The Canadian Association of Social Workers (CASW) advocates for health, social and economic equity. Consequently, CASW joins the Canadian Nurses Association (CNA) and other national organizations in principled support for the Government of Canada’s proposed tax changes intended to see all Canadians pay the same equitable level of personal taxation for income earned.
The previous Conservative Government added a number of tax benefits, including Income Splitting and Tax Free Savings Accounts, which permitted economically privileged Canadians with opportunities to increase their personal wealth. Despite these new benefits, existing taxation loopholes, which allow for the shifting of personal income within corporate structures remained unchanged, which can undermine the equity of our progressive taxation system intended to serve the needs of all Canadians.
In Budget 2016 the new Liberal Government eliminated Family Income Splitting, however corporate tax advantages remained unchanged. In recent Budgets, the Government of Canada has made long-term commitments to support publicly funded health and social services, including significant investments to address housing, homecare, childcare and the incomes of our most vulnerable seniors.
“Although these investments fall short of delivering a coordinated and comprehensive national poverty strategy,” states CASW President, Jan Christianson-Wood, “they are strong steps toward the changes for which we have long advocated in terms of national leadership and investments in a more equitable Canada.”
Increased federal investments require an equitable rebalancing of revenue. In the simplest terms, this means that in our progressive personal taxation system, those that earn more will also pay more toward the health and social services that we all depend upon.
“Social workers know that there is no social progress without economic equity,” notes Christianson-Wood. “For a better Canada for all of us, those that benefit the most economically must contribute equitably to these united goals.”
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For more information:
Fred Phelps, MSW, RSW
613-729-6668