It’s the Oilers versus the Hurricanes in the Stanley Cup finals, the end of the hockey season, right? Well, in the real world it is but in Parliament hockey season has started up again. (By the way GO OILERS, it’s been too many years since the last Cup.)

What do I mean the hockey season has started in Parliament again? Let me explain.

For the last four years, Saskatchewan MPs have been fighting to get federal tax collectors to provide the SJHL with tax fairness—and stop treating an amateur hockey player’s room and board allowance as taxable income. Revenue Canada assessed tax on the room and board allowance of the SJHL players, something that had not been done for years and years. (Only teams in Saskatchewan were assessed at the time, for some reason the Flin Flon Bombers, being in Manitoba were exempt.)

Last year, tired of fighting with bureaucrats, we got a bill passed in the House of Commons that exempted room and board allowances of not-for-profit teams like junior hockey. The bill passed, with the support of the NDP and BQ . However, the bill did not become law because it failed to clear the Senate before the election. So we’re at it again.

Hopefully, the necessary changes to the Income Tax Act will be done by next year, so the Broncos don’t have to fund-raise as much money. This little change in tax policy could save the team about $10,000 a year. Humboldt needs the Broncos, and the Broncos don’t need to be hassled by the tax man. It’s time for our hockey team to concentrate on going back and winning the Royal Bank Cup again.

I’m Brad Trost, your Member of Parliament, and I welcome your feedback. Write or call my offices.