Part 4/11:
A Short-Term Fix or Pragmatic Search for Solutions?
The measures announced are viewed skeptically. Many see them as recycled campaign promises or superficial band-aids rather than genuine solutions to Canada's economic crisis. Questions abound: Where is the money coming from? Critics worry these initiatives will increase governmental control over citizens' finances rather than empower individuals.
For example, the plan to pre-file taxes for millions of low-income Canadians—scheduled to start with the 2026 tax year and scale up by 2028—raises alarm about government intrusion and the expanding powers of the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). Historically inefficient and plagued with trust issues, the CRA's increased role fuels concern over surveillance and bureaucratic overreach.