I sincerely doubt I’ll EVER see one red cent of my CPP contributions, and I know I’ll never get a cheque from the EI program, so that makes them both what: mandatory non-taxes?
So what if my CPP/EI contribution(s) lower my “taxable” income. All that means is that I don’t pay income tax on the money used to pay a tax. Big whoop!
The way I interpret my deductions is very simple, not nuanced and sophisticated like you do. My simple method is:
If the government takes the money, it’s a tax.
As for your claim that taxation levels are close, why is it that after a 90 minute ferry ride South of my current location, the stuff in my wallet goes further, even after taking the exchange rate into account? Or do subjective arguments and observations not count?
How about fuel taxes, liquor taxes, etc?
I can buy a case (24) of Canadian beer for ~$18 in Washington. The very same beer, from the same brewery costs $21 here for a 12 pack.
Then there’s the price of gasoline. On Saturday, the best price available on the lower mainland was $1.049/litre. In Sumas WA, it was $0.749/litre.
But the taxation levels are very similar. Yeah. On your planet perhaps.
Well it's nice to know you'll never be out of work . Too bad you're going to die before you're eligible to collect your CPP.
Taxes are not that different between the US and Canada . I pay 75 bucks/yr for a car plate, a poster on FR tells me he pays $300. Another will pay for city garbage pick up , I don't. When I sell my house I don't pay capital gains . In the US someone selling their home might . I use a TFSA . Every dollar I make in that account is tax free. You can pick all the examples you want , fact is when all is considered the income taxes in the two countries are damn close.
After 43 years I collect my CPP. This isn't too sophisticated . Keep paying those premiums. You deduct them , I'll spend them.