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"Simpler. Competitive. Equitable."

Tax reform needs to be centre-piece of COVID-19 economic recovery strategy

Oct 2, 2020 | 9:35 AM

Business leaders across the country believe Canada’s post-COVID economic recovery will be driven by business and as government considers how best to address this unprecedented challenge, significant tax reform needs to be considered – and more importantly, acted upon. Unfortunately, history shows a chasm between what business leaders say and what politicians and policy makers hear.

Groups like the Canadian Chamber of Commerce have long lobbied the government to reform Canada’s tax system. Now, because of the devastating economic impact of COVID 19, everyone is being forced to think differently – including the federal government.

Many have recognized the inefficiencies of our aging tax system. In fact, there has been no significant structural reform since the Carter Royal Commission created the system in the 1960s. Instead, we have seen governments indulged in over 50 years of putting yet another coat of paint on an outdated tax machine. The result is a taxation system both the International Monetary Fund and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development say is smothering Canada’s economic potential.

The three most harmful characteristics of our tax system are:

· Crushingly complex;

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· A hindrance to global competitiveness, and;

· Grossly unfair.

Our post-COVID economic recovery, and the health of our economy for decades to come, is at stake if the tax system does not become simpler, globally competitive, and equitable.

Simpler. Competitive. Equitable.

On the surface, these reform goals may appear to be universally appealing… who wouldn’t want a system that is simpler to administer and comply with? Why not do everything possible to ensure Canada’s global competitiveness? And, who could disagree with making the system equitable for everyone?

This is the “Big If”: If the parties involved cannot agree on the meaning of these three words, tax reform will continue to be contentious, piece meal, ineffective, and frustrating.

Take the word “simpler” as an example.

To business owners, a simpler tax system means a substantial amount of relief from accounting expenses, and more importantly, more time and money. Which translates into more freedom to innovate and accelerate business recovery and growth.

For employees, it means much the same; a simpler system would decrease accounting expenses, free up their time, and make it easier to comply… doing their share to close the tax gap as well.

Now, for politicians, when they hear “simpler”, they hear “change”. And, naturally when they hear” change”, they also hear “risk”. Advocating and legislating for change is risky; they could win or lose. And, for those politicians who are not pro-business – or do not recognize how critically important every business is to the Canadian economy in normal times, let alone when the country needs to find a path to sustainable recovery.

What if…

J.K. Galbraith once wrote, “Faced with a choice between changing one’s mind and proving there is no need to do so, almost everyone gets busy with the proof.”

What if instead, all parties involved can agree on the meaning of a few simple words? This seemingly basic agreement is perhaps the key that will empower permanent, positive change.

For the sake of the country and all Canadians, I hope we can.

Keith Brown is a member of the campaign committee driving the Canadian Chamber of Commerce’s efforts to reform Canada’s tax system to ensure inclusive post COVID recovery and growth. He is also the chair of the Conference for Advanced Life Underwriting (CALU), Tax Policy Committee.