Tax Reform in Canada: Our Path to Greater Prosperity

David Robinson is an associate professor of economics at Laurentian
University.

This volume is the fourth in the Fraser Institute series concerned with
fiscal and taxation policy in Canada. Its 10 papers come from a
conference held in Toronto in 2001. While some of the data are dated,
the papers are generally strong and will interest specialists in tax
theory.

The Fraser Institute has produced a flood of policy volumes over the
last 20 years. Despite the institute’s overwhelming commitment to
lower taxes and smaller government, the volumes are generally well
argued and well researched. This one is no exception. The participants
and the themes are familiar. Jack Mintz argues for replacing the income
tax with increased sales taxes. Bev Dahlby’s excellent paper examines
the effect of a shift toward consumption taxes. Jason Clemens, Joel
Emes, and Rodger Scott describe an American flat-tax proposal. They also
recapitulate their 2002 analysis of the effect of the capital tax.
Herbert Grubel repeats his arguments in favour of abolishing capital
gains taxes. Thomas Wilson considers progress on business tax reform.
Finn Poschmann and William Robson provide a useful discussion of the
notion that if one province reduces corporate taxes, others will be
forced to follow. Brendan Walsh examines the role of low corporate taxes
in the “Irish Miracle,” and Kenneth McKenzie compares the tax
policies of Ontario and Alberta.