Canada has implemented a new tax savings from December to February for some things like taxable groceries, crafts, and gaming physical media. I wanted to get a new Xbox controller and found the best price at Walmart for $55 a week ago. The tax holiday starts today and I now see that the $55 has increased to $62 and change, which is about how much tax I should be saving. Great to see this thinly veiled attempt to help Canadians ( /s - win votes) is just going to be extra profit in the corporations’ pockets.

    • saltesc@lemmy.world
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      3 days ago

      Fuck this is gold.

      Well, unless people realise the actual worth of gold… But until then.

    • tal@lemmy.today
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      3 days ago

      This has nothing to do with supply-side versus demand-side economics.

      EDIT: Actually, I take that back. It does to the extent that it is aiming to provide an incentive on the demand side, which is the opposite of what you’re complaining about.

    • masterspace@lemmy.ca
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      3 days ago

      That’s not really relevant. A break in sales tax that just targets consumer necessities should be a progressive tax.

      The problem is that a lack of competition in this country means that grocers can raise their prices with no fear of losing customers

      • CileTheSane@lemmy.ca
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        2 days ago

        It doesn’t matter how much competition there is of they’re all going to do it anyway.

        • masterspace@lemmy.ca
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          2 days ago

          It does. Competition is literally the only mechanism that drives greedy actors to lower prices or improve their service. Without competition they hoarde.

            • masterspace@lemmy.ca
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              2 days ago

              No I didn’t, price control laws don’t work. Companies will find another way of maximizing profits and screwing you.

              • CileTheSane@lemmy.ca
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                2 days ago

                “only the market can fix this”

                Gestures broadly at the market

                Multiple competitors just results in them all agreeing to raise prices when taxes are lowered.

                Out of curiosity, how do you propose increasing the number of competitors? Or is this a situation of “gee, that would be nice. Oh well, I guess nothing can be done.”?

                • masterspace@lemmy.ca
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                  2 days ago

                  Multiple competitors just results in them all agreeing to raise prices when taxes are lowered.

                  Price signalling happens in situations with low competition, in a healthy, competitive market, if you raises prices someone will undercut you to take your business.

                  Out of curiosity, how do you propose increasing the number of competitors? Or is this a situation of “gee, that would be nice. Oh well, I guess nothing can be done.”?

                  You literally just break up grocery store companies and stop them from merging in the future. The solution is not complicated.

                  • CileTheSane@lemmy.ca
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                    1 day ago

                    You literally just break up grocery store companies and stop them from merging in the future.

                    Oh, so you mean LAWS?