Two leading economists from the University of Toronto and University of Calgary say the GST should be expanded to include food and other currently-excluded goods.
Michael Smart and Jack Mintz say the way Canada collects its sales tax is one of the most inefficient in the advanced world.
They say revenues could go up by $39 billion if the excluded goods are taxed, which could be used to reduce income taxes and/or fund social programs.
Consumers Association of Canada President Bruce Cran isn’t on board.
“I’ve got no faith in government’s passing on an item and saying it’s going to go to a particular section,” he said. “We’ve never seen that since Canada was invented.”
Mintz also suggested last year that Alberta implement a provincial sales tax.
Published February 24, 2012
