Nine Out Of Ten Canadians Think It’s Morally Wrong For Canadian Corporations To Use Tax Havens: New Poll

TORONTO, ON /GLOBE NEWSWIRE/ —

90% of Canadians think that the use of tax havens by large corporations to avoid paying taxes is morally wrong, even if it’s legal, according to a new Environics Research poll for Canadians for Tax Fairness and Leadnow.

The poll also found that 87% of Canadians want the law changed to make tax havens illegal with ⅔ of those strongly supporting legislative action.

The poll follows the Paradise Papers leak and a report from Canadians for Tax Fairness that exposes the widespread use of tax havens by Canadian corporations: 56 of the top 60 corporations on the Toronto Stock Exchange list subsidiaries in known tax havens.

87% of Canadians want the law changed to make tax havens illegal

The poll was conducted in December by Environics Research, with a survey of 1012 adults from across Canada December 6 – 7, 2017, with a margin of error of +/- 3.2, 19 times out of 20.

“The poll results are consistent across provinces, income, ages, gender and language, clearly showing mass public opposition to corporate tax avoidance. Cracking down on tax havens is also a top priority for the Leadnow community,” said Brittany Smith, Fair Economy Campaigner. “Clearly people are tired of this massive corporate handout and are hungry for action. We’ll continue campaigning with our 400,000 members to make sure the Trudeau Liberals deliver.”

“Some of the biggest corporations in Canada are paying lower tax rates than the average Canadian and much of that tax dodging is legal,” says Diana Gibson, a policy expert with Canadians for Tax Fairness, “Canadians obviously want to see that change.”

“This is costing Canada $10 to $15 billion per year,” says Dennis Howlett, Executive Director of Canadians for Tax Fairness “There are some simple changes that can close the door to corporations using tax havens to avoid paying their fair share.”

For a list of policies to curtail corporate misuse of tax havens visit: http://www.taxfairness.ca/en/node/1041

For Leadnow’s petition on corporate tax havens visit: https://act.leadnow.ca/tax-avoiders/

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