Support drops to below half of Canadians for new federal government social programs when taxes have to be raised to pay for them, according to a Leger poll commissioned by the Fraser Institute. .“Despite the federal government’s borrow-now, pay-for-it-later approach to public programs, Canadians need to be aware that these new programs have significant costs that will have to be paid for by taxpayers eventually,” said Fraser Institute associate director of fiscal policy research Jake Fuss in a Tuesday press release. .The latest federal budget proposes universal dental care, pharmacare, and a national daycare program. Government estimates show dental care will cost $1.7 billion per year, pharmacare would be $15.3 billion per year, and national daycare is estimated to be $7.9 billion. .The poll suggested support for dental care, pharmacare, and $10-a-day daycare was 69% or higher when no changes in taxes were included with the programs. .Support for these programs, said the poll, dropped to below 50% when a GST increase was attached to them, which would cover their costs. .The poll suggested 69% of Canadians want $10-a-day daycare when no tax change is required. Support drops to 36% when the program is paid for by a GST increase, according to the poll. .It said 79% of Canadians support pharmacare when no tax increase is attached. Support falls to 40% when the program is paid for by a GST increase..The Fraser Institute said 72% of Canadians are for universal dental care without any tax changes. However, this support falls to 42% when a GST increase is needed. .“The reality of any new or expanded government program is that at some point, Canadians have to pay for them, either in the form of higher taxes or less spending on other programs,” said Fuss. .The poll interviewed 1,509 Canadians between April 15 and 17. .These social programs were agreed to after the leadership of the Liberals and NDP formed a confidence and supply agreement that would last until 2025..This agreement would see the NDP support the Liberals during confidence votes, including the next four budgets. In return, the Liberals would follow through on priorities for the NDP, particularly dental care and pharmacare. .“We’re different political parties,” said Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. “We cannot let our differences stand in the way of delivering what Canadians deserve.”.Jonathan Bradley is a Toronto-based contributor at the Western Standard jbradley@westernstandard.news
