Here's a cheer and hearty endorsement for Massimo Pacetti.
You're telling me dear diary, that you don't know who Massimo is?
I didn't either, until I read about his private member's bill that encourages Canadians to travel within Canada.
Pacetti is an MP from a Montreal riding, and I realize that under normal circumstances the words MP and Bright Idea would be considered an oxymoron, but in this case, I believe my new friend Massimo has hit on a brilliant concept that other MPs ignore at their peril.
Usually private member's bills go nowhere in the Common House. These short-shrift bills get dumped on pretty regularly, but once in awhile a gem rises to the top.
Pacetti wants our government to provide tax deductions for Canadians who travel to other parts of Canada and not just to the neighbours.
As he points out, it costs a whole swack of money for Canadians to travel in Canada, yet we're given all kinds of breaks and discounts to fly to Las Vegas, Arizona, Texas, Cuba, Jamaica, New York and Mexico. Get down to Phoenix for $200. Try to get to Toronto, though, for less than $1,000. It's stupid.
Why plan a staycation in Canada if you can't move more than 200 kilometres without having to pass on making a mortgage payment?
Pacetti is suggesting that if Canadians travel to a destination that is over three provincial boundaries, then they would be eligible to claim a full tax deduction on the cost of the air/bus/train ticket. It's as simple as that. Discount rate or no discount rate, no travel points or reward miles to qualify for or worry about. You live here and want to fly or bus there ... keep your travel receipts and claim them when you file your taxes.
Massimo, an accountant, figures the whole adventure would be revenue neutral. No airline or rail line (yes, in some parts of the country they apparently still let passengers get on trains) would lose any revenue. They could still feature their regular deals.
Canadians, knowing they're getting a tax break, would have a tendency to stay longer and spend more in another part of our country.
What better way to mend that divide between Western and Eastern Canada? Why not forge a regular relationship with people in St. John's or Charlottetown rather than Yuma? I know, There is that weather thing. But really, how exciting is Arizona in March after 12 consecutive years? You might wanna try change.
Even when I lived in Ontario, I never got past the Laurentians, and by the way, I loved it there. But I could never get back to them from Saskatchewan. I'm not one of them there oil barons we have around here.
I have longed to visit the Maritimes, but never felt the urge to sell a kidney, car and my house in exchange for a return trip to New Brunswick. With Massimo's plan, it just might be doable. Heck, even a return to my old stomping grounds in southern Ontario would be fun if I could do it for less than a $1,200 Air Canada ticket. Well, actually, I'd still pay the $1,200, but I could claim all or most of it as a deduction in April.
And what the heck, if I gave more money to this government, they'd just squander it, so why not let some bed and breakfast couple reap a benefit or two in Quebec City, courtesy of another Canadian?
Throw in a tax deduction and one free French language lesson, and I'm there, mis amigos.
