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Call it the supertax. It could be coming to a province near you, if you make enough money.

Taxing the rich has become a popular tactic for political parties across the country and campaign fodder in more than one provincial election.

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But the wealthy have other ideas and are exploring tax shelters like never before, says Don Carson, partner in taxation at accounting and consultancy firm MNP LLP. As marginal rates go up, the Holy Grail of wealth management is to reduce taxable income.

“General public sentiment I guess tries to sympathize with the plight of lower income individuals. ‘How do you let these fat cats get off and escape the recession.’ The government, rightly or wrongly, then has viewed them as a goose that has a few more feathers to be plucked,” said Mr. Carson.

As British Columbia went to the polls last week, the wealthy were assured of one thing — their taxes would be going up. But the new government can also be assured of something else, taxpayers will fight back.