Taxes are Good

This morning I noticed that ODN printed the regular “taxes are bad” article provided by the Fraser Institute. For decades they have been pushing this idea.

How about printing this letter which actually reminds people that taxes are good and that without taxes we lose public services. Government programs help us in many ways every day. Taxes pay for National, provincial and municipal government services help us deal with our social problems, education and healthcare making Canada the envy of the world.

It has been argued that: “Taxes are what we pay to live in a civilized society that is democratic, offers opportunity, and has a huge infrastructure available to all citizens. This incredible infrastructure has been paid for by previous taxpayers. Roads and highways, the Internet, the broadcast airwaves, our public education system, our power grid — every day we all use this vast infrastructure. Our (taxes) maintain it.”

Source: governmentisgood.com

In Canada we have universal health care, a public school system, extensive unemployment insurance programs, generous government pensions, and relatively low-cost higher education. To pay for these services we pool our tax resources and share the benefits for all citizens living in Canada. Yes this costs more in taxes, but the benefits and economic security that is enjoyed by everyone is worth it.

Definitely a message worth sending!