Changes

Equalization payments, worth 11.7 billion Canadian dollars are made by the federal government to the provinces from richer provinces (currently Alberta, Newfoundland,<ref>[http://www.cbc.ca/canada/newfoundland-labrador/story/2008/11/03/have-not.html]</ref>  and British Columbia) and the poorer provinces (Ontario,<ref>[http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2008/11/03/flaherty-ministers.html]</ref> Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Quebec, Manitoba and Saskatchewan).  This is to ensure that reasonably uniform standards of services and taxation are kept between the richer and poorer provinces.<ref>[http://www.budget.gc.ca/2007/bp/bpc4e.html Budget 2007]</ref>  These payments have not been without controversy as provinces begin to make more revenues from natural resources they do not want to give up the Equalization payments.

Equalization payments, worth 11.7 billion Canadian dollars are made by the federal government to the provinces from richer provinces (currently Alberta, Newfoundland,<ref>[http://www.cbc.ca/canada/newfoundland-labrador/story/2008/11/03/have-not.html]</ref>  and British Columbia) and the poorer provinces (Ontario,<ref>[http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2008/11/03/flaherty-ministers.html]</ref> Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Quebec, Manitoba and Saskatchewan).  This is to ensure that reasonably uniform standards of services and taxation are kept between the richer and poorer provinces.<ref>[http://www.budget.gc.ca/2007/bp/bpc4e.html Budget 2007]</ref>  These payments have not been without controversy as provinces begin to make more revenues from natural resources they do not want to give up the Equalization payments.

 

British Columbia's combined federal and provincial corporate tax rate is lower than any jurisdiction in the United States.<ref name=tax>{{cite web|url=http://www.britishcolumbia.ca/Invest/Business-Climate/Pages/CompetitiveTaxClimate.aspx|title=Competitive Tax Climate|publisher=British Columbia|accessdate=Aug 12, 2012}}</ref> The BC corporate rate is 10% and the federal rate is 15%.<ref name=tax/>

British Columbia's combined federal and provincial corporate tax rate is lower than any jurisdiction in the United States.<ref name=tax>{{cite web|url=http://www.britishcolumbia.ca/Invest/Business-Climate/Pages/CompetitiveTaxClimate.aspx|title=Competitive Tax Climate|publisher=British Columbia|accessdate=Aug 12, 2012}}</ref> The BC corporate rate is 10% and the federal rate is 15%.<ref name=tax/>

====Public Health Care====

====Public Health Care====

 

{{See also|Two-tier system}}

{{See also|Two-tier system}}

In 1984, the Federal Government, under the leadership of the Liberals and The Right Honourable [[Pierre Trudeau|Pierre Elliot Trudeau]], enacted the Canada Health Act. This act was based on the five principles of "universality, accessibility, portability, comprehensiveness, and public administration".<ref>[http://www.fin.gc.ca/FEDPROV/hise.html History of Canada Health and Social Transfer]</ref> This public health care system is run in partnership by Health Canada and provincial Ministries of Health, who both contribute tax revenues. The federal government sets policy, while the provinces are responsible for actual administration. In 1995, the Canada Health and Social Transfer was created to replace existing systems for the transferral of tax funding to the provinces to administer social programs. The rationale behind the system is to allow all Canadians equal access to equal treatment, regardless of socio-economic status.  

In 1984, the Federal Government, under the leadership of the Liberals and The Right Honourable [[Pierre Trudeau|Pierre Elliot Trudeau]], enacted the Canada Health Act. This act was based on the five principles of "universality, accessibility, portability, comprehensiveness, and public administration".<ref>[http://www.fin.gc.ca/FEDPROV/hise.html History of Canada Health and Social Transfer]</ref> This public health care system is run in partnership by Health Canada and provincial Ministries of Health, who both contribute tax revenues. The federal government sets policy, while the provinces are responsible for actual administration. In 1995, the Canada Health and Social Transfer was created to replace existing systems for the transferral of tax funding to the provinces to administer social programs. The rationale behind the system is to allow all Canadians equal access to equal treatment, regardless of socio-economic status.