c93e9a59   
   XPost: can.general, can.politics, ott.general   
   From: Canuck57@nospam.com   
      
   On 31/05/2011 7:21 AM, Alan Baggett wrote:   
   > Teachers, CRA in dispute over housing :CRA SOTW   
   >   
   > Teachers, CRA in dispute over housing   
   > Is First Nation's low rent a subsidy?   
   > Last Updated: Friday, May 1, 1:32 PM CT   
   >   
   > CBC News   
   > Some teachers working on a Saskatchewan First Nation say that when it   
   > comes to assessing on-reserve housing, the Canada Revenue Agency needs   
   > a lesson in fairness.   
   >   
   > The teachers work at a school on the Waterhen Lake First Nation, near   
   > Meadow Lake, about 300 kilometres north of Saskatoon.   
   >   
   > Some of them live in accommodations supplied by the reserve and pay   
   > $250 per month in rent, a rate that is below market level for housing   
   > in nearby communities such as Meadow Lake.   
   >   
   > The CRA says the low rent amounts to a housing subsidy which, in their   
   > books, is a taxable benefit.   
   >   
   > Teachers who did not report the benefit have been assessed back taxes,   
   > in some cases amounting to thousands of dollars.   
   >   
   > It is not known how many teachers are facing a tax arrears bill.   
   >   
   > One kindergarten teacher, however, gives low marks to tax officials.   
   >   
   > Rent reflects conditions, teachers say   
   > Jessica Wolff has been teaching on the reserve for two years.   
   >   
   > She told CBC News that, while the rent is low, it reflects the   
   > condition of the housing.   
   >   
   > "I think they are not understanding that we don't live in Meadow Lake,   
   > that our living conditions and cost of living just isn't comparable,"   
   > Wolff said. "So while they think we should be paying the same rent on   
   > a three bedroom house in Waterhen Lake as Meadow Lake, we strongly   
   > disagree."   
   >   
   > The teachers have written to the CRA and say the agency has promised   
   > to look at their concerns within the next four to six months.   
   >   
   > Wolff said she was hopeful that once officials actually looked into   
   > the situation, they would change the tax assessments.   
   >   
   > "I'd like to see the CRA kind of see the situation we are in, and I   
   > guess tear up the bills," she said.   
   >   
   > Wolff added that the tax treatment could be to blame for the school's   
   > losing teachers.   
   >   
   > CRA officials declined to answer questions about the specific case.   
      
   Is there anything on a reserve in Canada that is that is not subsidized   
   by the taxpayer?   
      
   --   
   Government isn't the solution to the bad economy, it is the problem.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)