Read: CTF's Occupy BC News Release

HALIFAX, NS: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) is pleased to see people getting involved to create change, but participants in the Occupy Nova Scotia rally need a reality check.

The CTF takes issue with protestors calling on government to make some taxpayers pay even more. (Occupy Wallstreet Protest: Wikipedia/S51438)

“The fact is all Nova Scotians are over taxed -- rich and poor. Higher taxes are a cop out -- better fiscal management is the answer,” says Kevin Lacey, Atlantic Director for the Canadian Taxpayers Federation.

The Nova Scotia tax system is extremely progressive -- meaning those who make more, pay more, a lot more. Put simply, if what Occupy Nova Scotia want is for the rich to pay more, they needn’t worry – they already do. The total number of taxpayers who earn more than $90,000 in Nova Scotia is only 3.8 per cent. What is remarkable is that this small group contributes 39 per cent of all federal income tax revenue and 32 per cent of all the provincial income tax collected in Nova Scotia.

A Nova Scotia government report called “Overview of Taxation” says federal, provincial and municipal taxes together in relation to its GDP make Nova Scotia the highest tax jurisdiction in all of Canada.

“Change is needed in Nova Scotia, but not the kind of change the protestors are looking for,” adds Lacey.

The Federation also points out the irony of this rally being supported by organized labour. Public sector unions for example have done very well in Nova Scotia. According to Statistics Canada public sector wages increased by 21 per cent over private sector ones since 1997, the largest increase in Canada. Over the same period of time the increase in the rest of Canada was just 3.8 per cent.

“It’s ironic some unionized government employees are complaining about the very system that has paid them very handsomely,” says Lacey.

References: Information on taxation can be found in the Overview of Taxation document found HERE. Pages 99-103. Federation numbers on public sector salaries can be found HERE.