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TORONTO — The average Canadian family continues to spend more on taxes than they do on food, shelter and clothing combined, according to the Fraser Institute’s annual study of taxation in Canada.

The think-tank’s Canadian Consumer Tax Index study released Thursday says a Canadian family earning $79,010 in 2014 would have spent 42.1 per cent of income on total tax bills compared to 21 per cent of income on shelter, 11 per cent on food, and five per cent on clothing.

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Although the 2014 numbers can still change as more data becomes available, the percentage of income used to pay taxes has continuously risen since 2008 when 40.9 per cent of income was spent.

Charles Lammam, co-author of the study, said the consistent tax increases mean Canadians continue to have less money to use in other avenues.

“As the tax bill grows, there is less money available for families to spend on things they want to spend on, to save for retirement or their kids education, or even to pay down their household debt,” Lammam said.