Ottawa

Idea alert

Scott Clark and Peter DeVries take on EI premiums.

Simply put, the EI premium rate is a bad tax – probably the worst tax that the government has available to raise revenues. It inhibits employment and economic growth; it is unfair in its impact on low-income workers; it is extremely complex to calculate and administer…

The best option would be to get rid of the EI premium rate altogether and replace it with an alternative source of revenue. One way this could be done is by replacing the lost revenues, about $20 billion, by increasing the GST and corporate income tax rates.  This would address the problem of the working poor by spreading the burden over much larger tax bases.  In addition, the GST low-income tax credit could be increased, sheltering these individuals altogether.

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