By rdnewsNOW staff

big chunk

Canadian families spending more on taxes than housing, food and clothing combined: Fraser Institute

Sep 2, 2020 | 2:08 PM

The Fraser Institute has released a new report showing the average Canadian family spent more than 42 per cent of its income on taxes in 2019—more than housing, food and clothing costs combined.

“Taxes remain the largest household expense for families in Canada,” said Jake Fuss, economist at the Fraser Institute and co-author of The Canadian Consumer Tax Index, 2020.

Last year, the Fraser Institute says the average Canadian family earned $91,535 and paid $38,963 in taxes compared to $33,178 for the basic necessities—housing (including rent and mortgage payments), food and clothing combined.

“In other words, the average Canadian family spent 42.6 per cent of its income on taxes compared to 36.2 per cent on basic necessities,” according to a media release.

In 1961, the average Canadian family spent 33.5 per cent of its income on taxes and 56.5 per cent on basic necessities, the institute says.

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“Considering the sheer amount of income that goes towards taxes in this country, Canadians may question whether or not we’re getting good value for our money,” Fuss said.