Here’s an idea: Pay more taxes

An Ottawa man who decided to not claim the $1,500 tax benefit through the Conservatives’ new income-splitting plan has announced that choice on social media, hoping other Canadians will do the same.

Andy Pedersen is a communications employee of the National Union of Public and General Employees, so it’s not necessarily a surprise he vehemently opposes the tax break, at least in theory. But he said he realized as he completed his tax return that his software gave him the choice to opt out, so he decided to give that money — $1,500 in his case — back.

“Why are they giving it to people like us? We can find a way to spend it, for sure, but we definitely do not need it,” he said.

He posted his decision on Facebook, hoping to convince others that lower taxes mean service cuts.

Pedersen said he’s a trade union supporter, obviously, but isn’t a member of any political party.

“I disagree with the government contention that we, as individuals, are better at deciding how to use that money, that we are somehow more effective spenders. That flies in the face of all kinds of common sense. When you pool money together, that money becomes more powerful and you can do more with it,” he said.

Scott Hennig, spokesman for the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, said he doesn’t think Pederson is right about a stigma preventing tax hikes.

“I wish there was more stigma around raising taxes. If there was, Jim Prentice wouldn’t have raised 59 taxes in Alberta.

Kathleen Wynne wouldn’t have introduced new payroll taxes, a cap-and-trade program, or new beer taxes. We wouldn’t be seeing New Brunswick or Nova Scotia raising taxes,” he said.

“The federal government and Saskatchewan have been the few places where we haven’t seen any move on the tax file in Canada in the last decade. Other than that, we’ve seen almost every province look at raising taxes.”

Hennig said that given ‘‘a very good reason to raise taxes,’’ Canadians seem to be in favour.

“If you ask Canadians for a little more taxes for a significant increase in the quality of the health-care system, most people will answer yes. But the reason why that never occurs is that no one actually believes you could get that.”

Perhaps that’s why Pedersen’s Facebook plea has generated some thoughtful support, but not one copycat as of yet.

“I think that this guy sets a great example,” Hennig added. “And if you feel that the government should be taking more of your money, then voluntarily send it back to them. I think we’ll see how many people actually do that.”