Tax me, I'm a Canadian

Toronto Sun

"Tax me, I'm a Canadian."

It might as well be our national motto.

Average Canadians spent 42% of their income on all forms of taxation last year and didn't start working for themselves, instead of governments, until "Tax Freedom Day" on June 9.

According to the Fraser Institute, the average family earned $77,381 and paid $32,369 in taxes in 2013, 41.8% of its income, compared to 36.1% for food, shelter and clothing combined.

That's right, we spend more on taxes than on the necessities of life.

Canadians who own homes, for example, might think paying off the mortgage is their biggest expense.

But they're wrong.

It's actually paying income taxes, payroll taxes, sales taxes, property taxes, gas taxes, surtaxes and taxes on taxes imposed by federal, provincial and municipal governments.

Since 1961, the average family's total tax bill has increased by 1,832%, dwarfing increases in shelter costs (1,375%), clothing (620%) and food (546%).