Quote:
Originally Posted by MarchHare
Is there any empirical evidence that boutique tax credits aimed at parents actually increases the birth rate? According to StatsCan, it looks like Harper's baby handouts didn't really have any effect at all.
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/tables-tabl...lth85b-eng.htm
Also, Japan is an incredibly insular country that allows very little immigration, but Canada is an open and multicultural society. We can easily avoid the demographic problem Japan is facing though increased immigration. I can see why that solution doesn't appeal to Harper and other Old Stock Canadians, though. |
I do think it is an economic decision for many Canadians to not reproduce at a natural replacement level, but tax breaks probably miss the mark. Many adults in Canada just don't reach financial stability until their mid 30s, if at all. I bet more Canadians let things like crippling student loans affect their decision to start a family than things like taxes.