[Lemmy]

3 is WAY more than 1 more than 2, Eyebrock, trust me mate. But my wife and I have done our part...left more behing than we brought.

[sandorski]

EyeBrock wrote:

Why don't we encourage Canadians to have kids with fiscal incentives instead of bringing foreigners in? Or try a mix of immigration and tax breaks for Canadian citizens who have more than one kid?

we do already, can't force people to do it.

[KorbenDeck]

sandorski wrote:

EyeBrock wrote:

Why don't we encourage Canadians to have kids with fiscal incentives instead of bringing foreigners in? Or try a mix of immigration and tax breaks for Canadian citizens who have more than one kid?

we do already, can't force people to do it.

The current "incentives" really are nothing, for lower income sure claim a grand or two on you income tax a year may seem like something. When you are making a hundred thousand a year its really nothing, however if it was a percentage instead that would appeal to the higher income couples. Especially since the more one make the more one get taxed. If having kids kept one in a lower tax bracket I am sure many people would reconsider not having children.

Federal tax rates for 2009 are:
-15% on the first $40,726 of taxable income, +
-22% on the next $40,726 of taxable income (on the portion of taxable income between $40,726 and $81,452), +
-26% on the next $44,812 of taxable income (on the portion of taxable income between $81,452 and $126,264), +
-29% of taxable income over $126,264.

So say that having two children would make it so you are paying the rate of one bracket lower. So instead of paying 22% on the $40,726 - $81,426 portion you are paying 15%, instead of paying 26% on the $81,452 - $126,264 portion you are paying 22%. If you have 3 or more children it moves your rate down two brackets and stops there. This system would give people of higher income more incentive to have children. Since you would not be able to reduce you tax rate below 15%, there wouldn't be a bunch of people who cannot afford to raise children, having more children for financial incentives.

Or for each child (up to 3) ones tax rates on income above $40,726 is reduced 2%. Two children reduces the 22% on the $40,726 - $81,426 portion down to 18%, 3 children reduces it down to 16%. Again it give people of higher income more incentives to have children.

Those ideas are just what the federal government could do, provincial governments could also do something similar.

[Bruce_the_vii]

The planet has 6.7 billion people and going forward this will expand to 9 billion because of increasing life expectancy. In Canada we will be isolated from the worst of this but a child born today has the prospect of living to the 22nd century which will be economically hellishin. It's a one baby world. The C.D. Howe people know this and are just writing we need more babies to fill their quota of reports. If you like family have babies, if you don't give that's good too.

[Bruce_the_vii]

Actually the economy can contract while per capita income increases. If the labour pool shrinks the first thing to go is the worst employers. The contraction can be at the bottom and happens naturally as people will move to higher paying jobs if they are available. Economists are told we have to keep growing but in fact per capita income has to keep growing while the size of the economy is another matter. The analyst at C.D. Howe may not be as expert as they would like people to think. They do try to make printable quotes though.

[Bruce_the_vii]

Some people think the population is aging and if we immigrate the economy will expand and pay for the old people's care. In fact immigrants have children so while the economy expands the number of dependants (children) remains about the same. The advantage is children are cheaper to the government than old people. It's slightly cheaper, just a shave of costs.

[EyeBrock]

sandorski wrote:

EyeBrock wrote:

Why don't we encourage Canadians to have kids with fiscal incentives instead of bringing foreigners in? Or try a mix of immigration and tax breaks for Canadian citizens who have more than one kid?

we do already, can't force people to do it.

What incentives?

[sandorski]

EyeBrock wrote:

sandorski wrote:

EyeBrock wrote:

Why don't we encourage Canadians to have kids with fiscal incentives instead of bringing foreigners in? Or try a mix of immigration and tax breaks for Canadian citizens who have more than one kid?

we do already, can't force people to do it.

What incentives?

Someone listed them above, but Tax Breaks and Family Allowance. The Daycare program the Martin Liberals was considering probably would have the most affect on the issue though.

[EyeBrock]

The only thing we have got is the $100 a month cheque from Harper. The tax 'breaks' I get are very minimal.
As I said, Canadian governments would rather import babies than fiscally encourage Canadian citizens to have kids. Very short sighted.