Examining Fiscal Incentives—The Need for Tax Reform: Perspective of Business Leaders

Canada’s system of fiscal incentives—including the tax system, subsidies, and other government fiscal interventions—is in need of reform. Over the years, the system has become overly complex and inefficient. It imposes a cost on our economy that we can no longer afford and that may be impeding our international competitiveness. At a meeting of senior business leaders, Signal49 Research solicited views on the need for fiscal incentive reform. The responses can be grouped into three main themes: the complexity of the system; barriers to innovation and competitiveness; and inequality and lack of trust. This briefing discusses these themes in detail.