Canada’s federal business tax rate is 16.5 per cent. The Ignatieff Liberals want to raise taxes on business to 18 per cent—and if the Liberals don’t get their way, they’re going to force an election.

If you don’t think a 1.5 per cent tax hike on business is a big deal, consider the following points:

First of all, provincial taxes and other federal taxes are stacked on top of the federal business tax. 

In Saskatchewan, that means a marginal tax rate of up to 44 per cent by the time profits are finally paid out to owners. A 44 per cent tax on business is not a low tax rate, no matter what the “tax’em some more” crowd claims.

Secondly, an estimated 100,000 jobs are at risk when Canada’s corporate tax rate moves up by 1.5 per cent. Now in a country of 34 million, Canada has about 18 million employed. The Liberals may be willing to chance the loss of 100,000 jobs out of 18 million in exchange for more tax revenue. But if it is your job that is lost, that one pink slip is pretty devastating. So, I have a question for the Liberals. How many Canadians of the 100,000 deserve to lose their jobs in the name of higher taxes?

I’m Brad Trost, your Member of Parliament in Saskatoon-Humboldt. You can call my office in Saskatoon at 975-6133 or drop by our two offices to visit: Saskatoon Monday-Friday or Humboldt Tuesday and Wednesday. I always appreciate your feedback.