We have heard it several times from governments: we will create a dedicated tax or a special contribution by promising that the money will “really really” go to improve services in a particular area. These days, the argument is used in the public transportation issue.
A government wants to swallow the pill of a tax increase by giving it a catchy name. He takes refuge behind the promise that new revenues will be devoted to tangibly improving a deficient public service. Big politics! Put a magnifying glass on the expected result to magnify the benefit in the hope that the real cost will be forgotten…
A Léger poll has just demonstrated to what extent these political attempts are failing. To the question “Are you in favor of paying more taxes to improve the quality of government services?”, 84% answered no. Barely 10% say they believe it. Even among voters of Québec solidaire, the party most inclined to increase the role of the state, 23% would be ready to pay, 68% reject the idea.
Too taxed
This survey shows more generally that three-quarters of taxpayers are convinced that they are not getting value for their money in public services, compared to the taxes they pay.
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The citizen/voter/taxpayer has therefore understood that the magical idea of adding more and more money to state structures does not at all guarantee receiving better services. The State is a machine for spending, adding employees, and making procedures more complex. It is too easy to inject more money without the citizen noticing any difference in the services received.
I have a good, fairly recent example in mind: the health contribution. Annoyed by the global financial crisis, the Liberal government of Jean Charest added this line to the tax report in 2010: each taxpayer with a minimum income would pay $25 the first year, $100 the second, then $200 thereafter.
Ultimately, the new tax would bring in $1 billion per year which would be invested in the health network. During their time in power, the PQ transformed the health contribution to make it more progressive, to take income into account. Back in power, the Liberals made a commitment to abolish it, which was done in 2018.
Archive photo, QMI Agency
Lies
Taxpayers therefore paid this health contribution from 2010 to 2018. Promised, sworn, spat, the money was dedicated to improving the health network. Does anyone remember that things were better in health during those eight years? A joke…
The health contribution was only a political marketing pretext to extract a little more tax by relying on the noble cause of health care.
Notice to those who dream of a special contribution for public transport. No more taxes to give you more services, the population no longer believes in it. Manage!
