Tax Billionaires. Fund Everyone.
Build a Citizens' Wealth Fund—like Norway's $1.6 trillion fund or Alaska's Permanent Fund. Tax billionaires, invest proceeds, pay universal dividends. Economic security for all.
Norway's Citizens' Wealth Fund (pays $30K/year/citizen)
Alaska Permanent Fund dividend per resident (2022)
Potential Canadian fund from 5% billionaire wealth tax
What is a Citizens' Wealth Fund?
A Citizens' Wealth Fund (CWF) is a sovereign wealth fund owned by all citizens. It invests in co-ops, public infrastructure, and ethical assets—then pays universal dividends. Not welfare. Ownership.
How it works: 5% annual wealth tax on billionaires → $500B fund within 10 years → Invest in worker co-ops, CLTs, green energy → Pay $2,000-5,000/year dividends to every Canadian + compound growth for future generations.
Current System (Extraction)
- ✗87 Canadian billionaires control $350B
- ✗Capital gains taxed 50% less than wages
- ✗Profits siphoned to offshore tax havens
- ✗Citizens own nothing collectively
Citizens' Wealth Fund (Ownership)
- $500B fund owned by all Canadians
- 5% wealth tax on billionaires funds it
- Invests in co-ops, green energy, affordable housing
- Universal dividends ($2K-5K/year per person)
How to Build a Citizens' Wealth Fund
Pass Billionaire Wealth Tax (Years 1-2)
Campaign for 5% annual wealth tax on fortunes over $10M. Target: Weston family ($12B), Thomson family ($65B), Rogers, Irving. Fund initial CWF capitalization.
Precedent: Spain, Norway, Switzerland already have wealth taxes. Constitutional in Canada.
Establish Fund Governance (Year 2)
Create independent board: 1/3 citizen lottery, 1/3 elected representatives, 1/3 economic experts. Mandate: Invest in co-ops, green infrastructure, affordable housing. Prohibit fossil fuels, weapons, tax havens.
Model: Alaska Permanent Fund board structure (political independence + transparency).
Invest Strategically (Years 3-10)
60% worker co-op equity (own shares in democratic workplaces), 25% Community Land Trusts + social housing, 15% renewable energy infrastructure. Target 7% annual returns.
Rationale: Co-ops + CLTs generate stable returns while building worker/community power.
Pay Universal Dividends (Year 5+)
Once fund reaches $100B, distribute 50% of annual returns as universal dividends. Every Canadian citizen gets equal check quarterly. No means testing. Compounds economic security.
What Would You Get?
Citizens' Wealth Fund Dividend Calculator
Assumptions: 5% wealth tax on $350B billionaire wealth, 7% annual fund returns, 50% of returns paid as dividends (other 50% compounds). Conservative estimates based on Norway's fund performance.
“Norway's wealth fund changed everything. I get $30,000/year just for being a citizen—on top of my wages. It's not welfare. I own a share of our national wealth. Canada deserves the same.”
— Kari H., Oslo
Beneficiary of Norway's Government Pension Fund
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a wealth tax constitutional in Canada?
Yes. Federal government has constitutional authority to tax wealth under s.91 (public debt and property). BC already has speculation tax. Precedent: Spain, Norway, Switzerland have permanent wealth taxes.
Won't billionaires just move their money offshore?
Tax wealth wherever held (like U.S. taxes citizens globally). Require asset disclosure. Penalize banks facilitating evasion. Exit tax: 40% of wealth if they renounce citizenship (like U.S. expatriation tax).
How is this different from UBI (Universal Basic Income)?
UBI is government welfare funded by taxes. CWF dividends come from ownership—returns on investments we collectively own. It's property income, not redistribution. Alaska's model proves it works politically (even conservatives support it).
Will dividends cause inflation?
No. Alaska's Permanent Fund has paid dividends since 1982 with no inflation spike. Dividends are funded by investment returns, not money printing. Plus, CLTs + co-ops stabilize housing/goods prices.
Why not just fund social programs instead?
Both. Fund programs and build ownership. CWF gives citizens direct stake in economy—can't be cut by future governments like programs. Norway does both: strong welfare state + $1.6T fund.
How do we get politicians to pass this?
Mass organizing. 99reset chapters campaign locally. Pledge 100,000 Canadians to vote based on CWF support. Target ridings: downtown Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal. Model: Alaska's bipartisan support for Permanent Fund.
Ready to Tax Billionaires & Fund Everyone?
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