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FRASER UPDATE
A weekly digest of our latest research, commentary, and blog posts
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Latest Research
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Even with a substantial COVID-driven reduction in tax revenue, the average Canadian family paid more in taxes than it did on housing, food and clothing combined
The Canadian Consumer Tax Index, 2021 Edition is a new study that finds even with a substantial COVID-driven reduction in tax revenue, the average Canadian family still spent over 36 per cent of its income on taxes in 2020 compared to 35.4 per cent on basic necessities—more than housing, food and clothing costs combined. Since 1961, the average Canadian family’s total tax bill has increased nominally by 1,992 per cent, eclipsing increases in annual housing costs (1,671 per cent), clothing (629 per cent) and food (767 per cent).
Read More [[link removed]]
Even before COVID, Canada’s growth rate of business investment—a key driver of higher living standards—neared 50-year low
An International Comparison of Capital Expenditures is a new study that finds the growth rate of overall capital expenditures in Canada slowed substantially from 2005 to 2019. Critically, from 2015 to 2019, the growth rate was lower than in virtually any other period since 1970, with corporate investment dropping below other developed countries such as the United States, Sweden, France, Norway, and Australia.
Read More [[link removed]]
Commentary and Blog Posts
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Canadians should watch out for opaque tax hikes [[link removed]]
(Appeared in the Toronto Sun) by Tegan Hill and Jake Fuss
Indexation is currently applied to the personal income tax system federally and in most provinces.
Trudeau government spends billions on unnecessary ‘climate’ war [[link removed]]
(Appeared in the Calgary Sun) by Matthew Lau
This $206 million is only part of Ottawa’s vast climate spending portfolio.
New report highlights Canada’s low health-care ranking among peer countries [[link removed]]
(Appeared in the Hub) by Bacchus Barua and Mackenzie Moir
Canada ranked last on timely access to specialist consultations and elective/non-emergency surgery.
New Brunswick government finances remain unsustainable [[link removed]]
(Appeared in the New Brunswick Telegraph-Journal) by Alex Whalen and Jake Fuss
This year, the province's government debt topped $14 billion or $18,043 per person.
Federal government continues misguided war on plastic [[link removed]]
(Appeared in the Globe and Mail) by Kenneth P. Green
Approximately 93 per cent of all plastics dumped into the sea come from 10 rivers in Asia and Africa.
Deficits for 50 years—a plan fraught with risks and consequences [[link removed]]
by Jake Fuss
The Trudeau government plans to implement new spending programs including national childcare and pharmacare.
Outdated EI system adds to Atlantic Canada’s labour challenges [[link removed]]
by Alex Whalen and Jake Fuss
More than 267,000 Atlantic Canadians currently receive some form of EI
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