La pandémie immunise-t-elle les Québécois contre l’impôt ?

Luc Godbout, Antoine Genest-Grégoire, Jean-Herman Guay and Anthony Pham

Canadian Public Policy, 2020, vol. 46, issue S2, S166-S181

Abstract: The COVID-19 pandemic has forced governments to create and quickly implement new policies and programs to both mitigate the health effects of the virus and support the income of individuals. Many are wondering whether these income support programs are there to stay or if the current crisis marks a turning point in the debate about the adequate level of intervention by the State. This article tries to establish if public opinion about this issue is affected by current circumstances. Survey data was collected in Quebec at the height of the pandemic. It shows that, compared to earlier surveys, Quebecers are much more tolerant of the level of general taxation that applies to them. It also shows that opinions about the level of taxation are not influenced by having individually benefited from an income support program such as the Canada Emergency Response Benefit. This new openness to possibly higher taxes in the future does not seem to depend on exposure to the current crop of emergency support programs. Other surveys will be required to assess whether these changes are permanent or if they will recede after the crisis is over.

Keywords: COVID-19; taxes; public finance; public opinion; surveys (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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