health care law will come home to roost for most taxpayers in about 2 1/2 years, when they'll have to start providing proof on their  tax returns that they have health insurance. Under the law, the IRS will provide tax breaks and incentives to help pay for health insurance  and impose penalties on some people who don't buy coverage and on some businesses  that don't offer it to employees. Those who don't get qualified health insurance  will be required to pay the penalty — or tax — starting for the 2014 tax year, unless they are  exempt because of low income, religious beliefs, or because they are members of American Indian tribes. The law allows the IRS to withhold tax refunds  to collect the penalty, and most filers get refunds.  This year, 77 percent of the 135 million individual  income tax returns processed by the IRS qualified for a refund. The average refun...