70% of Canadians say high taxes cut living standards, poll finds

Seven in ten Canadians believe their high tax burden is reducing their standard of living, according to a new Ipsos poll conducted for the Montreal Economic Institute (MEI). The survey also found that a majority of respondents consider government subsidies not worth the cost.

Regional disparities in tax dissatisfaction

The sense of financial strain is most acute in Quebec, where 74% of respondents report that taxes are lowering their living standards. This is followed by Western Canada at 72%, Atlantic Canada at 68%, and Ontario at 66%. Nationally, 63% of Canadians feel they pay too much income tax—a figure that has declined from 72% in 2024.

Spending and transparency concerns

Dissatisfaction extends beyond taxation. Some 52% of Canadians believe the federal government spends too much, while only 5% say it spends too little. No level of government earned a majority of support for providing value for money, with provincial governments faring worst: 56% of respondents said they do not get their money’s worth from provincial taxes.

On federal taxes, opinions are more divided. While 48% feel they receive good value, 45% disagree—an improvement from 2025, when only 45% perceived federal taxes as worthwhile. Transparency in government spending also remains a concern, with 48% dissatisfied compared to 43% who are satisfied.

Opposition to sovereign wealth fund

The poll reveals strong resistance to the proposed sovereign wealth fund, announced in April. A total of 58% of respondents oppose borrowing the $25 billion required to finance its creation. Renaud Brossard, MEI’s Vice President of Communications, noted that Canadians are increasingly wary of deficit-financed initiatives, with the federal government projecting a $65.4 billion deficit for the current year.

“Canadians don’t want more subsidies and they don’t want more spending; what they want is a government that respects their ability to pay,” Brossard said. The findings suggest a growing demand for fiscal restraint amid rising costs for essentials like groceries and housing.