Which of these do you think are most likely to be the reason Canada would one day fall apart?

The Federal Liberals.

quebec referendam comes every 10 yrs or so and it can be a real danger if it passes through

You forgot to add "Ignorance" to your options list.

Quebec separatism which also results in western alienation. Thhe two are intrisically linked.
An Quebec centred Ottawa that does everything to appease them which results in the west just sort of throwing up their arms and think whats the point.
Increasingly Ontario's fiscal imbalance when they see their public services fall apart and economy slow yet are raped by Ottawa for her money so it can head right to Quebec.
Ontarians, I think for the first time, are really wondering if this is all worth it.

^^

I agree. Particularly that of Quebec separatists, as well as that of the ROC towards Quebec.

All of the above.

Everything but the US. We all seem to end up united on any issue regarding the US.

I say Oil...

Simple..........greed

Egalitarianism. Everything revolves around equalization payments. NL takes down Canadian flags because it wants a bigger share of oil revenue, half (exageration) of Alberta wants to separate because the feds take too much of their provincial revenues. Nova Scotia was pretty pissed off lately too. I forget what their reason was for wanting more money.

But holy shit, since we have such a huge fucking social safety net, we HAVE to pay for it straight up the ass through huge taxation. Sometimes I wonder. My parents give away half, or more, of their income to the government.

These annoying polls.

Simple..........greed

End of story. Nothing but greed will tear the country apart.

These annoying polls.

Fuck off then...

Egalitarianism. Everything revolves around equalization payments. NL takes down Canadian flags because it wants a bigger share of oil revenue, half (exageration) of Alberta wants to separate because the feds take too much of their provincial revenues. Nova Scotia was pretty pissed off lately too. I forget what their reason was for wanting more money.

But holy shit, since we have such a huge fucking social safety net, we HAVE to pay for it straight up the ass through huge taxation. Sometimes I wonder. My parents give away half, or more, of their income to the government.
Wow, your parents are being screwed then. I don't think anyone else is being taxed that much.

^yeah, really :P

I choose the first three. It's probably mroe or less favouritsm.

And the federal liberals aren't really helping, either.

These annoying polls.

I entirely agree.

The collective obession with unity is the largest factor against it.

As for the poll, I would say that the US has no place on here. It's existence as a superpower and previous military threat was the prime motive for confederation in the first place. Otherwise, each province would likely be a seperate country at this point. Thanks America!

I'd also like to add, I hold a fanciful theory that Canada's unity problems are what shape our countries unique political and social atmosphere. Our country is in a constant flux of internal pressure and tension that cause it to be a rather benign state. We've never realized a great empire, we've never risen to herculean greatness (except in hockey ;) ).... instead we are a relatively modest country where the focus is internal, rather than external.

blah blah blah

All of the above.

I entirely agree.

The collective obession with unity is the largest factor against it.

As for the poll, I would say that the US has no place on here. It's existence as a superpower and previous military threat was the prime motive for confederation in the first place. Otherwise, each province would likely be a seperate country at this point. Thanks America!

I'd also like to add, I hold a fanciful theory that Canada's unity problems are what shape our countries unique political and social atmosphere. Our country is in a constant flux of internal pressure and tension that cause it to be a rather benign state. We've never realized a great empire, we've never risen to herculean greatness (except in hockey ;) ).... instead we are a relatively modest country where the focus is internal, rather than external.

blah blah blah

OMG! We're self-centred losers! :sad:

Oh, Canada....

/sarcasm :P

Wow, your parents are being screwed then. I don't think anyone else is being taxed that much.
It's the tax bracket they fall into, well my dad and stepdad.

In NB, you get taxed 46.84% for making more than $115,739. Ok, so I guess it's not quite that high. But even still.

It's the tax bracket they fall into, well my dad and stepdad.

In NB, you get taxed 46.84% for making more than $115,739. Ok, so I guess it's not quite that high. But even still.
Thats still quite a bit. No one should have to pay that much 35-40% should be the max.

Oh my GOD, 12% shouldbe the max, even if you make $1,000,000.00 /year
Our taxes is a JOKE.
I don't need to go on about it.

