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In Canadian society, the consensus is that wealthy people should pay more tax than less-wealthy people.

This is the basis of our progressive income tax system. Wealthy people can afford to pay more tax without seriously impinging on their lifestyle, and so they should bear a higher burden.

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Some people grumble about this, but they are in the minority. And almost no one thinks that wealthy people should pay less tax than non-wealthy people.

Yet that is precisely what happens on a significant scale in Vancouver.

Suppose you wanted buy an expensive house in a premium neighbourhood, such as Point Grey. If the house cost around $2 million, which is at the low end, then your household income would need to be around $300,000 at current interest rates with a 20 per cent down payment. Your household would pay $90,000 to $110,000 in income taxes each year.

On top of that, you would pay property taxes of around $6,000. And then you would pay various sales taxes and government fees or premiums. Not exactly chump change, but you’d be wealthy, so you could manage.