Rising government debt can dampen economic growth and divert billions of dollars away from important public priorities
By Jake Fuss and Alex Whalen The Fraser Institute Just three months ago, provincial Finance Minister Karen Casey released a budget projecting an operating surplus, which would have been the Nova Scotia’s fifth consecutive balanced budget. However, due to COVID-19, circumstances have changed dramatically and the province now expects to run a large deficit this…
Increasing the federal tax would be anti-investment, anti-entrepreneurship, anti-innovation and anti-green
By Niels Veldhuis and Jake Fuss The Fraser Institute At a time when the country faces momentous economic challenges, it’s hard to think of a more damaging policy than a capital gains tax hike. Yet rumours persist that prior to the COVID-19 crisis and economic downturn, that’s exactly what the federal government planned to do.…
By Jake Fuss and Milagros Palacios The Fraser Institute Have you ever wondered how much you actually pay in taxes each year? While tax returns help us understand how much income tax we pay, it’s difficult for most Canadians to calculate their total tax bill. In Canada we pay many taxes to the federal, provincial…
By Jake Fuss and Finn Poschmann The Fraser Institute According to a Parliamentary Budget Officer (PBO) report released this week, the federal government’s plan to increase the basic personal income tax deduction will cost nearly $7 billion annually when fully implemented. This is not only higher than what the Liberals anticipated during last fall’s election…
Canada’s economy is weakening with storm clouds on the horizon while federal finances are woefully unprepared for a recession
By Jason Clemens, Jake Fuss and Milagros Palacios The Fraser Institute It’s hard to recall a time when Canada’s finances were so perilously close to rapidly deteriorating with seemingly little or no interest in Ottawa. Federal Finance Minister Bill Morneau has been making the rounds since releasing the fall economic update last month, reassuring Canadians…
The federal government can’t continue to ignore the warning signs of a slowing economy. It should limit discretionary spending now
By Tegan Hill and Jake Fuss The Fraser Institute The recently-released Economic and Fiscal Update demonstrates the federal government’s proclivity for marked increases in deficit-financed spending despite warning signs of a slowing economy. New borrowing and a larger deficit increase the risk to federal finances should a recession occur. The federal update pegs the deficit…
We need smart tax cuts that improve incentives for workers, entrepreneurs and investors, along with a balanced budget
By Jason Clemens, Jake Fuss and Tegan Hill The Fraser Institute Finance Minister Bill Morneau recently confirmed the federal government’s intention to reduce personal income taxes for everyone except “higher-income earners.” With total taxes (federal, provincial and local) consuming 44.7 per cent of the average family’s income in 2019, it’s easy to see why Canadians…
Canada’s debt has grown faster than the economy. That dangerous pattern casts a shadow over the nation’s long-term financial health
By Alex Whalen and Jake Fuss The Fraser Institute Just before the holidays, the federal government released its fall economic update. It revealed that Canada’s federal debt-to-gross-domestic-product ratio increased in 2019, meaning Canada’s debt has grown faster than the economy. This is particularly important because the government chose the debt-to-GDP ratio to guide federal fiscal…
Higher taxes discourage business investment, business startups, entrepreneurialism and investment in education
By Jake Fuss and Tegan Hill The Fraser Institute Before Canadians go to the polls on Oct. 21, they should understand each party’s tax plan, which unfortunately range from bad to worse to downright naive. Let’s start with the NDP and Green Party, which have similar plans. Both propose a new “wealth tax” and would…
Any voluntary increase in spending by the federal government would further exacerbate the deficit
By Jake Fuss and Milagros Palacios The Fraser Institute Many economists have warned of a U.S. recession in the near future, in part due to the rise of trade protectionism, political turmoil and market volatility. Of course, a U.S. recession will also harm the Canadian economy and create significant problems for federal finances. So when…
By Jake Fuss and Alex Whalen The Fraser Institute Just three months ago, provincial Finance Minister Karen Casey released a budget projecting an operating surplus, which would have been the Nova Scotia’s fifth consecutive balanced budget. However, due to COVID-19, circumstances have changed dramatically and the province now expects to run a large deficit this…
