Canadians want everything for nothing: study

VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – You want the social services, but you don’t want to pay the taxes that cover the cost. A survey has found a huge disconnect between our needs and wants.

Nearly half of the Canadians surveyed by McAllister Opinion Research say they would vote against any politician who wanted to increase taxes for any reason. Yet, nine in 10 would not cut any social programs. If anything, UBC Policy Professor Paul Kershaw, who has studied the issues, claims people want to see more money spent in that area.

“I think Canadians really have to wrestle with our anti-tax sentiments, which have become fashionable. But it also is turning Canadians into a group that really does seem to imply that we want something for nothing,” he explains.

It wasn’t always this way; Kershaw tells us since 2000, the government has cut taxes but kept on spending, racking up debt for future generations.  He adds social programs cost money, but it’s a reality that isn’t hitting home.

“Canadians need to take a hard look in the mirror,” he argues. “We’re so apt to critique our political leaders and I think we are feeding a system where inevitably, we’re going to think people are either untrustworthy or incompetent because it literally is impossible for any party to deliver more services if we want to cut taxes.”