Stephen Harper’s Finance Minister makes up numbers on television... again

When CBC’s Evan Solomon asked Jim Flaherty last night about the fact corporate tax revenues are lower than when the Conservatives took power – while personal tax revenues are higher – he replied

“...over the last several years corporate tax revenues have continued to grow...I’d welcome the NDP to do their homework and actually look at the lines, look at the tables, and see what's been happening.”

• Jim Flaherty, CBC Power and Politics, November 13, 2012

Look at tables? We love fiscal tables!

Let's start with the first numbered table in Volume I the Public Accounts of Canada.

If you can’t find it, just ask Tony Clement or Rona Ambrose, both of whom signed the financial statements of the government. (Minister, if you are still having trouble, ask one of your 26 personal staff and they should be able to find a copy.)

Looking at Table 1.1, in 2005-06 the government collected $31.724 billion in corporate taxes.

In the last fiscal year, the government collected $31.702 billion in corporate taxes, a reduction of $22 million.

In fact, corporate tax revenues have been below 2005-06 levels for the last four years.

And while less money is now being collected in corporate taxes, $15 billion more is now being collected annually from personal income taxes than when Conservatives took power.

That's the Conservative record.

Numbers don't lie...its a shame we can't say the same about Conservative Ministers.