CBC: Canadians OK with higher taxes to fight inequality

The survey of 2,000 Canadians, commissioned by the left-leaning Broadbent Institute, found that 23 per cent are "very willing" and 41 per cent are "somewhat willing" to pay slightly more tax in order to protect social programs such as health care, post-secondary education and pensions. Liberal and NDP voters are the most supportive of this proposal, the results showed, but 58 per cent of Conservative voters are also in favour of it.

"This attitude toward paying slightly higher taxes is reflected equally in high income and middle income Canadian households. It's only their governments who are offside," says the report, the first from the newly established think tank.

A majority of Canadians – even wealthy ones – are behind the idea of raising income taxes on people who earn more than $250,000 and more than $500,000. The poll found 83 per cent are in favour of that idea. And 73 per cent agree with raising corporate taxes back up to 2008 levels.

"It shows that Canadians are way ahead of their politicians… 64 per cent of Canadians say they themselves are prepared to pay more taxes. Not just the rich, not just corporations," Broadbent said.

"Canadians are … really disturbed by the degree of inequality and they are prepared now to do something about it." The survey showed that 77 per cent of respondents agree that widening income gaps are a big problem for Canada that will have long-term consequences and 71 per cent agreed that income inequality undermines Canadian values.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/story/2012/04/10/pol-broadbent-poll.html

I would like to think that 77% of Americans also believe that "widening income gaps are a big problem" for the US, but I've seen no polling to suggest that. The same is true with 71% believing that "income inequality undermines Canadian (American) values."

Also, it's not surprising that the Canadian government is out of step (offside?) with the people since it is a conservative government.