But it's taking the wrong approach
By Charles Lammam and Ben Eisen The Fraser Institute The Trudeau government delivered its much anticipated Throne Speech earlier this month outlining the main priorities for the coming Parliament. The government emphasized its first and “immediate priority” is to “deliver a tax cut for the middle class,” with legislative changes being announced in the coming…
Trudeau government has rejected the successful policies of the Chretien government in exchange for deficit-financed spending and higher taxes
By Jason Clemens Niels Veldhuis and Milagros Palacios The Fraser Institute While the Liberals campaigned on a marked increase in federal spending financed by deficits, Canadians view this approach more negatively than they did during the election campaign, according to a recent Angus Reid poll. Canadians are indeed wise to be skeptical. Running deficits during…
It is too early to accuse the Trudeau government of breaking its election promises
Some people are getting pretty fussed about the Trudeau government not keeping its election promises. I wonder whether I am the only one who isn’t yet ready to pile on. The accusations are coming pretty fast for a government that has barely had time to find the washrooms. They’re also a bit of a stretch.…
Uber uses a scheme called Double Dutch to avoid paying any taxes in Canada
Why would anyone object to Uber, the user-friendly on-line drive-share service? Uber’s many riders obviously love it, but it seems civic officials are having conniptions. Their main complaint is that Uber drivers are unlicensed to carry passengers and may not have adequate insurance. In addition, officials are genuinely concerned that the presence of Uber creates…
It is more accurate to describe the Notley government's policy approach as “tax and spend"
By Ben Eisen and Taylor Jackson The Fraser Institute Alberta Premier Rachel Notley’s claim that her government's new carbon tax is “revenue neutral” is, upon analysis, little more than an obfuscation of terminology. Last week, the Alberta government unveiled its new strategy on climate change, aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The strategy calls for…
Let's hope the new government quickly realizes there is a difference between campaigning and governing
BY Jason Clemens and Niels Veldhuis The Fraser Institute All Canadians, regardless of political allegiance or philosophical disposition, should want the federal government to succeed – particularly since the Liberal focus is on promoting stronger economic growth. And to ensure strong economic growth, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau should heed the lessons of successful governance learned by Jean…
Poorly conceived personal income tax changes could result in the loss of more entrepreneurial high-income earners
The new Liberal government plans to raise personal income taxes on the top Canadian income-earners to fund a tax decrease for the middle class. According to Statistics Canada, to be in the top 1 per cent in 2013, a tax-filer needed to have a total income of at least $222,000. To be in the top 10…
Governments often fail to account for the behavioural effects spurred by its personal income tax rate hikes
By Steve Lafleur and Charles Lammam The Fraser Institute The Alberta government recently abandoned the province’s single 10 per cent tax rate on personal income in favour of a five-bracket system with a top rate of 15 per cent – a move that will reduce Alberta’s competitiveness and cause undue harm on an already struggling…
Here’s why that’s the wrong question to ask
A recent Fraser Institute report stated that taxes are the single largest budget item of Canadian households. “Your family’s largest expense may surprise you,” the think tank wrote alarmingly, with taxes as the punchline. Of course, if you divide all household expenditures into a number of different categories like food and transportation, but leave all…
Smoothing out kinks in the home-building process can pay dividends to anyone looking for a new home
By Kenneth Green Ian Herzog and Josef Filipowicz The Fraser Institute In Calgary, home prices have more than doubled over the past decade. Despite the recent economic slowdown, more people are moving to Alberta than leaving it. Economic conditions in Alberta wax and wane over time, but the demand for living here persists. Satisfying this…