Office of the Taxpayers' Ombudsperson | Bureau de l'ombudsman des contribuables’ Post

THX Clancy, and it is an easy process and each state will have a FOIA office. It may be under a different name like Open Records Law, or Sunshine law that ensures you as a citizen can request specific information on how local state and federal funds are spent, who receives the funds and for what purposes and results. This is critical as one of the reasons this monopoly exists is how the total "numbers" are not always told to the public by the monopoly, such as how much they receive in administrative fees from the various state and fed programs to essentially do the same role? Examples are many. But what is missing in all of this? LOCAL Farmers who are asked/pushed to donate and then get meager funds related to harvesting; and the direct service provider/food pantry who is al volunteer, with challenges staying open and then asked to do the day to day role of seeing people face to face. Time to stop funding larger warehouses, excessive personnel/admin fees, fundraising efforts and the monopoly. LOCAL LOCAL LOCAL. Local solutions and actions are going to change the system as it refuses to change and coordinate for real solutions. Will you join the movement?

Have you signed the petition yet? (Recall Gondek) Stand up against corruption, dishonesty and abuse of power. Petitions must be signed in person. Find a location near you at https://lnkd.in/ghsmYiYW Why recall Mayor Gondek?  Calgary author Yogi Schultz listed many reasons in this LinkedIn post: https://bit.ly/WhyRecall Be involved in your city's health. Not every political office has accessible recall options (e.g. Prime Minister). City Mayor does. Plato said: “The price good men pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men.” Level 1: Find a petition location, and sign. Stand together. Level 2: Volunteer to gether signatures. Report back, and let me know of your success.

If you agree that laws and public policy should be made by elected, accountable politicians and not appointed judges, then the majority Supreme Court of Canada decision in Power may not sit well with you. My Davies colleagues provide insightful background below. I’m worried about the implications of this case on the executive and legislative branches of our government, possibly inhibiting legal reforms (especially of our weakened criminal justice system) the public is clearly demanding. Canada may soon have a new federal Conservative government determined to reassert Parliament’s primacy in law-making and the balancing of competing interests, including use of the notwithstanding clause if required. Will this decision unduly constrain this? The dissenting opinion of Justices Rowe and Cote gets it right. They would have held that the government enjoys absolute immunity from Charter damages in relation to the adoption of laws held by courts to be unconstitutional. #cdnpoli

On Day 6 of the ongoing series, I continue to provide guidelines on the hashtag #TaxAmnesty program extended by the Kenyan government to taxpayers. Is there any evidence to be attached when applying for mnesty...? Consider the below;

## LinkedIn Post Friends, For those championing #ADA, a recent court ruling in Boston serves as a beacon in our pursuit of justice. The judge's decision to reduce attorneys' fees in a sidewalk settlement case brings to light an important aspect of our legal system – fairness. Think of it as a well-balanced meal. In the ADA landscape, lawyers are the protein, essential yet needs to be consumed wisely. The recent ruling is a reminder that, while lawyers' support in ADA-related litigations is crucial, their billing practices must not tip the scale. This decision is a step towards a fair, accessible, and affordable justice system. Picture a supermarket where the prices are clear, and the goods are within everyone's reach. That's the kind of justice system we're striving for. Remember, when lawyers are out in the trenches, fighting for justice or volunteering on Election Day, they must uphold the highest ethical standards, like knights adhering to their code of chivalry. I hope this distills the significance of the ruling - promoting fair billing, affordability, and transparency in our pursuit of justice. Let's keep pushing for a balanced, fair, and accessible justice system for all. #ADA #Litigation #Accessibility #Justice [Read the full story here](https://lnkd.in/eBR5d25B)

👨⚖️ The Ontario government's agreement to pay $320,000 in legal fees marks a critical moment in the class action over the canceled basic income pilot. 📉 This move highlights the complexities and consequences of halting government programs that many rely on for stability. 💼 As legal professionals, we watch these proceedings closely, recognizing their significance in setting precedents and influencing policy. 🤝 Let’s continue the conversation on how we can support initiatives aimed at financial stability. Your insights are invaluable as we advocate for justice and responsible governance. News source: https://lnkd.in/ea3JtrUF #LegalNews #BasicIncome #SocialJustice

From police on guard for thee: The Canadian government is coming to terms with the knowledge that they are not as infallible as they believed in their ability to enact laws without accountability or, more importantly, without liability. The Supreme Court of Canada confirmed that they should be held to account when enacting unconstitutional laws that infringe upon our rights, specifically those which are "clearly wrong, in bad faith or an abuse of power." The decision, described as intending to “strike a balance between the protection of constitutional rights and the need for effective government” states, "The government and its representatives are required to exercise their powers in good faith and to respect the 'established and indisputable' laws that define the constitutional rights of individuals.” When legislation is passed that is found to meet “the very high threshold of being clearly unconstitutional, passed in bad faith or that amounts to an abuse of power,” the state can be found liable and be forced to pay reparations. As expected, the Trudeau government argued they have absolute immunity, based on parliamentary privilege and sovereignty, and the constitutional principles of the separation of powers. They expressed concerns that “damages for enactments of even clearly unconstitutional legislation would open the floodgates to claims and chill them from passing constitutional laws out of concern they would later be on the hook for payments.” Chief Justice Wagner and Justice Karakatsanis clarify; “By shielding the government from liability in even the most egregious circumstances, absolute immunity would subvert the principles that demand government accountability”. Section 24(1) of the Charter confirms that damages are available where “appropriate and just in the circumstances.” Recent history has demonstrated our government’s willingness to trample the rights of Canadians without accountability; we need only look at the freezing of bank accounts as one obvious example. We can only imagine how concerned they must be now that they know, without a doubt, that we have the ability to dissect all of their decisions with this same scrutiny. To read the decision, visit our website https://policeonguard.ca/

OUTA warns that proposed changes to local government laws could weaken accountability and waste taxpayer money. The new bill allows irregular appointments of municipal managers to go unchecked for up to 90 days and increases costly political interference. https://lnkd.in/dQGdx_mG #localgovernment #municipalities

When a beneficiary of a will passes away before the person who created it, who gets the gift? 🧐 Well, the answer is: it depends! It largely hinges on how the will was drafted. If there’s an alternate beneficiary listed, they’ll receive the gift. But if you went the DIY route and didn't plan for this, the gift might "lapse" (disappear) unless your state's anti-lapse statute steps in. If the beneficiary isn't covered under the statute, the gift usually defaults to the residuary clause in the will. The best approach? Work with an estate planning attorney to ensure every detail is covered, including alternate beneficiaries! 💼 ⚖️ ✨ If you want to make sure all of your bases are covered, just click the link in our bio to get started today! 🌐 🔗 🧑💻️   #AntiLapseStatutes #EstatePlanning #SanDiego

Compensation under the Infected Blood Compensation Scheme will be #tax free. A statutory instrument was introduced to in 2023 (2023/184) to ensure final payments will be exempt from income tax, capital gains tax and inheritance tax. The same instrument covers compensation under the Post Office #Horizon scheme. Not surprising given the similarities in actions of the 'authorities' in both. Crowe UK Crowe Global #compensation #infectedblood #horizon Crowe UK Crowe Global https://lnkd.in/ew4kr9YF