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News reports say the federal government is getting to crunch time on whether to lend or give – which is not clear yet – $1 billion to Bombardier Inc., which is having trouble selling its new C-series aircraft.

This would be the latest in a long line of federal cheques made out to the company.

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If $1 billion is too big a number to get your mind around, think of it this way. There are 35 million Canadians. So $1 billion is roughly $28.60 per person. Each and every one of us stands to “contribute” $28.60 to Bombardier. Of course, not everyone will pay.

Though there are 27 million filers of income-tax returns, a little more than nine million don’t actually pay any tax, which leaves 18 million who do. Divide $1 billion among 18 million and that gives you — or gives Bombardier courtesy of you — $55.55. Each and every income-tax-paying Canadian will contribute $55.55 to Bombardier, if the company’s request for money is honoured.