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1. Tax hatred? No, tax awareness and tax reform

   Among the modern criteria for a good tax system are the principles of efficiency and equity. But another important principle is also awareness—that is, taxpayers should be aware of the taxes the pay and the benefits they receive from ...

2. Enough with the gazelles already—Canadian business needs lions

   All of a sudden we seem to be surrounded by gazelles. It’s as if the Canadian industrial policy landscape has been transported to the Serengeti. Entrepreneur Anthony Lacavera and writer Kate Fillion have a new book out (How We Can Win) ...

3. Proposed tax changes targeting private corporations fall short of comprehensive reform

   Yesterday the Trudeau government wrapped up consultations on its proposed tax changes targeting private corporations. The proposed changes are best described as a piecemeal approach that falls well short of the type of comprehensive tax ...

4. According to Prime Minister Trudeau, redistribution is the new ‘tax relief’

   In the House of Commons on Tuesday, the prime minister admitted that many middle-class Canadians are now paying more taxes. ...

5. In search of new revenue, Ottawa seems to be changing the tax system

   Here’s some interesting information from the 2017 edition of the Federal Fiscal Reference Tables. Total federal tax revenues in 2016-17 were $244.3 billion—up 0.7 per cent from the previous fiscal year. When the tax revenue is broken-up, ...

6. Sensational headlines about economic growth breed complacency

   Appeared in the Financial Post, September 7, 2017 Given the sensational media headlines hyping Canada’s recent economic growth, it’s hard to blame Canadians for being complacent. “Canada's economy steamrolls ahead—4.5% annualized rate of expansion” ...

7. Canada’s Past Fiscal Leaders Are Now Fiscal Laggards: An Analysis of 2017 Provincial Budgets

   Around the turn of the 21st century, Alberta and Ontario could both boast of having comparatively sound public finances relative to most other provinces. In recent years, however, serious fiscal problems have emerged in both provinces. Alberta and Ontario ...

8. Canadians must know how much total tax they pay to assess whether they get good value

   The Fraser Institute’s annual calculations of the average family’s tax bill provide a valuable service to Canadians. Taxes are a complex issue and it’s very difficult for Canadians to calculate how much total tax they pay throughout the ...

9. The market already rewards risk-taking—taxes don’t have to

   For most of my working life I’ve been a tenured university professor, which means I can’t be fired except for cause. In theory, the powers-that-be could shut down my department or, for that matter, my university. But both events are ...

10. Canada’s competitiveness problem with the personal income tax

    In 1917, Canada’s political leaders were worried about what the introduction of a personal income tax would mean for the nation’s international competitiveness and its continued ability to attract investment and people. As Canada ...