Introduction
I have pointed out that the major Canadian unions use cliches like “fair contracts.” (see for example the posts on the two largest Canadian unions Fair Contracts (or Fair Collective Agreements): The Ideological Rhetoric of Canadian Unions, Part One: The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) and Fair Contracts or Collective Agreements: The Ideological Rhetoric of Canadian Unions, Part Three: Unifor (Largest Private Union in Canada)). They also use such cliches as corporations and the wealthy paying their “fair share” of taxes (see Another Abstract Slogan or Cliche of Unions: Employers or Corporations Paying Their Fair Share of Taxes, Part Two: The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE)).
It is not, however, just unions that express such cliches. So-called progressive organizations do so as well–such as the New Democratic Party (NDP) here in Canada. In this post, I will show that this organization uses just such a cliche.
Let us look at this phrase for a moment. For corporations to pay their “fair share of taxes,” it is necessary that corporations in some way express something fair. If, for example, corporations were based on slave labour, would unions, social democrats and so-called progressive organizations call for the corporations paying their “fair share of taxes?” Or would they call for the abolition of such corporations since slave labour as such is unfair–no matter what the proportion of taxes corporations paid?
To call for corporations to pay their fair share of taxes assumes, without question, the legitimacy of corporations and the profit they receive. However, the profit corporations obtain is a result of the exploitation and oppression of workers (see for example The Rate of Exploitation of AB (Anheuser-Busch) InBev NV (Including Labatt) Workers or The Rate of Exploitation of Workers at Metro, One of the Largest Private Employers in Quebec, or: How Unionized Jobs Are Not Decent or Good Jobs or The Money Circuit of Capital or Employers as Dictators, Part One). To talk about corporations paying their fair share of taxes involves implicitly accepting and legitimating such exploitation and oppression.
Hardly any of the so-called left question the use of such phrases by unions, so-called progressive organizations and social democrats.
I have compiled some quotes from notices of the NDP. For the most part, emphases (bold) are mine.
Corporations Paying Their Fair Share of Taxes: Another Cliche or Abstract Slogan of the Social-Reformist or Social-Democratic Left
- From Appeal to “Fight Income Inequality” (no date) (https://www.ndp.ca/inequality):
New Democrats understand that government must help tackle income inequality—starting with action to ensure banks and profitable corporations are paying their fair share.
2. From All Talk, No Action (no date) (https://www.ndp.ca/trudeau-all-talk-wealth-tax):
For six years now, we’ve heard Justin Trudeau say he’d make wealthy Canadians pay their fair share – with no intention of doing it. When he wanted your vote, he promised a fairer tax on the wealthy. But when the time came to actually deliver, he turned his back on you and voted against it.
Billionaires continue to see their wealth grow with government handouts and glaring tax loopholes. Meanwhile, everyday Canadians continue to get squeezed. Jagmeet and the NDP are committed to making the very wealth and corporations pay their fair share
3. From June 6, 2024 (https://maryshortall.ndp.ca/news/liberals-fail-make-big-oil-and-gas-pay-their-fair-share-ndp-forces-big-oil-and-gas-ceos):
June 6th, 2024
As Liberals fail to make big oil and gas pay their fair share, NDP forces big oil and gas CEOs to committee to answer to Canadians….
In a press conference ahead of committee, Collins and NDP Natural Resources critic Charlie Angus called on the Liberals to make these CEOs pay their fair share with an excess profits tax as Canadians get gouged at the pumps….
That’s why the NDP is calling on the Liberals to make CEOs pay their fair share….
Instead of Liberal and Conservative handouts, the NDP wants these corporations to pay their fair share….
“Big oil and gas are the largest emitters and somehow are weaseling out of paying their fair share,” said Angus….
New Democrats are fighting to hold these CEOs to account and make sure they pay their fair share.
4. From July 6, 2022 (https://www.ndp.ca/news/ndp-calls-action-make-rich-and-powerful-pay-their-fair-share):
NDP calls for action to make the rich and powerful pay their fair share
Today, NDP Critic for Tax Fairness and Inequality, Niki Ashton (Churchill – Keewatinook Aski), along with Canadians for Tax Fairness economist and lead researcher, DT Cochrane, and Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada President, Jennifer Carr, called on Justin Trudeau’s Liberals to act for more tax fairness in Canada. They are calling on the government to end its unfair tax system and make the rich pay their fair share of taxes.
…
The NDP is urging the Liberals to close the tax gap, identify loopholes in Canada’s tax code and give the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) the tools it needs to ensure that billionaires and big corporations pay their fair share.
…
Justin Trudeau must act now to make things fairer for Canadians, and to give the CRA the tools it needs to make the rich and powerful pay their fair share.”
