Madam Speaker, before I became involved in politics which was only 15 months
ago, I was wondering what was meant by the term code words in politics. I suggest code words are being used by the Liberals.
With due respect to the chairman of the finance committee, when he uses the word "fair" and the phrase "contribute their fair share" what he is really talking about is a further tax increase. Taxes are simply the confiscation of wealth.
It is absolutely outrageous that this government would be compounding the problems created by the Conservatives, particularly with the corporations, that when the corporations have a loss, a no profit year, the government would turn around and confiscate some of their working capital by virtue of the fact that it says they did not make a profit this year, therefore it is going to tax them. It is a simply confiscation of their ability to be able to fund their enterprise. It is absolutely outrageous.
The top 10 per cent of people earning over the $51,000 figure pay 50 per cent of the income taxes. How much fairer can we possibly get? The top 1 per cent who earn over $100,000 pay 15 per cent. How much fairer can we get? Is this not progressive enough?
The reality is that according to well documented and fully accepted statistics, the average tax take on Canadians at all levels of government at this point is 46 cents out of every dollar. How much fairer can we get? Is there any more room in taxation?
Considering that, let us get away from the $51,000 and the $100,000 ranges and talk about the average family income, a joint family income of $46,488. Consider that family spends $17,000 on food, clothing and shelter. However, with all levels of government as a result of past activity of the federal government down loading the taxation to other levels of government, that family with an after tax income of $46,488, $17,000 of which is spent on food, clothing and shelter, has a tax bill of $21,000, which is $4,000 more than it costs to cover food, clothing and shelter.
Does the chairman not believe that there is no more room, no net tax increase, that this is the only position this government can take?