Middle-class Canadians are tired of the rising cost of living and the “high tax burden” placed upon them, according to research for the Privy Council Office (PCO).
Focus groups from across the country told pollsters doing in-house research for the PCO that the federal government has failed to address the issues most important to Canadians.
“Discussing additional measures that could be taken by the federal government to assist the middle class, participants suggested actions such as lowering taxes for middle-class households and increasing the range of benefits and supports available within Canada,” reads the pollsters’ analysis, which was first obtained by Blacklock’s Reporter.
Several middle-class Canadians surveyed from northeast of the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) said their income bracket should have the same access to supports and benefits available to lower-income households. When asked if they had seen or heard of the federal government taking action to assist the middle class, “few could recall anything,” the report authors wrote.
“Almost all felt that the federal government was currently on the wrong track when it came to assisting the middle class,” researchers said.
The focus groups identified the cost of living in Canada as their top issue, with several saying prices for groceries and fuel have risen considerably, making it difficult to make ends meet. A number of Canadians also mentioned difficulties related to housing costs, such as higher mortgage payments and rising home energy rates.
The participants also mentioned several areas in which the federal government should improve, including housing, immigration and “what was perceived as the high tax burden of many Canadians who were currently struggling with the cost of living.”
Homelessness, Addiction Rising
The participants from the riding northeast of the GTA and those in rural northeastern Ontario communities were also asked about challenges facing their communities. Participants in both groups said homelessness, addiction, and challenges related to mental health were increasingly common.Participants were asked to identify the most important economic sectors in their communities. Those in the northeast GTA said the automotive industry, agriculture and food production, while the rural group identified mining. Both groups said they could not recall actions taken by the government of Canada to support any of those sectors.
Several participants said more action should be taken to increase investments in public transportation and expand service offerings to make it easier for those in the GTA to commute throughout the region. A number also said greater actions should be taken to address the cost of living in general, and that further investments should be made in agriculture and food production.
The research findings were based on focus groups with Canadians who “all identified as being middle class.” The research was conducted by The Strategic Counsel, a Toronto pollster, under an $814,741 contract.
