Mike Smyth has a great piece in The Province today, pointing out a myriad of BC Liberal tax and fee increases. We’ve talked a lot about the Medical Services Premium (MSP) tax, and how it has increased 33% in just six years. For the record, here’s what my family pays in MSP every month (stats from our pre-budget submission):
Judging by the MSP revenue growth set out in the budget, it looks like we can expect increases in 2016 and 2017 as well. The MSP tax brings in about $2.2 billion annually, or roughly 5% of the provincial budget. Anyone making $30,000 or more pays the same MSP head tax.
The BC Liberals, quite correctly, love to brag about how we have the lowest provincial income tax in the country. It’s true. A two-income family of four, earning $90,000 per year, pays $3,199 in provincial income tax – nearly $1,200 than the same family pays in Alberta.
But when you add in all the other taxes – sales tax, fuel tax, net carbon tax (so much for revenue neutral for B.C. families), and MSP, the provincial take in B.C. jumps to $9,922 – third behind Alberta ($7,625) and Saskatchewan ($9,791).
If that family only made $60,000 the gap is even bigger - $6,736 in total provincial tax in B.C., $3,956 in Alberta, and $5,119 in Saskatchewan.
So forgive us if the “lowest personal income tax” line is growing tiresome. B.C. should set out a goal to have the lowest provincial tax.
Is Canada Off Track?
Canada has problems. You see them at gas station. You see them at the grocery store. You see them on your taxes.
Is anyone listening to you to find out where you think Canada’s off track and what you think we could do to make things better?
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