The wealth inequality gap has been expanding for decades, leaving more and more Canadians struggling to make ends meet. This is not by accident. It is the consequence of an imposed economic system that creates a few winners and many losers.
In this forum, we explore:
- the history of wealth inequality and why it has occurred,
- the consequences of wealth inequality,
- how some wealthy individuals are advocating for a fairer tax code that results in themselves being taxed more,
- what a fairer tax code might look like,
- solutions that result in a more equitable distribution of wealth,
- barriers to distributing wealth more equitably,
- attempt to answer the question, “Why do governments not default to a more equitable distribution of wealth?”
Panelists:
Moderator: Pat McCutcheon
Pat is a retired professional engineer. He ran in the 2024 provincial election as a BC Green Party candidate. Pat is a strong advocate on several issues, including wealth inequality, climate change, healthcare, education, renewable energy and the toxic drug crisis.
Economist: Alex Hemingway, Senior Economist – BC Policy Solutions
Alex’s research focuses on public finances, housing, inequality, taxation policy and tax fairness, public services and democratic innovation in BC and Canada. He came to BC Policy Solutions after working at the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives – BC Office since 2016.
Economist: Silas Xuereb, Canadians for Tax Fairness
Silas is an economist and policy analyst with years of experience in academia and working with non-profit organizations. He’s passionate about conducting rigorous research to understand social and economic inequalities in support of actors working to alleviate them.
Board Member: Emma Davis, Patriotic Millionaires Canada
Emma has spent her career working in non-profit administration and the arts. Her household wealth began to change dramatically when her husband sold his software start-up. Now, she is finding ways to use her privilege to ensure a more equitable and sustainable society.
Follow this LINK to join our nonprofit society. The cost is a mere $10 for 2026.
Congratulations on your first forum. It provided a great deal of information and leaves me thinking about the issues.
I look forward to future events.
Very interesting and worthwhile forum detailing the problem and potential solutions. Congratulations to those involved in organizing and presenting.
The challenge is daunting. My reading on the subject informs me that wealth inequality has been a serious global problem for centuries and is cyclical. Unfortunately the gap has never been narrowed significantly through government setting that as a goal and attacking it with specific policy measures. The playing field has only been levelled subsequent major catastrophes such as world wars, pandemics, failed states (civil war) etc. when events guided the hands of the power brokers in and out of government. The graph in the presentation showing the levelling after the Second World War is a good example.
It seems then, that if governments are somehow convinced in the absence of a global catastrophe to make specific policy changes significant enough to narrow wealth inequality to what the average citizen would deem reasonable, it would be the first time in centuries, if ever. Not to say it isn’t worth a try, and doing nothing in the face of the information available about who and what is to blame would be shameful. But the magnitude of the task cannot be overstated. This initiative is to be commended.
I noticed an exchange online this morning that applies:
Robert Reich said:
“Medicare for All would save $450B a year.
Every dollar spent on food stamps generates $1.50-$1.80 in economic activity.
Each dollar going to low-wage workers adds $1.20 to the economy overall.
It’s not about what this country can or can’t afford.
It’s about priorities.”
‘Millie’ responded:
“If your goal is equality, sure.
But that’s not the goal.
Ppl whose basic needs are met have time and energy to:
1. Become educated
2. Organize, vote, and promote policies that don’t further enrich billionaires
Billionaires want us tired, angry, struggling”
There are evil people in this world.