Compas Poll / Survey

As shown in table 1, CEOs overwhelmingly repudiate a Keynesian emphasis on increased spending in these recessionary times. A clear majority (59%) favours tax cuts alone while a minority (32%) is inclined to a combination of increased spending and reduced taxes.

While almost united on the value of tax cuts, CEOs are divided about which kind, as shown in table 2. The largest groups favour across-the-board personal income tax reductions and GST/sales tax reductions while smaller groups advocate across-the-board reductions in corporate taxes and in personal income taxes for families earning less than $ 60,000 p.a. One respondent volunteered, “GST and sales tax cuts may spur spending but the real concern is still high taxes overall and poorly managed government spending. If Canadians want to spend on ridiculous things, let them make those choices personally rather than having government do it!!”