Support tax justice during the Global Week of Action

"People are speaking out against the complete unfairness they see when corporations are squirreling away profits rather than following through on their responsibility to pay their taxes," said James Clancy, National President, NUPGE. 

Ottawa (16 June 2015) — There is growing public support for governments to crack down on multi-national corporations who choose to hide their revenue in order to avoid paying their share of taxes.

It is no longer forbidden to suggest that, as the corporations reap greater and greater profits, they adhere to the tax policies of the countries in which they operate. This backlash isn't just happening in Canada, where Canadians consistently have supported increased tax fairness but it is happening worldwide. 

Global week of action

To highlight and focus this pressure, the Global Alliance for Tax Justice is calling for a Global Week of Action for Tax Justice from June 16 to June 23. There are a number of things the campaign is calling for during the week of action:

• Global Solutions – Tax dodging is a global problem, it needs global solutions. Governments of all countries must agree solutions together in a fair, equal and democratic way.
• Transparency – To end tax dodging the public needs to be able to see the profits made and taxes paid by companies in each and every country where they operate
• Fair Tax Policies – to reduce inequality, to pay for essential public services (such as healthcare and education) and to fund sustainable development

Global movement growing

"People are speaking out against the complete unfairness they see when corporations are squirreling away profits rather than following through on their responsibility to pay their taxes," said James Clancy, National President of the National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE).

"The public pays their taxes because they know taxes pay for quality public services, creation of good jobs and ultimately creates a better life for everyone."

"Corporations need to start acting responsibily and transparently. Right now they are using their power to reduce their tax bills at a time when people need it the most." 

Tax avoidance hurts our economy

When corporations don't pay their share, governments search for other ways to make up the lost revenue. 

Often governments look at the people who have already paid their fair share for more:

1. HST, PST, specialty taxes, increased user fees. 
2. There is less money to fund our education, healthcare and the other vital services.
3. Inequality will keep rising without tax to share out resources better.
4. Democracy is undermined as we lose public oversight over services and trust in governments that do not represent our interests
5. We face a more uncertain future, this unequal model is not good for economic stability nor development and it denies us the funds to tackle climate change.

The Global Alliance for Tax Justice a growing movement of civil society organisations and activists, including trade unions, united in campaigning for greater transparency, democratic oversight and redistribution of wealth in national and global tax systems

More information:

Global Alliance for Tax Justice

All Together Now!

NUPGE

The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is one of Canada's largest labour organizations with over 360,000 members. Our mission is to improve the lives of working families and to build a stronger Canada by ensuring our common wealth is used for the common good. NUPGE