See links below.
In the 2011 federal election the Conservative Party has proposed an income splitting initiative. Currently, Canada's income tax system requires each individual to report and pay tax on all of the income he/she earns. The proposed income splitting measure would tax partners as a unit instead of as individuals. Couples would be allowed to transfer income to a lower earning partner therefore lowering the higher earner's tax bracket to reduce family taxation.
This proposal has generated considerable debate. CRRU has gathered reports and analysis on this issue.
Income splitting proposal
Harper announces the family tax cut
The Conservative Party of Canada, 28 Mar 11
Media coverage
Tories' income splitting another nail in tax coffin
Jeffrey Simpson, Globe and Mail, 1 Apr 11
Election and families
The Current, CBC Radio, 30 Mar 11
Income splitting: analysts split on its wisdom, depending who benefits
Jonathan Chevreau, The Financial Post, 29 Mar 11
There are better ways to cut taxes than income splitting
Mike Moffatt, The Globe and Mail, 29 Mar 11
Tax break for stay-at-home parents doesn't help most families
Craig McInnes, Vancouver Sun, 29 Mar 11
Good things are worth waiting for: Tory income splitting plan is a winner
National Post, 29 Mar 11
‘Tax break' conceals low benefit
Jay Bryan, Montreal Gazette, 28 Mar 11
Who will benefit from the Tories' proposed family tax cut?
Tonda MacCharles, Toronto Star, 28 Mar 11
Probing the pledge: the Tories' flawed tax break for families
Barrie Mckenna, The Globe and Mail, 28 Mar 11
UVic prof Elisabeth Gugl criticizes Stephen Harper's income-splitting plan
Stephen Thomson, Georgia Straight, 28 Mar 11
Income splitting is flawed and costly
New Zealand Taxation, 23 Mar 11
Income splitting: A bad idea returns
Erin Weir, The Progressive Economics Forum, Mar 11
Research and analysis
Income splitting and joint taxation of couples: What's fair
Kesselman, Jonathan, 2008
Institute for Research and Public Policy (IRPP)
Press release: Full income splitting for taxation of couples a bad idea, says IRPP study
Fact and fantasy: Eight myths about early childhood education and care
Chapter five: The "discrimination against stay-at-home-mothers" argument
Cleveland, G. & Krashinsky, M.
Childcare Resource and Research Unit, 2003
Mothers as earners, mothers as carers: responsibility for children, social policy and the tax system
Freiler, C., Stairs, F., Kitchen, B., Cerny, J., 2001
Canadian's Women Health Network
The benefit/penalty unit in income tax policy: diversity and reform
Lahey, Kathleen, 2000
Government of Canada
Tax fairness of one-earner and two-earner families: An examination of the issues
Krashinsky, M. & Cleveland, G.
Canadian Policy Research Networks, 1999
For the benefit of our children: Improving tax fairness
Nineteenth report of the Standing Committee on Finance. Sub-committee on tax equity for Canadian families with dependent children
Canada. House of Common, June 1999