Stephen Harper's pledge to make Canada the least-taxed country on Earth ("We'll strive to make this not the highest-spending country in the world, but the lowest-taxing one") is likely to turn him into the next Dalton McGuinty. Currently Canada's taxation rate is 36.6% corporate, 31% individual, and 7% Value Added (VAT aka GST).

Harper is in for some stiff competition, to try to beat countries like

Hong Kong at 17.5% corp, 15% ind, and 0% VAT. Slovakia's corporate and individual rate is 19%

How is he going to beat the corporate rate in Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania and Zambia, all at 15%, let alone Ireland at 12.5%?

Norway's individual taxation rate is 28%, Russia's is 13%, and Saudi Arabia's individual taxation rate is a measly 2.5%.

Even consider the effects of reducing our taxation rate to the level of say, Brazil (nowhere near the bottom when it comes to taxes). Brazil's corporate rate is 34% (2% less than ours), the individual rate is 20% (11% less than ours), and it has no VAT compared to our 7% GST.

We still have a half-trillion dollar debt in this country. Bold promises about being the least taxed citizens in the solar system might make for great election theatrics, but certainly don't come close to being responsible. Our grandkids are not going to look too kindly on us for saddling them with this debt at birth, nor will they be pleased with having to pay for Stephen Harper's little election cookies.

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