Senator Percy Downe

Auditor General's report revealed that CRA contact centre agents provided accurate answers to general tax inquiries only 17% of the time, with a lengthy 31-min wait on average to speak with someone. Time for CRA to adopt AI which can fix these problems. www.oag-bvg.gc.ca/internet/Eng...

I always enjoy speaking with students at the University of Prince Edward Island. Great discussions and engagement on a range of issues in Professor Jeff Collins' Political Geography class.

#PEI #cdnpoli #SenCA

Municipal governance plays a vital role in strengthening communities throughout Prince Edward Island and Canada. Appreciate hearing from the Federation of PEI Municipalities President Bruce MacDougall and Executive Director Satya Sen on ways to improve the lives of Islanders.

#PEI #SenCA

Downtown businesses are the heartbeat of our communities. Pleasure chatting with Dawn Alan, International Downtown Association representative and Executive Director of Downtown Charlottetown Inc., along with Patrick Richard with Downtown Moncton.

#PEI #SenCA

Enjoyed being guest speaker at the Rotary Club of Charlottetown and meeting with their sponsored rotary youth exchange student from Brazil, Clara DaCosta. As always, great questions on current policy issues from Rotarians.

#PEI #cdnpoli #SenCA

Great chatting with Doug Coles, Chair of ACEC-Canada
& Principal of Coles Associates Ltd (#PEI engineering firm) along with other industry reps.—Frank Bann, Ben Coles, Christy Cunningham & Richard Smith—about ways to support infrastructure programs, both big and small, across Canada.

#SenCA #PEI

How many medically released RCMP members and Canadian Forces veterans are currently working at Veterans Affairs Canada?

📹My question to Veterans Affairs Minister Jill McKnight on the priority hiring policy for medically released veterans.

#cdnpoli #PEI #SenCA

We must maintain enough employees at Veterans Affairs Canada to provide the services needed by veterans and former RCMP members and their families.

📹My question to Veterans Affairs Minister Jill McKnight about the gov't-wide expenditure review program.

#cndpoli #PEI #SenCA

Great discussion with Algerian Ambassador to Canada, H.E. Noureddine Sidi Abed, on the longstanding diplomatic and economic relations between both countries and the opportunities for greater economic engagement.

#cdnpoli #SenCA #PEI

Pleasure meeting with Special Olympic athlete and Prince Edward Islander Colton Matheson, his father Jamie, Special Olympic PEI representatives, Matthew McNally and Charity Sheehan, along with fellow PEI Senator Mary Robinson (@agproudmary.bsky.social)

#PEI #SenCA #SOPEI

The OAS program is unfunded and unsustainable. As baby boomers age into retirement, costs for the program will balloon and younger Canadians will pay greater taxes to cover the growing expense. OAS must be adjusted (less for high-income /more for low-income seniors) before money runs out.

#cndpoli

Should gov't review the criteria by which high-income seniors qualify for Old Age Security (OAS) payments in order to shift the financial support towards low-income seniors and reduce the burden on young Canadians who are paying more taxes to support this unfunded OAS program?

#cdnpoli #SenCA #PEI

Why do high-income seniors continue to receive OAS payments while low-income seniors need more support and the Canada Child Benefit is reduced at a much lower household income than OAS. Is this fair to younger generations who face higher taxes to fund OAS for high-income seniors?

#SenCA #cdnpoli

Low income seniors need more financial assistance while high income seniors need less. And younger generations can't afford to pay for increased Old Age Security costs by way of higher taxes. Is this fiscally sustainable?

📺My question to the Secretary of State for Seniors.

#SenCA #cdnpoli

Is sports betting corrupting sports? NBA banned a player for his involvement with gambling and fans are wondering if missed calls are truly missed or are they something else? A single NHL game can generate millions in bets. What monitoring is the gov't doing to protect Canadians?

#cdnpoli #SenCA

Time to ban sports betting advertisements. The government bans tobacco ads and we should do the same for gambling. You cannot legislate away human weaknesses, but you can limit the ability of others to profit from it. My questions to the Minister responsible for the CRTC urging action.

