Three-Quarters (73%) of Canadians Say They Don't Get Enough for Their Taxes

Toronto, ONTARIO - As Canadians face the deadline for filing their 2001 taxes, a new Ipsos-Reid/CTV/Globe and Mail poll indicates that Canadians do not feel that they are receiving fair value for the taxes that they have to pay. In fact, three-quarters (73%) - half (49%) strongly - agree that Canadians are taxed too high in comparison to the services, such as health care, education and economic development that they receive in return. One-quarter (25%) express the opposite view.

These are the findings of an Ipsos-Reid/CTV/Globe and Mail poll conducted between April 16th and April 18th, 2002. The poll is based on a randomly selected sample of 1,000 adult Canadians. With a sample of this size, the results are considered accurate to within 177 3.1 percentage points, 19 times out of 20, of what they would have been had the entire adult Canadian population been polled. The margin of error will be larger within regions and for other sub-groupings of the survey population. These data were statistically weighted to ensure the sample's regional and age/sex composition reflects that of the actual Canadian population according to the 1996 Census data.

As Canadians face the annual April 30th deadline for filing their taxes, they appear to be discontented with the value of services they receive in exchange for the taxes that they have to pay. In fact, three-quarters (73%) agree that Canadians are taxed too high in comparison to the services, such as health care, education and economic development that they receive in return - one-half (49%) strongly agree with this sentiment. One-quarter (25%) express the opposite view.

• Highest agreement with this view is found among Quebecers (84%) and Albertans (75%). Agreement is approximately seven-in-ten among all other regions: Saskatchewan/Manitoba (71%), British Columbia (69%), Ontario (69%), and Atlantic Canada (69%).
• Canadians with household incomes of between $30,000 and $60,000 (77%) and less than $30,000 (75%) are more likely than those with household incomes of $60,000 or greater (70%) to express this view.
• Middle aged (78%) Canadians are more likely then either their younger (71%) or older (71%) counterparts to express this view.
• Canadians with less than a high school education (80%), or a high school diploma (77%) are more likely to feel that they are not getting good value for their taxes, in comparison to those with post-secondary education (74%) or a university degree (68%).

To view the complete release and tables, please download the attached PDF files.

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For more information on this news release, please contact:

John Wright
Senior Vice-President
Public Affairs
Ipsos-Reid
(416) 324-2900