Canadians are being taxed into submission. Every step is met with a tax from the moment we earn a dollar to the second we spend it. We work harder than ever, but our reward is a diminishing paycheque and an inflated grocery bill. This is not sustainable. It’s time we elect politicians who prioritize cutting taxes and controlling spending before we drown in debt and dependency.
Let’s lay it out plainly. The average Canadian pays federal and provincial income taxes before seeing their earnings. Then there’s Canada Pension Plan (CPP) contributions, Employment Insurance (EI), and other deductions. What’s left is taxed again with GST and PST every time we make a purchase. Property taxes climb annually. Fill up your tank, and you pay a gas tax. Book a flight? Air travel tax. Enjoy a beer? Excise tax. Invest in your future? Capital gains tax. Buying a home? Land transfer tax. And don’t forget the carbon tax, layered on top of your fuel costs.
We even pay taxes on taxes. The GST is calculated on top of excise taxes for alcohol and tobacco. Your gas bill is subject to provincial and carbon taxes, and GST is tacked on top of both. You are literally taxed on the taxes you already paid. We earn money, pay taxes, and then spend what’s left on goods that have been taxed at every stage of production. We are triple, even quadruple taxed, and it never ends.
This relentless tax system was never the plan. Taxes in Canada were introduced to pay for war. The first federal income tax was enacted in 1917 to fund Canada’s efforts in World War I. It was supposed to be temporary. Over a century later, we are still paying, and the government has turned taxation into a weapon to control our lives.
Meanwhile, we face the highest banking fees in the world. Our telecom bills are astronomical. Groceries cost more than ever, with profits soaring for corporations while we choose between heating our homes or buying food. And now, we are blocked from accessing news on Facebook because Ottawa mishandled its fight with tech giants. These costs squeeze us further while our government continues its spending spree.
Take Winnipeg as an example. City council pushed through a nearly six percent property tax increase this year. Did they make any effort to reduce spending or eliminate wasteful grants? No. Instead, they hit residents with a bill, pretending it was the only option. The Kinew NDP government is no better. Since taking office, they’ve handed out grants and cheques for initiatives that do little to improve our health care system or reduce crime. It is feel-good spending designed to buy votes, not fix problems.
This is what politics has become – social engineering. Justin Trudeau and provincial politicians in Manitoba spent years telling us to feel ashamed of our history. Suddenly, they rediscover Canadian pride when it suits their political brand. Their job is not self-promotion; it is to manage our tax dollars responsibly. They are failing.
The more we rely on government handouts, the weaker we become. Dependency erodes productivity. When people expect the government to solve every problem, innovation dies. Businesses are stifled, workers are demotivated, and entrepreneurs are discouraged. This is the path to decline.
Contrast this with countries that chose a different path. Ireland slashed its corporate tax rate to 12.5% in the late 1990s, sparking an economic boom that transformed it into the “Celtic Tiger.” Singapore built its success on low taxes and limited government interference, turning a small island into an economic powerhouse. In the United States, states like Florida and Texas have no state income tax, attracting businesses and residents seeking lower costs and more freedom.
Canada should be leading the way. Instead, we are sliding backward. The future demands that we cut taxes, reduce the size of government, and balance budgets. We need politicians with the courage to make tough decisions – not those who promise everything to everyone and leave taxpayers with the bill.
This isn’t about left or right; it's about what works. Manitoba can’t afford endless tax increases for pet projects and handouts. We need leaders who will demand accountability. Public spending must prioritize core services like health care, education, and infrastructure, while everything else should be considered for cuts.
Businesses know this reality well. When revenues fall, they cut costs. They streamline operations. They don’t run to customers demanding more money. Government should operate the same way. City councillors in Winnipeg should have scoured the budget for savings before raising property taxes. They could have reviewed non-essential grants or questioned whether every department needed more funding. Instead, they took the easy route.
We can change this. It starts at the ballot box. Elect leaders who prioritize taxpayers over lobbyists. Demand fiscal responsibility. Support those who believe in smaller government, lower taxes, and balanced budgets. It’s not radical; it’s common sense.
I am proud to be Manitoban and Canadian, and that pride drives me to speak up. We deserve better. We deserve a government that respects our hard work, values our earnings, and understands that prosperity grows from freedom—not control.
Let’s demand better. With a federal election looming, demand answers from all who want the job. What are you going to do to cut taxes? Not, what will I get if I vote for you?