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corporate welfare bum
DCHP-2 (Oct 2012)
n. — slang, derogatory, Economy
a company using, or lobbying for, government subsidies or tax incentives.
Type: 1. Origin — The term is most frequently used in Canada (see Chart 1). Attributed to former NDP Leader David Lewis (1909-1981), whose 1972 book entitled Louder Voices: The Corporate Welfare Bums popularized the term (see both the 1972 and 1991 quotations). A similar discussion, recycling Lewis's terms, flared up again in the mid-1990s (see the 1996 quotation), this time more focused on how to tax multinational companies without making Canada unattractive for investment. In the US, Ralph Nader is frequently cited as using the term, at times even of having coined it. The textual evidence points towards Mr. Lewis as perhaps the inventor, but certainly as the popularizer of the term that has become a Canadianism on frequency grounds.
Quotations
1972
Mr. Roman is the Conservative candidate in York North and chairman of Denison Mines Ltd .-- one of the companies Mr. Lewis has labelled a "corporate welfare bum."
1972
Rather than deal lightly with all subjects treated in this publication, I would like to concentrate on the substance of the charges that are incorporated in Mr. Lewis's colourful way of communicating with the Canadian people, that is, in his description of "corporate ripoffs," "corporate welfare bums," etc.
1978
Deputy Prime Minister Allan MacEachen, the minister in charge of the pipeline legislation, set off a round of laughter in the Commons with the quick comeback: The corporate welfare bums have now become the corporate welfare chums.
1987
Standing against the towers of Bay St. on a sunny summer day, Broadbent told reporters that his party "speaks for ordinary Canadians" and, like the "corporate welfare bums" punchline of former leader David Lewis, it became the NDP's trademark.
1990
God bless. That was the year Ottawa and Quebec combined to give that notorious corporate welfare bum, General Motors, a 30-year, $220 million interest-free loan, a gift of $90 million in saved interest payments during the life of the loan. General Motors, incidentally, had made $3 billion the previous year.
1991
Campaigning in 1972 on the inspired theme of no government handouts to "corporate welfare bums," Lewis captivated a nation. While a Liberal minority government emerged, it could survive only as long as Lewis' New Democrats, which held the balance of power, chose to support it.
1996
MCMURDY: Back in the mists of time over twenty years ago, the late NDP leader David Lewis called them "corporate welfare bums". He was referring to companies that pay only nominal tax on their profits. The issue was a pretty well gnawed bone when it was buried the last time but, as any good terrier can tell you, you can always get a little more mileage from a bone that's been dormant for a while. Flash forward to yesterday. The Ontario Federation of Labour and the Ontario Coalition for Social Justice have released a report, and it claims that hundreds of companies pay income tax at a lower rate than the average worker.
2005
If you don't believe that, just recall former federal NDP leader David Lewis's reference to the large business sector as "corporate welfare bums."
2012
The business case for these productions is apparently largely contingent on these forms of rebates or tax credits, not just here, but anywhere. Ever wonder why they use Toronto or Vancouver to fill in for some American city? Why not just go to the actual spot and film there? A very large factor is how much money producers can squeeze out of the local government.
Let's call this what it is: film tax credits are supporting corporate welfare bums, and are one of the worst examples.
References
- Lewis (1972)
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