MEI-Ipsos poll: Canadians pay too much income tax, are concerned about the sovereign wealth fund and subsidies
- 63 per cent of Canadians say they pay too much income tax.
- 66 per cent of Canadians believe that subsidies are not worth the cost.
- 58 per cent of respondents oppose borrowing $25 billion to finance the creation of a sovereign wealth fund.
Montreal, July 16, 2026 – Canadians feel that high taxes reduce their living standards, and are critical of several spendthrift governmental decisions, shows a new MEI-Ipsos poll published this morning.
“Canadians are sending the message that they’ve had enough of paying more to receive less,” says Renaud Brossard, Vice President of Communications at the MEI. “As grocery and housing prices keep climbing higher and higher, taxpayers are fed up with seeing their governments spending so recklessly.”
Too much tax for too little benefit
A total of 63 per cent of respondents say they pay too much income tax. Canadians feel the effects of these tax bills, with 70 per cent saying their tax burden reduces their living standards.
In terms of spending, 52 per cent of Canadians think the federal government spends too much, versus just 5 per cent who say it doesn’t spend enough.
When Canadians are asked if they get their money’s worth for the taxes they pay, no level of government receives the support of a majority of respondents. Provincial governments receive the worst grade, with 56 per cent of respondents saying they do not get their money’s worth.
Subsidies that are not worth the cost
According to the results of the survey, 66 per cent of Canadians think that corporate subsidies are expensive and yield poor results. This proportion hits 69 per cent in Quebec.
This is in a context in which subsidized project fiascos are piling up. In recent years, the amounts wagered and lost in the battery sector, notably, have highlighted the risks of an interventionist industrial policy.
As the MEI recently reiterated, in 2024 alone, the Quebec and Ontario governments respectively paid out $8.5 billion and $11.6 billion in corporate subsidies.
“Canadians do not share the enthusiasm of their politicians when it comes to subsidies,” adds Mr. Brossard. “They say—with good reason—that subsidies are much too expensive and yield very little in terms of results.”
No to borrowing billions for a sovereign wealth fund
The poll’s third major finding relates to the sovereign wealth fund announced by the federal government in April. A majority (58 per cent) are opposed to the notion of borrowing $25 billion to finance this fund, while 20 per cent support the project.
Recall that the federal government is still projecting a deficit of $65.4 billion for the current year.
“People understand that with a federal budget in deficit, each dollar put into this fund is a dollar more of debt,” concludes Mr. Brossard. “Canadians don’t want more subsidies and they don’t want more spending; what they want is a government that respects their ability to pay.”
A sample of 1,005 Canadians aged 18 years and over were polled online by Ipsos between June 26 and July 1st, 2026. The results are accurate to within plus or minus 3.8 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.
The results of the MEI-Ipsos poll are available here.
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The MEI is an independent public policy think tank with offices in Montreal, Ottawa, and Calgary. Through its publications, media appearances, and advisory services to policymakers, the MEI stimulates public policy debate and reforms based on sound economics and entrepreneurship.
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