CTF Responds to Fraser Institute calculation of June 28th as national Tax Freedom Day

OTTAWA: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) today responded to news that Tax Freedom Day for Canada occurs tomorrow, June 28th. According to calculations made by the Fraser Institute, this is a two-day setback since last year when Tax Freedom Day occurred on June 26th.

Each year the Fraser Institute calculates Tax Freedom Day (TFD) as the day of the year when Canadians finally start working for themselves. Prior to this date, all money earned by Canadians is required to pay the taxes, fees and levies imposed by all three orders of government - federal, provincial, and municipal. Full details can be found at www.fraserinstitute.ca.

"Canadians this year worked 178 days to feed the big tax collection monster and this monster is very hungry, chewing up a whopping 48.6% of our average annual household income," stated CTF federal director Walter Robinson.

"From January 1st until April 12th, we worked for Ottawa. After a good night's rest we then worked for the province from April 13th until June 15th. Finally, we toiled from June 16th until the end of today for city hall," added Robinson. "Tomorrow we start to work for ourselves. Meanwhile, our American friends celebrated TFD on April 27th and our British cousins celebrated their TFD on June 5th.

"Canadians must remain vigilant. The flying tax, new 'sin' taxes and other measures which masquerade as public policy that 'is good for us' demonstrate that governments continue to find new and creative ways to feed their spending habits," concluded Robinson. "This is an ongoing battle."