This is nonsense; Zimbabwe should be the MOST free. They have no income tax (since there’s no income), and they are not subject to monetary policy at all because their money is worth less than Monopoly money.
Anyone who has paid sales tax on anything in Canada wouldn’t feel very free; it is like crossing the Verrazano Narrows bridge in NY. You literally drive away thinking, “I just paid what?!?!?!” ($13...really)
You are correct. I live in Buffalo. Store here and in Niagara Falls are thriving due to Canadians coming here to avoid their VATs.