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We are an independent non-profit devoted to helping people and policymakers understand the tax system. Through research, public education and collaboration, our goal is to advance a tax system that promotes economic growth, shared prosperity and tax fairness.

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The Latest

accounting

Tax filing was supposed to be getting easier. That’s still a work in progress.

It’s tax-filing season again, with all the headaches that brings for Canadians tearing apart their houses and their laptops to find the right paperwork before the deadline.


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What history tells us about tax, trouble and the top one per cent

By Shirley Tillotson, Professor of history at Dalhousie University; expert advisor at the Canadian Tax Observatory | A version of this piece was originally published in the Halifax Examiner, February 25, 2026


canadian-club

Rethinking Canada’s Tax System: What Works, What Doesn’t, What’s Next

The Canadian Club of Toronto hosted a panel on rethinking Canada’s tax system (what works, what doesn’t, what’s next), featuring the Canadian Tax Observatory’s Heather Scoffield, Deloitte’s Fatima Laher and the University of Calgary’s Jack Mintz. Moderated by Patrick Brethour of the Globe and Mail. Here’s a recording.


News

groceries

The Canadian Tax Observatory applauds new tax measures to make life more affordable

The Canadian Tax Observatory welcomes today’s announcement from Prime Minister Mark Carney and Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne to substantially increase the GST credit, now called the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit.


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The Canadian Tax Observatory welcomes powerhouse advisory committee of experts

Today, the Canadian Tax Observatory announced the nine prominent tax thinkers who will form its founding expert advisory committee.


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Through solid, independent research and non-partisan public engagement, we aim to encourage fresh thinking that leads to practical solutions on tax policy.

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