CPCN telecommunications is owned by government ?
I don't know. Are highways and airports built by private companies?
Most logging roads in BC. Some are also built by government and loggers must pay a fee for using them while the public enjoys free use.
With the amount of tax revenue Alberta receives from the oil sandsoperations I would say they more than pay for any infrastructure.
Logging roads? I wonder how they compare to the vast network of highways and urban roads. That is like claiming a driveway is an example of public infrastructure.
And apparently you do not know the deal the provincial government struck with the oil companies concerning revenue from the oils sands. Many of the companies pay no royalties until the cost of their investment has been fully recovered. Even conceding that point, why shouldn't the oil companies pay taxes They are exploiting a resource that is owned by the people of Alberta.
I find it extremely interesting that you reference Adam Smith, considering that he died in 1790, your extrapolating parallels to rec facilities, airports and malls is nothing short of hilarious.
Regardless, the largest portfolios paid for by gvt are education and healthcare. These are used on a per capita basis and have little to do with the income demographic being the deciding factor. If you want to cherry pick select examples, consider public libraries, transit and social services and then get back to me on per capita use by income demographic
It has to do with this comment you made:
It's back asswards that leads me to question your overall understanding
You're making the case for 1 or 2 levels of income tax with a consumption tax on top.
How someone opts to spend their cash is entirely their own business. punishing someone for succeeding results in dragging everyone down to the same common denominator
Tons of them.... Many at the sole cost of an industry and as JLM pointed out, many indirectly
Adam Smith? I was talking you you. You called me Warren Buffet. I guess my reply went over your head.
I still don't get your reference regarding charities. You seem to think that because the wealthy donate some of their income to charity that justifies an unfair tax system.
As for health care and education I wonder how much it would cost big business to pay the costs of those services themselves. Health care provides a healthier workforce free of charge to every employer in Canada. And education provides a literate workforce to the same employers.
As for you comments regarding roads please give me an example of a public highway built by a private corporation, not something intended for use only by a business. While you are at it throw in a few examples of other public facilities like airports, universities, technical schools, libraries, recreation centres, and sewer and water lines built by private companies. If you can even find one example in a hundred you would be doing quite well.
The Highway connecting Conklin to Ft. Mac was first built as an ice road by loggers then improved by the oil companies finally improved to transportation standards and paved by the Prov. as a year round road for everyone.
It appears that a number of people can come up with single examples of such roads, but I just wonder how they compare with the massive infrastructure provided by public spending.