Not even the USA has 12% on there high tax brackets.
To get us down to 12%, you would make the Reform party look like Socialists. This would involve fully private health care with now public alternative, gutting public education to the point that it is worthwile, fully deregulating post-secondary, eliminating all welfare, CPP, EI, and other social measure, cut military to the bear minimums to only protect against internal strife, forgetting about paying down the debt, and this STILL won't be enough to get the top bracket down to 12%

The current bracket system is as follows
Income Fed. Tax
<$35,000 16%
$35-70k 22%
$70k-114k 26%
>$114k 29%
Then on top of that you have to pay provincial taxes. When you add the two, you generally get a top Marginal Tax Rate (depends on province of anywhere between 40-50%.

Keep in mind nobody actuallly pays that much in income taxes. Marginal tax rate refers to "the tax rate on the next dollar earned". In other words, if you earn $1 more in income, you will be charged up to this 40-50% rate. But the overall or Effective Tax Rate is much lower
Ie. Ontario Resident earning $200,000/yr. Ignoring ALL deductions (which in itself is hugely overstating taxes paid):
Gross Federal Tax: $38,296.84
Less: Basic Personal Amount: $1281.92
Total Federal Tax: $37,014.92 (A)
Gross Provincial Tax: $19,943.48
Less: Basic Personal Amount: $486.67
Total Provincial Tax: $19,456.81 (B)
Provincial Surtax: $8373.57 (C)

Total Taxes: $47,773.86
Divide by $200,000 = Effective Tax Rate of 23.88%. Not even close to 50%. This does'nt even include RRSP deduction, holding accounts, spousal tax credit, medical tax credit, and all the various other loopholes, deductions and credits available.

Always look at the numbers before making such hasty judgement.

^That's wonderful. But, I just showed you that in NB, with a combined fed and prov tax, my stepdad pays almost 50% of his income to the government. He makes $300 000/yr and explicitidly mentioned having 50% of his income taxed.

^ someone else needs to do your stepdad's taxes, or he is a liar.

Okay, firstly, if he's making $300k/yr I can't see a justification to complain that much. But, in all fairness that is a personal opinion so is not worth debating.

As for New Brunswick though, it is not that much different than Ontario. Nevertheless, I did the NB calculations on $300,000 and the result is he pays is as follows:
Gross Federal Tax: $78685.84
Less: Basic Personal Amount: $1281.92
Total Federal Tax: $77403.92 (A)
Gross Provincial Tax: $49389.80
Less: Basic Personal Amount: $750.78
Total Provincial Tax: $48,639.02 (B)
Provincial Surtax: $0.00 (As far as I know, NB does not have a surtax like Ontario)
0.00 (Prov Surtax)

Total Taxes: $126,042.94
Divide by $300,000 = Effective Tax Rate of 42.01%. Still not 50%. Once again, this does'nt even include RRSP deduction, holding accounts, spousal tax credit, medical tax credit, and all the various other loopholes, deductions and credits available.
I'm sure your dad is a smart guy (especially he earns that kind of money), and probably has a really good accountant who knows how to split income, open holding companies to transfer income, use various loopholes, etc. So, in actual fact, I bet he is paying about 33% in taxes, or otherwise should consider firing his accountant.

In all fairness, you dad could have been including all income (ie GST, excise, property, etc) in which case he is absolutley right.

^Yeah, we have a shitload of property on the go. Our townhouse downtown hasn't sold yet, the house in Rothesay (suburbs) hasn't sold yet, and we bought our new house almost in downtown Saint John. Maybe he's including everything. He's a partner in his firm, so he uses that to claim certain expenses, again because of the taxes our family is paying out.

The site I searched gave me a percentage of almost 47% as the highest combined income tax. Anyway, whatever, it doesn't matter. High taxes just suck. Maybe if the federal revenues were spent less poorly, it wouldn't seem as bad.

What does your Dad do? Even if half is taxed away $300,000 is quite the paycheck.

Quebec separatism. The USofA if anything, unites us. There are quite a few issues we can agree on when it comes to the US, even if they don't affect us all equally.

What does your Dad do? Even if half is taxed away $300,000 is quite the paycheck.
He's a litigator, a corporate lawyer.

^ well, can't exactly feel bad for lawyers, and other wealthy privileged status groups, getting taxed to a considerably higher degree.

^I wouldn't say we are wealthy. We live pretty well though.

The biggest threat to Canadian unity is Celine Dion.
I hope that whacko stays in Las Vegas

I'm suprised our current tax rates can prop up this country and support so many social services. There's only 33 million people running the world's second largest country...even our basic infrastructure overhead is heavier percentage wise than what most other countries have to bear.

The federal conservative party coming to power.