News: Taxation

>Taxes are not simply about money or fees collected by governments. They are equally about public programs and services, reducing poverty and the harmful effects of inequality, and protecting the environment.

“Taxes for the Common Good” is a series of six fact sheets highlighting the positive role taxes play in a democratic society and summarizing up-to-date information on the costs and opportunities afforded by various federal tax policy options.

From The Catalyst Winter 2014 A robust, independent non-profit sector that can freely engage in public debate… is vital for a healthy democracy. The prevention of poverty is not a charitable cause, but the alleviation of poverty is, according to the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). That ruling, which required Oxfam Canada to change its purpose statement from prevention…

September 2014

The federal government should reverse tax cuts that disproportionately benefit a select few in favour of tax credits that more effectively address the needs of low-income families.

From the Spring 2014 edition of The Catalyst. Income splitting, also known as family taxation, would change the tax system so that it takes into account total family (rather than individual) income. It would allow higher income earners to transfer a portion of their annual income to the lower income partner to reduce the household’s overall…

Meet the Canadian Tax Dollar, the mascot for the Tackle Tax Havens campaign. He has been sent off to a tax haven by some wealthy individuals and large corporations in order to avoid paying taxes. He had a good time at first, but now he is homesick and wants to come home so he can do something useful, like help fund health care or education.

The Financial Transactions Tax (FTT) has been attracting a lot of attention lately. While the Canadian government has stated its opposition to increased taxation and decided to pursue austerity measures instead, what are the implications for the economy and common good?

It’s tax time in Canada and people across the country are crunching their numbers, filling out the forms, and crossing their fingers for a good tax return. Chances are, very little consideration is being given to the benefit of paying taxes, or to the services we receive in return. 

The extent to which taxes have been disassociated from public services is astounding. Across the Canadian political spectrum, taxation is consistently presented in a negative light. Yet the truth about taxes is that they finance the mechanisms by which the health, safety, and well-being of our society are promoted. They also provide us with tremendous personal benefits.