--- title: "Canadian families paid more in taxes than on food, shelter and clothing in 2025" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/business/canadian-families-paid-more-in-taxes-than-on-food-shelter-and-clothing-in-2025" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/canadian-families-paid-more-in-taxes-than-on-food-shelter-and-clothing-in-2025" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/business/canadian-families-paid-more-in-taxes-than-on-food-shelter-and-clothing-in-2025.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/canadian-families-paid-more-in-taxes-than-on-food-shelter-and-clothing-in-2025" category: "Business & Economy" published: "2026-08-14T17:05:29.692Z" source_reported: "2026-08-14T16:34:45.351Z" updated: "2026-08-14T17:05:29.692Z" trust_score: 74 critic_score: 77 hype_score: 15 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-08-14T16:39:20.939Z" --- # Canadian families paid more in taxes than on food, shelter and clothing in 2025 *Fraser Institute study finds taxes took 42% of income, exceeding combined spending on basic necessities* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 74 of 100, higher is better. Trust high due to named Fraser Institute study, specific figures, and corroboration across multiple independent outlets. - Craft 77 of 100, higher is better. Clear facts, specific data, and context are presented without editorializing. - Hype 15 of 100, lower is better. Headline is mildly emphatic but body matches the claim. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - The average Canadian family paid $50,721 in taxes in 2025, 42% of its income, according to the Fraser Institute’s Canadian Consumer Tax Index. - Taxes exceeded combined spending on food, shelter and clothing, which accounted for 36% of income in 2025. - Since 1961, the tax burden has risen 2,928%, outpacing increases in shelter (2,349%), food (952%) and clothing (526%). - The federal government announced a middle-class tax cut effective 1 July 2025, as consultations for the 2026 budget began. In 2025, the average Canadian family spent 42% of its income on taxes, exceeding the 36% spent on food, shelter and clothing combined. The Fraser Institute’s Canadian Consumer Tax Index reported the average tax bill at $50,721 for a family earning $121,111. In 1961, taxes accounted for 33.5% of income, while basic necessities took 56.5%. The tax burden has grown 2,928% since 1961, outpacing increases in shelter costs (2,349%), food (952%) and clothing (526%). The Consumer Price Index, which tracks average prices for goods and services, rose 946% over the same period. The Fraser Institute study attributed the disparity to the faster growth of taxes relative to other household expenses. On 30 June 2025, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced a middle-class tax cut, effective the following day. The government also began consultations for the 2026 budget, focusing on energy, critical minerals, defence spending and artificial intelligence, as reported by The Globe and Mail. ## What the coverage left out None of the right-rated digests mentioned the government’s middle-class tax cut announced on 30 June 2025. The left-rated digest did not include the 2025 tax or income figures, the historical comparison with 1961, or the percentage increases in shelter, food and clothing costs. The Globe and Mail digest, rated centre, did not report the Fraser Institute’s findings. ## Who covered it Shares of the 10 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 10% (1) - Centre: 20% (2) - Right: 70% (7) 6 of 16 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-08-14T16:39:20.939Z. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 9 times; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-08-14T19:15:35.140Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left - The Times Colonist digest led on the political implications of the tax burden, framing it as a concern that should outweigh food prices in public debate. The digest did not include the 2025 tax or income figures, the historical comparison with 1961, or the percentage increases in shelter, food and clothing costs. ### Centre - CTV News reported the Fraser Institute’s findings in full, including the 42% tax share, the 36% spent on necessities, and the historical comparison with 1961. The report quoted the study’s statement that taxes had grown more rapidly than any other household expenditure. The Globe and Mail digest focused on the government’s 2026 budget consultations, mentioning the tax cut announcement but not the Fraser Institute’s figures. ### Right - All seven right-rated digests led on the Fraser Institute’s finding that taxes exceeded spending on food, shelter and clothing. Six of the seven included the 2025 tax bill of $50,721 and the 42% income share. The Financial Post digest framed the tax burden as politically significant, while the Fraser Institute’s own digest highlighted the 2,928% increase since 1961. The Sudbury Star and National Post digests repeated the core comparison without additional context. **Provisional coverage gap:** left. