At 42.1%, taxes eat up more of your income than any other single family expense If you asked average Canadian families what their largest expense is, many would probably say: housing. And, you can’t blame them. Mortgage and rental payments are a painful monthly reminder of how much we pay for this basic necessity. But
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Charles Lammam
Extend Secret Ballot Voting to all Canadian Workers when Forming a Union
on August 26th, 2015
Pilots at WestJet recently voted to reject union representation, sparking renewed interest in labour relations laws in Canada. The vote means WestJet pilots will remain non-union, in contrast to their counterparts at Air Canada where, in 2012, the airline became mired in labour disputes that ultimately hurt its bottom line. But more importantly, the vote
If Governments Force Canadians to Save More for Retirement, Voluntary Private Savings Will Shrink
on July 24th, 2015
A $1 increase reduces private savings by around the same amount In recent years, there’s been a strong push to expand the Canada Pension Plan, and Ontario intends to launch an additional mandatory pension plan in January 2017. Yet the debate about expanding mandatory government-run pensions has largely overlooked the unintended effect on private savings.
Social Mobility is Alive and Well in Canada
on June 24th, 2015
Social mobility is alive and well in Canada Canada is one of the most socially mobile societies in the developed world Is Canada still a land of opportunity? If you base your opinion on what sometimes appears on editorial pages or social media threads, you might not be sure. A fundamentally false perception seems to
Income Splitting Not The Best Economic Bang For The Buck
on October 31st, 2014
The government missed an opportunity to enact tax reform that lays the foundation for stronger economic growth After seven consecutive years of budget deficits, the federal government is finally set to balance the budget. While the government has long expressed that tax relief is its top post-deficit priority, the major question has always been: what
Government Monopoly Over Education Leaves Families Adrift
on September 3rd, 2014
The same people who lament corporate monopolies see nothing wrong with government monopolies By Sean Speer and Charles Lammam : Normally this is the time of year many B.C. families would be counting down the days until school resumed. But this year is different, with the ongoing B.C. teachers’ union labour dispute casting a pall of
Burger King/Tim Horton’s Deal a Reminder That Business Taxes Matter
on August 29th, 2014
Uncompetitive corporate tax rates deter business investment and encourage firms to relocate elsewhere News that Burger King and Tim Horton’s are merging and that the new company will be headquartered in Canada has taken the business and political world by storm. U.S. politicians and left-of-centre groups denounced the transaction as “tax dodging” and warned
Are You Happy Working For The Government Until June 9?
on June 10th, 2014
If Canadians paid all of their taxes up front, June 10 is the day they can start working for their families By Charles Lammam and Milagros Palacios No one really thinks we should abolish all taxes. After all, how would governments fund important public services that form the foundation of our economy? Think of services
Taxes Squeezing Household Budgets
on April 30th, 2014
Canadian governments take $44 out of every $100 your family earns By Charles Lammam and Hugh MacIntyre Like other Canadians, you work hard for your money. Faced with essential expenses such as food, clothing, and shelter, your household budget may feel squeezed. But what if we told you, your family’s biggest expense is taxes? Sure,
