Tax Fairness Now!
Taxes are the foundation of a healthy democracy. They fund the public services we depend on every day: roads, schools, community and social services, health care, justice, environmental protection and much more. But over two decades now, governments have undermined the progressivity of our tax system by cutting corporate and top income tax rates and letting tax loopholes proliferate. The top 1% of Canadians by income now pay a lower overall rate than all other income groups, including the poorest 10%.
Emerging from its 43rd federal election, Canada faces no shortage of urgent domestic and global challenges. We can afford to fund solutions to crises like poverty, housing and climate change, but substantial progress will require more funding and that should come from making our tax system fairer. This special edition of the Monitor explores how we can do that.
Here’s a sample of what you’ll find in the issue.
- Why isn’t Canada doing more to end tax-dodging and tax havens? Toby Sanger argues it’s time to step up for tax justice.
- Oh Canada, our home and native tax haven. Michael Cuenco maps the links between tax crimes and public policy.
- Corporate tax cuts are a huge policy failure, explains Matt Polacko.
- “Crooks and Kleptocrats.” Erika Beauchesne on how a beneficial ownership registry would clear-up Canada’s snow-washing problem.
- The irresistable march toward fiscal justice, by Quebec’s Samuel-Élie Lesage.
- The case for transparency in the mining, oil and gas sector, by Kady Seguin and Emily Nickerson.
- What riches await? Jamie Kneen asks if the tax breaks for Canadian mining pay off for anyone.
- These rich folks want you to raise their taxes. A call for justice from members of the Resource Movement.
- Should billionaires continue to exist? Nate Wallace argues the answer is a clear “no.”
- How high should top income tax rates go? Toby Sanger and Lars Osberg see room to hike.
- The promise and reality of gender budgeting. Katherine Scott explains why we need fiscal and budgetary policies to work together to close the gender gap.
- Lower-income people need a say on tax reform, writes Jennifer Robson.
- Summer of our digital discontent. John Anderson says we can do better than a meagre 3% digital tax.
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Cover illustration by Michael Haddad.
