Commentary
Federal governments like scheduling tax increases for April 1 for a couple of reasons. Canadians are typically in good spirits as the end of winter is in sight and folks who qualified for tax refunds are feeling flush. The government also likes to give themselves raises at the beginning of April with the hope taxpayers won’t take notice. This year, the prime minister enjoyed a $10,200 raise while backbench MPs garnered an extra $5,100. Nice work if you can get it.
Things have changed, though. Cost-of-living increases have put citizens under a great deal of stress as the price of nearly everything is rising. People are sensitive to tax increases, and when Canada’s carbon tax did its annual rise on April 1, citizens started asking questions after Parliamentary Budget Officer (PBO) Yves Giroux released a report indicating the carbon tax will cost families hundreds of dollars per year despite the rebate program….