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - mixed: 2 - high: 7 - unknown: 6 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [Prime Minister of Canada - Premier ministre du Canada…](https://pm.gc.ca/en/news/news-releases/2025/06/30/canadas-new-government-delivers-middle-class-tax) — Canada’s new government delivers middle-class tax cut - [Toronto Sun](https://torontosun.com/uncategorized/news-of-the-day-aug-13-2026) — News of the day: Canadians spent more on taxes than basic necessities in 2025, and more - [junonews.com](https://junonews.com/p/canadian-families-spend-more-on-taxes) — Canadian families spend more on taxes than housing, food and clothing combined: study - [todocanada.ca](https://todocanada.ca/study-taxes-cost-canadian-families-more-than-housing-food-and-clothing-combined) — Study: Taxes Cost Canadian Families More Than Housing, Food and Clothing Combined - [National Post](https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/canadians-pay-more-in-taxes-than-for-food-shelter-and-clothing-combined-report-finds) — Canadians pay more in taxes than for food, shelter and clothing combined, report finds - [Sudbury Star](https://thesudburystar.com/news/canada/canadians-pay-more-in-taxes-than-for-food-shelter-and-clothing-combined-report-finds/wcm/470cc120-b920-43c2-8ac8-cef1cb43be18) — Canadians pay more in taxes than for food, shelter and clothing combined, report finds - [GrowCola.com](https://growcola.com/canadians-pay-more-in-taxes-than-for-food-shelter-and-clothing-combined-report-finds) — Canadians pay more in taxes than for food, shelter and clothing combined, report finds - [CTV News](https://ctvnews.ca/windsor/article/canadians-spent-almost-half-of-their-income-on-taxes-in-2025-study) — Canadians spent almost half of their income on taxes in 2025: Study - [Financial Post](https://financialpost.com/opinion/opinion-canadian-families-spend-more-on-taxes-than-basic-necessities) — Canadian families spend more on taxes than basic necessities - [Times Colonist](https://timescolonist.com/opinion/comment-canadians-should-worry-about-taxes-more-than-food-prices-12416448) — Comment: Canadians should worry about taxes more than food prices - [fraserinstitute.org](https://fraserinstitute.org/studies/taxes-versus-necessities-life-canadian-consumer-tax-index-2026-edition) — Average Canadian family spent 42% of income on taxes—more than on housing, food and clothing combined - [mpamag.com](https://mpamag.com/ca/mortgage-industry/industry-trends/the-one-cost-eating-more-of-canadian-incomes-than-housing/586079) — The one cost eating more of Canadian incomes than housing - [The Hub](https://thehub.ca/2026/08/13/canadian-families-paid-over-50000-in-tax-on-average-in-2025-more-than-on-food-shelter-and-clothing-combined-study) — Canadian families paid over $50,000 in tax on average in 2025, more than on food, shelter, and clothing combined: Study - [Newswire](https://newswire.ca/news-releases/average-canadian-family-spent-42-of-income-on-taxes-more-than-on-housing-food-and-clothing-combined-876483727.html) — Average Canadian family spent 42% of income on taxes--more than on housing, food and clothing combined - [wealthprofessional.ca](https://wealthprofessional.ca/news/industry-news/canadian-families-paying-42-of-income-in-taxes-more-than-all-basic-needs-combined/393268) — Canadian families paying 42% of income in taxes, more than all basic needs combined - [The Globe & Mail](https://theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-francois-philippe-champagne-interview-budget-consultations) — Champagne seeks pitches for tax changes, energy policy ahead of 2026 budget ## Questions **How much did the average Canadian family pay in taxes in 2025?** The Fraser Institute reported the average Canadian family paid $50,721 in taxes in 2025, which accounted for 42% of its income. This exceeded the 36% spent on food, shelter and clothing combined, according to the study. **How has the tax burden changed since 1961?** The Fraser Institute’s Canadian Consumer Tax Index found the tax burden increased by 2,928% from 1961 to 2025. Over the same period, shelter costs rose 2,349%, food 952%, and clothing 526%. Taxes have grown faster than any other household expenditure. **Did the Canadian government announce any tax changes in 2025?** Yes, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced a middle-class tax cut effective 1 July 2025. The government also began consultations for the 2026 budget, focusing on energy, critical minerals, defence spending and artificial intelligence. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/business/canadian-families-paid-more-in-taxes-than-on-food-shelter-and-clothing-in-2025. 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