Just recently, Canadians learned that the Liberals collaborated with accounting firm KPMG to keep them from paying their fair share of taxes.
“It is our job to make tax fairness our priority and to close loopholes that let the rich and powerful off the hook,” said Ashton. “It’s time for action. Liberals must change the law that lets the richest avoid paying their fair share. We also need greater scrutiny including a special committee focused on tax fairness. It’s time to make sure those at the top are paying their fair share.”
5. From April 13, 2022 (https://www.ndp.ca/news/liberals-must-stop-giving-free-pass-ultra-rich-and-make-them-pay-their-fair-share-ndp):
April 13th, 2022
The Liberals must stop giving a free pass to the ultra-rich and make them pay their fair share: NDP
6. From November 26th, 2021 (https://nikiashton.ndp.ca/news/ndp-mp-niki-ashton-calls-government-make-huge-corporations-pay-their-fair-share):
NDP MP Niki Ashton calls on the government to make huge corporations pay their fair share…
While the Liberal government is clawing back the Guaranteed Income Supplement from vulnerable seniors and the Canada Child Benefit from low-income families, they have not taken any action to make huge corporations and the ultra-rich pay their fair share in taxes….
“While this government coddles the ultra-wealthy through tax breaks and cushy government contracts, everyone else is being left behind.” said Ashton. “Instead of demanding that one of the richest companies in the world [Amazon] pay their fair share of Canadian taxes, the Liberal government continues to prove they’re more interested in protecting their corporate buddies’ profits than helping Canadians.” …
“Amazon is a perfect example of what is wrong with unchecked corporate power in our country,” stated Ashton. “They make massive profits, but the government doesn’t make them pay their fair share of taxes. …
New Democrats will not stop fighting until the Liberal government takes action and makes massive corporations pay their fair share of taxes. …
7. From September 16, 2021 (https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/tax-platforms-federal-election-1.6177278):
The federal NDP and Conservatives typically don’t agree on much, but they have aligned on at least one topic this election campaign: making sure Canada’s wealthiest “pay their fair share.” …
And of course, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh has talked about making the wealthy “pay their fair share” at just about every available opportunity.
8. From August 30, 2021 (https://www.ndp.ca/news/no-more-loopholes-making-ultra-rich-pay-their-fair-share):
No more loopholes: making the ultra-rich pay their fair share…
“Even before the pandemic, families were struggling while billionaires and corporations made a fortune. In the last six years, Justin Trudeau has said he’d change things, but he did nothing while the ultra-rich used tax loopholes to make record profits,” said Jagmeet. “Trudeau’s free ride for the rich has to end. We need to make the ultra-rich pay their fair share so we can invest in creating good jobs, expanding health care, eliminating student debt, and delivering the help people need.”
9. From November 9th, 2020 (https://richardcannings.ndp.ca/news/wealthy-should-pay-their-share):
Wealthy should pay their share…
Who is paying for COVID-19 recovery? MP Cannings wants the wealthy to pay their share.
Penticton – The NDP took centre stage this past week as they tabled a motion in the House of Commons addressing what many Canadians are worrying about – who will pay the economic costs of the pandemic and for the recovery that must follow?
“While families in the South Okanagan-West Kootenay are still struggling and many others are worrying about how we’ll recover, the super-rich and biggest corporations have made billions off the pandemic. In fact, Canadian billionaires are $37 billion richer since the COVID-19 lockdown in March. They’re not struggling, they’ve profited off this crisis and many have avoided paying their fair share of taxes by hiding billions of dollars offshore every year. It is wrong” said Cannings.
10. From July 8th, 2020 (https://www.ndp.ca/news/ultra-rich-must-pay-their-share-ndp):
The ultra-rich must pay their share: NDP
OTTAWA – The government’s report on how Canada’s economy is doing after weeks of pandemic measures will be released today. The NDP is calling on the government to use this as an opportunity to invest in helping Canadians, to stop letting the ultra-wealthy off the hook without paying their fair share, and to build a stronger, fairer country for all….
“This government keeps protecting wealthy Liberal and Conservative donors and those who use tax havens overseas to avoid paying their fair share here in Canada,” said Julian. [New Democrat Finance Critic]
Conclusion
The NDP uses the social-reformist or social-democratic phrase and cliche of “corporations paying their fair share of taxes.” Such a phrase implies that if corporations somehow pay their fair share of taxes, then they are legitimate and have a right to continue to exist. Since corporations exist only by exploiting and oppressing workers, however, such legitimation papers over such exploitation and oppression. The radical left should criticize such cliches and the organizations which express them.
The Abolitionary 