Title: Petition Calls on Deputy Prime Minister to Stop Pay Hike as Canadians Express Discontent
Canadian Members of Parliament (MPs) are set to receive a pay raise on April 1st, the same day the government plans to increase the Carbon Tax. As a response to this move, a petition has been launched, urging Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland to halt the pay hike. The petition, which currently has 7,995 signatures, aims to reach a goal of 10,000 signatures.
The discontent among Canadians towards the government is evident, as revealed in a July poll conducted by Abacus Data. The study showed that a majority of Canadians, 56%, believe that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau should “step down” as the leader of the Liberal Party. In contrast, only 27% believe he should continue in his role. Those who remained unsure accounted for 17% of the survey respondents. Within the Liberal voter base, 28% feel that Trudeau should step down, while 52% continue to support him as the prime minister.
The poll also indicated a decline in support for the Liberal Party, with 38% of Canadians expressing a willingness to vote for the Conservative Party, compared to only 26% supporting the Liberals. This level of support for the Liberal Party is the lowest recorded since 2015. The dissatisfaction with Trudeau’s leadership can be attributed to concerns over his extravagant spending and tax hikes, which have led to him being labeled the “worst prime minister” by 30% of respondents. His predecessor, Stephen Harper, followed closely with an 18% rating.
Canadians are increasingly burdened by rising taxes, according to an Ipsos poll conducted for the Montreal Economic Institute (MEI). The study found that two-thirds of Canadians believe they pay too much income tax, while fewer than one in four consider the federal government fiscally prudent. The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) highlighted several tax changes, including higher Canada Pension Plan (CPP) and Employment Insurance (E.I.) premiums, increased carbon taxes, and a 6.3% alcohol tax increase. Furthermore, another increase in E.I. premiums is anticipated by the end of the month.
The impact of increased government spending on inflation is also a concern for Canadians, with two out of three acknowledging its negative influence. The federal government’s expenditure of $309 billion on COVID pandemic relief has placed Canada’s fiscal future at risk, as stated by the C.D. Howe Institute. Estimates from the Fraser Institute suggest an even higher expenditure of $359.7 billion. These expenditures have contributed to a 73% increase in federal spending, amounting to $644.2 billion in 2020/21 and an estimated $508 billion in 2021/22. A significant portion of this expenditure is unrelated to the pandemic and represents a long-term escalation of federal spending, leaving the country’s finances in turmoil.
The rising tax burden on Canadians is evident, with average families of two or more people set to pay $64,610 in total taxes in 2023, reflecting 46.1% of their annual gross income. Last year, the average family paid 45.2% of their income to the government. According to Jake Fuss, the associate director of fiscal studies at the Fraser Institute, if Canadians were to pay all their taxes upfront, they would have to work for 169 days before bringing any money home for themselves and their families.
With Trudeau’s support dwindling, Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre is gaining traction as a potential alternative. Over a third, or 34%, of respondents perceive Poilievre positively, a 4% increase compared to earlier in August. Poilievre has criticized the Liberal Party’s aggressive rhetoric, emphasizing the need for respectful dialogue and denouncing the “nastiness and meanness” directed at those who disagree with their policies.
As Canadians express their dissatisfaction with the government’s decisions, the petition to halt the pay raise for MPs and ongoing discussions about leadership alternatives signal a growing desire for change.
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