Survey reveals widespread belief that consumers are being taken advantage of
With the cost of living still painful for Canadians to the point where Ottawa has announced a planned tax break over the holidays, most people believe they are harmed by underhand practices.
A new survey published today (Nov. 27) by Angus Reid Institute shows that 91% of respondents think consumers are being taken advantage of in their province by businesses overcharging, misrepresenting goods and services, and other practices.
The same percentage think that tax evasion is prolific with more than half saying it “happens all the time.” A 2022 estimate put the loss to the CRA of tax non-compliance at up to $40 billion.
Respondents say that corruption is common with 86% believing backroom deals are regular occurrences while 81% say the same of money laundering. Eight in ten feel that corruption has worsened in the last three years while 21% think it’s stayed about the same.
Half of those who took part in the survey said that corruption is playing a ‘big role’ in the increased cost of living, but most people think that those who do wrong get away with it most of the time.
There is not much confidence in action being taken against employees that engage in bribery, money laundering, and other corrupt or illegal practices. Just 27% are very confident that businesses would take action, and just 19% say the federal government or their provincial government are equipped to combat corruption.
Perhaps this perception of inaction accounts for why most respondents said they don’t report suspicious interactions with businesses, despite two in five saying they have encountered a suspicious business.
