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NUPGE delegates overwhelmingly supported continuing the campaign on tax fairness at its 2013 Convention. Read more on the action plan.
Ottawa (14 Nov. 2013) - There is increasing recognition that growing income inequality is a problem. What has received far less attention is that reducing inequality requires reforming the tax system to make it more fair.
And the National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) wants to change that.
NUPGE policy paper on tax fairness provides action plan for solutions
The policy paper our members adopted at our NUPGE 2013 Convention looks at how the tax system since the 1970s has contributed to inequality and what needs to be done to reverse that trend.
Income tax cuts for large corporations and the wealthy make it harder for governments to pay for services that average families rely on. At the same time, regressive taxes, taxes we pay which are not based on our income, like the GST and HST, have been introduced.
The effect is that when all taxes, including sales tax and property tax (which low income Canadians pay through their rent) are included, the poorest 10 % are paying a higher tax rate than the richest 1%
There are steps we can take to reverse this trend:
- Require wealthy and large corporations to pay their share
- Make sure the system is fair for everyone by closing loopholes and tackling tax evasion
- Introduce a tax on financial transactions
All Together Now! campaign focuses on reforming tax system to ensure everyone, even corporations, pay their fair share
As part of our All Together Now! campaign, we have been part of the fight to make the tax system more fair.
Canadians have seen some progress with the reversal of some of the most extreme income tax cuts for large corporations and the wealthy but more change is necessary to reverse the trend on income inequality. There are many ways you can help make tax fairness an issue. Have your say!
More information:
NUPGE Tax Fairness Convention paper
NUPGE
The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is one of Canada's largest labour organizations with over 340,000 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