Bishops Oppose Goods and Services Tax, Call for Progressive Tax Policy
https://archives.anglican.ca/link/official1626
- Date
- 1990 February 9
- Source
- Anglican News Service
- Type
- Press Release
- Text of motion
- Mississauga -- The House of Bishops of the Anglican Church of Canada makes the following statement concerning the Goods and Services Tax (GST) based on the scriptural principle: "Much is required from the person to whom much is given; much more is required from the person to whom much more is given." (Luke 12:48)
- The bishops reaffirm their statement of October 1989 on taxation policy:
- That this House of Bishops, out of concern for the more vulnerable members of society, affirm the principle of progressive taxation, whereby those with greater wealth pay a higher proportionate amount of taxes than those with lesser means, and oppose the principle of regressive taxation, whereby those of lesser means are required to pay the same percentage tax as the wealthiest income earners...
- Consequently the bishops oppose the proposed GST legislation because we believe the poor will pay a disproportionately large amount of their income; and the reverse will be true for affluent people.
- We ask the Government of Canada to consider alternatives that, in our view, are more just, such as:
- 1. making personal income tax more progressive;
- 2. instituting a corporate income tax based on ability to pay;
- 3. considering an annual tax on net wealth such as is used in most European countries;
- 4. reconsidering its position on inheritance tax.
- Notes
- For further information, contact: Doug Tindal, Director of Communications, (416) 924-9192 (bus.), (416) 335-8349 (res.)
- Subjects
- Goods and services tax - Canada
- Taxation - Canada
- Taxation - Religious aspects - Anglican Church of Canada reviews
- Economic justice - Canada
- Economic justice - Religious aspects - Anglican Church of Canada
- Anglican Church of Canada. House of Bishops