Author: Casey Vander Ploeg
The Penny Tax: A Timely Tax Innovation to Boost our Civic Investments by Casey Vander Ploeg, Senior Policy Analyst, measures the projected infrastructure needs facing western Canada’s seven biggest cities over the next ten years at over $40 billion.
To help these cities close the gap between their huge infrastructure needs and the funding dollar available, research conducted by the Canada West Foundation shows that a small locally-levied sales tax dedicated to municipal infrastructure could be the most visible, transparent and accountable tax in Canada.
While there are challenges that require further exploration before a penny tax could be implemented, it is clear that this innovative tax option would do much to maintain, renew, and rehabilitate existing infrastructure, as well as invest in new infrastructure. Across the globe, local governments are implementing such innovation tax solutions.
This report is part of the Canada West Foundation’s Smart Financing Project.