An homage for Harry Payne

[Frank de Jong]

From: Francis Peddle <rsfp...@rogers.com>

Below is an homage for Harry Payne.

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Harry Payne (1925­ --2014), lifelong Georgist and founding member of the Oscar Boelens Foundation and the Canadian Research Committee on Taxation, passed away on August 23, 2014 in Montreal. He leaves to mourn his wife Rolande Tardif and a son, John, his wife Johanne Séguin, and granddaughter Amélie. 

Montreal in the 1950s and 1960s was a very active centre for studying and advocating the ideas of Henry George. In the 1960s, Harry, along with fellow board members Ben Sevack and Leo Klag founded the Canadian Research Committee on Taxation, which was the precursor organization of Earthsharing Canada. Harry worked diligently and selflessly for decades for the Committee as its Secretary­Treasurer. 

In the late 1990s Harry was instrumental in organizing a presentation before the high profile Bédard Commission in Québec which ultimately resulted in a recommendation that Montreal move to a land value tax within five years. In March, 2000, Harry put together the publication The Missing Link in Municipal Restructuring ­ Le Maillon Manquant dans la Restructuration Municipale, which summarized the Bédard Commission’s work in the area of municipal tax reform and land value taxation. 

Harry’s devotion to economic justice and equality was at the core of his life’s work. In lieu of flowers donations to the Alzheimer’s foundation would be appreciated by family and friends.