#cdnpoli

Met with Lieutenant-General M.C. Wright, Commander of the Canadian Army, during the 2nd Annual Army Appreciation Day on Parliament Hill. Great discussion about opportunities and challenges in the army. As a former member of the PEI Regiment, I was pleased with his support of the reserves.

Prime Minister Carney is quickly restoring Canada's international reputation. Impressive remarks and Q&A at the Council on Foreign Relations.

#cndpoli #SenCA #PEI

I look forward to delving into Ron Graham's latest work, The Coutts Diaries: Power, Politics, and Pierre Trudeau, 1973-1981.

#cndpoli #SenCA #PEI

CRA has ‘hit rock bottom,’ but secretary of state noncommittal on future job cuts Wayne Long, who oversees the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), is describing service delays with the agency as 'completely unacceptable,' but won’t commit “one way or the other” on the potential for future...

🚨Breaking news: CRA has been at the ‘rock bottom’ for many years... at least this government has recognized the problem and I remain optimistic that they will be able to address its ongoing issues. Canadians deserve better.
www.ctvnews.ca/politics/art...

#cndpoli #PEI #SenCA

Fairness, Not Favour National Newswatch: Canada's most comprehensive site for political news and views.

Globe and Mail editorial criticizing the toll reduction in Prince Edward Island missed key facts. My reply: Fairness, Not Favour nationalnewswatch.com/2025/08/29/f... via @natnewswatch

#PEI #cdnpoli #SenCA

Engaging meeting with the Prince Edward Island Potato Board, joined by fellow #PEI Senators Mary Robinson and Brian Francis. In 2024, 87,000 acres were cultivated, resulting in farm cash receipts of $380 million. The finest quality potatoes that also boast the best flavor.🥔

Tax evasion & ICIJ reporting: governments recoup millions Nine years after the Panama Papers helped turbocharge authorities’ pursuit of hidden wealth, the global impacts of ICIJ’s offshore investigations are still being felt.

Where is the money Canada recovered?

@icij.org : Hundreds of millions more dollars recouped by governments after ICIJ investigations www.icij.org/investigatio...

#cdnpoli #PEI #SenCA

It seems some Departments are better than others at collecting money owed to the 🍁 Gov’t. My question to the Department of Canadian Heritage on the enforcement of Canada’s National Do Not Call List, and their reply. They have, unlike the CRA, actually collected money.

sencanada.ca/media/5mpdbo...

What is the Fed. Gov't doing to fix this long-standing injustice? My question to the Minister responsible and their response:

sencanada.ca/media/axfjur...

#cdnpoli #SenCA #UKpensionersinCanada

Did you know that UK state pensioners living in Canada do not see their pensions indexed? However, if they lived in the US, Iceland, Portugal, Germany, or the Philippines, that wouldn't be the case. Canadian pensions, in contrast, are always indexed no matter the location.

My question on overseas tax evasion and answer from CRA showing no Canadians have been charged following the release of the Panama and Paradise Papers, despite being named in them—unlike every other country. Money assessed but any collected?

sencanada.ca/media/q33jvy...

#cndpoli #SenCA

Today is the day! The new Confederation Bridge tolls and Wood Islands Ferry fees come into force.

#PEI #cdnpoli #SenCA

Many discrepancies in plans for toll-free Champlain Bridge Government isn’t being straight with Canadians on why the Champlain Bridge will be toll-free but those using other bridges must pay.

⏪Throwback Thursday: 2018 article in Policy Options @irpp, Many discrepancies in plans for toll-free Champlain Bridge.

policyoptions.irpp.org/magazines/oc...

#ConfederationBridge #PEI #cdnpoli #SenCA

Great chat with Paul Hunter on CBC Listen's As It Happens on the reduction of ferry and bridge tolls in Atlantic Canada starting August 1st, including Confederation Bridge which will now cost $20 instead of $50 to cross.

📻: tinyurl.com/ym86763j

#PEI #cdnpoli #SenCA