Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/62071
orty years ago, golf was removed from a list of acceptable business expenses. Today, the National Allied Golf Associations (NAGA) and Member of Parliament Randall Garrison are trying to get this fixed. As a result of tax reform that dates back to the early 1970s, the Canada Revenue Agency does not allow the usual 50% deduction for expenses incurred by business people entertaining clients at golf courses while it is allowed for a multitude of other activities from taking someone to a hockey game to a day of skiing. The golf industry has been aware of this inequality for a long time but without a national voice it was difficult to bring this to government's attention. This changed when the National Allied Golf Associations got involved. "NAGA" is an umbrella Association of Golf Associations that includes many of the industry's major players. Spearheaded by the association's then Chair, Jeff Calderwood, NAGA undertook the mission to get the federal government's attention on this matter. Calderwood remembers the process My tenure as a Director for the Western Canada Turfgrass Association came to an end in Victoria, this past month. As I reflect back on the past ten years of my involvement with the Board, I am reminded of all of the changes our Industry has faced, and will continue to in the future. There are concerns, ambitions, and targets that need to be met, and dealt with in every Industry; becoming familiar with these in our own Industry is the most important factor to guarantee success for us-together, as one United body. Our Industry has been challenged /questioned recently, with the getting a big boost forward about a year ago when he met the NDP Member of Parliament for Esquimalt Juan de Fuca, Randall Garrison. "When I told him what had happened (with this tax inequality), his response was'You're kidding' followed by 'Tell me more'." And Calderwood did. The National Golf Course Owners Association's CEO pointed out the social and economic value of golf. There are an estimated 6 million Canadian golfers and there are more than 2,500 golf courses and practice ranges in Canada. It is the country s most popular sport. There are more golfers in Canada than there are hockey players, and the industry is worth more than $11 billion per year to the Canadian economy," stated Calderwood. Garrison saw the value too and the result was the idea of a private member's bill to get the tax act changed. Garrison began to approach MPs from all parties to gather support something that proved not too difficult chemical/pesticide issue; and I hear many different sides of the same story. Focus for a moment on who these people are, that are questioning our ability to do our job. Media hunger, un-educated (in terms of the issue they comment on), shock the public types that want their name in lights. What vested interest do they have in banning a tool from our tool box, that helps provide quality and safety to young athletes, physically fit adult groups, and a $4 Billion golf course Industry? The answer is nothingnothing vested, other than their ego. We all know the science is solid, the PMRA (the National Pesticide Management Body), spends millions of dollars ensuring that, applied correctly, these tools have no effect on the population that enjoys any Turfgrass area. The science, unfortunately does not matter. These groups have used emotion to play on an un-educated public, and scare them into believing these chemicals are going to kill their JEFF CLALDERWOOD (L), MP RANDALL GARRISON ARE JOINED BY RANDY FRANK, GM OF OLYMPIC VIEW GOLF CLUB when one considers that virtually every riding has at least a handful of golf courses. This both-sides-of-the-aisle concenus led to the recent introduction of a Private Member s Bill (PMB) entitled An Act to amend the Income Tax Act (golfing expenses). At a luncheon held the day after the bill's introduction at the Olympic View Golf Club in the MP's own riding, Garrison talked not just about the bill but also about the need to change the way golf is perceived. "Golf is healthy and family-orientedand I think we can change the elitist image of golf. One way we can do that is to encourage more charity events that involve the corporate world and brings it together with the local community." His take is gaining acceptance from both major parties but when this bill actually gets addressed is a little more of question mark. The ball is now in the Minister of Finance, Jim Flaherty's hands. The early thinking is that while it is possible the act could be changed daughter/son absurd, but emotionally very effective. This challenge will continue and WE as an Association within an Industry that we rely on, need to be together and continue to move forward. We ALL need to explain to anyone who will listen, who is interested, and who does not have a self-serving ego on their agenda that we are a professional group of individuals, working together for a common goal, we know what we are doing because we have been and continue to be educated in our chosen field, and we have the Societies best interest in mind at all times during the implementation of our job. Society needs to understand that we take our responsibilities extremely seriously.more seriously than many other sectors of this same Society today, in terms of the populations safety, health, and well- being. They are not going to know unless we tell them. Why dont we all use the most professional Megaphone ever this year, it is more likely to occur in 2013. Concludes Garrison, "We will need to circle our wagons around Mr. Flaherty to get around the perception the golf is just an elitist industry. If it is not in this budget, hopefully it will be in the next. These are tough times, so anything like this is a tough sell this year. It will come up again in the new year. The minister has never said no so we need to keep pushing." Asked jokingly if he will benefit personally from this, Mr. Garrison replied with a smile, "I have been asked that a few times. Actually I don't even play golf . My father does, my sister does For me this about ending a discrimination." Jeff Calderwood, who was also on hand in Victoria to formally thank Mr. Garrison for his support echos this sentiment, "Over time, the inequality towards the golf industry has become more and more significant. Mr. Garrison s PMB is an important first step in establishing tax fairness for Canada s golf industry." provided for all of you THE WCTA and its Board of Directors. Please remain involved, if you already are, and get involved if you are not. We need to validate ourselves, and not become victims of an ego driven unenlightened section of present day Society. I was 17 years old when I realized there was 5:30am on the alarm clock. The reward for becoming upright that early in the morning, was a 5-7km walk, following an odd machine that often Continued On Next Page