Taxes

A Poll of Canadians on the Average Family’s Taxes

— Mar 2, 2023

Polling Canadians on Taxes for the Average Family, based on a new Leger poll in early 2023 that surveyed 1,554 Canadians about their opinions on the tax burdens imposed on families, finds that 80 per cent of Canadians across the country support the average family paying 40 per cent or less of their income in total taxes to all levels of government.

Taxes, Innovation, and Productivity Growth

— Feb 7, 2023

Taxes, Innovation, and Productivity Growth is a new study that highlights the negative effect that higher corporate and personal income taxes have on innovation. In particular, Canada’s tax system is uncompetitive compared to those of other advanced economies—including the United States—when it comes to encouraging innovation-related activities, which in turn slows productivity growth, a key driver of higher living standards.

Broken Promises: The Persistence of Elevated Personal and Corporate Income Taxes in Ontario

— Jan 5, 2023

Broken Promises: The persistence of elevated personal and corporate income taxes in Ontario is a new study that finds due to both federal and provincial tax hikes, Ontario now has the third highest top combined federal/provincial or federal/ state top income tax rate in Canada or the United States—having jumped from 46.41 per cent in 2012 to 53.53 per cent.

Measuring the Fiscal Performance of Canada's Premiers, 2022

— Nov 17, 2022

Measuring the Fiscal Performance of Canada's Premiers, 2022 is a new study that ranks Canadian premiers (seven current and four former) based on three fiscal policy categories: government spending, taxes, and deficits and debt up to the fiscal year 2021/22. Premiers who managed spending more prudently, balanced the budgets, and or paid down debt ranked higher.

British Columbia's Growing Tax Competitiveness Problem

— Nov 1, 2022

BC's Tax Competitiveness Problem is Growing over Time is a new study that finds British Columbia now has the 4th highest top Personal Income Tax (PIT) rate in Canada or the United States at 53.5 per cent—only 1.3 per cent lower than Newfoundland and Labrador, the highest rated jurisdiction in both the US and Canada.

Measuring Progressivity in Canada’s Tax System, 2022

— Oct 27, 2022

Measuring Progressivity in Canada’s Tax System, 2022 finds that the top 20 per cent of income-earning families pay more than half (53 per cent) of total taxes including sales and property taxes. Conversely, the bottom 20 per cent of income-earning families pay 0.8 per cent of total taxes, due partly to the progressivity of Canada’s tax system where the share of taxes paid typically increases as incomes rise.