Archive for December, 2011

I would like to wish you and your loved ones a Merry Christmas and a Happy 2012.

This last year, we have been blessed by many things in Canada. We should also remember those who are less fortunate than us.

As you celebrate Christmas and New Years with your friends and family, please reach out to those who are in need.

On behalf of myself and my staff in Ottawa, Saskatoon and Humboldt: Merry Christmas to you and your family.

I’m Brad Trost, your Member of Parliament in Saskatoon-Humboldt. You can call my office in Saskatoon at 975-6133 or drop by our two offices to visit: Saskatoon Monday-Friday or Humboldt Tuesday and Wednesday. I always appreciate your feedback.

Revenues from oil help keep people employed in Saskatchewan, they pay for our hospitals and our schools and are, along with agriculture, and mining, very important to our economy.  So you would think that all Canadian politicians would want to get as much money as possible by exporting oil to our southern neighbours.

Not so the NDP. Their MPs flew down to Washington, D.C. to argue against building a pipeline that would export oil to the U.S.

The NDP are opposed to the Keystone XL pipeline because they are opposed to the oil sands. They just don’t care about the jobs and money that flow into Alberta and Saskatchewan. Now, I realize that the new NDP is Quebec-centric. But by asking American politicians to kill jobs in Western Canada, the New Democrats are not only abandoning the West, they are openly attacking my province. The NDP should be ashamed for attacking a vital sector of our prairie economy.

I’m Brad Trost, your Member of Parliament in Saskatoon-Humboldt. You can call my office in Saskatoon at 975-6133 or drop by our two offices to visit: Saskatoon Monday-Friday or Humboldt Tuesday and Wednesday. I always appreciate your feedback.

Starting this summer, I’ve had a few visits from constituents who might be affected by U.S. tax rules.
 
They were mostly Canadians who were born in the U.S. or dual citizens who now reside in Canada.

In most cases, these individuals did not owe the U.S. government a penny in taxes. Yet, the IRS wanted them to fork out $10,000/year in penalties for not filing tax forms.

After pressure from the Government of Canada, the U.S. government now appears ready to provide some relief.

Even though the terms have to be finalized, the U.S. government will probably waive penalties in cases where one doesn’t owe any taxes.

If you are a dual citizen (Canada-U.S.), contact our office and also, find a tax professional you can work with on this issue.  You should be okay, but now is the time to find out, before new tax penalties are levied by the IRS (years into the future).

I’m Brad Trost, your Member of Parliament in Saskatoon-Humboldt. You can call my office in Saskatoon at 975-6133 or drop by our two offices to visit: Saskatoon Monday-Friday or Humboldt Tuesday and Wednesday. I always appreciate your feedback.