(with Marc Lee and Iglika Ivanova)

Most British Columbians would agree that everyone should pay their fair share of taxes. And most assume that the wealthy pay more, not only in straight dollars, but also a higher tax rate as a share of their income.

So most would probably be shocked to learn that, in reality, that is no longer how our provincial tax system works.

The dastardly, dishonourable, relentless war against the natural leaders of society continues without pause.

Recently, the Huffington Post carried this headline: "One out of every ten Wall Street employees is a psychopath, say researchers."

That was just the beginning. In February, this very newspaper offered readers its own version: "Cheat, lie, break the law? Chances are, you're rich." The sub-head poured salt into the wound: "Findings from seven studies show upper class more likely to lie in negotiations, steal from others and endorse unethical behavior." The article couldn't have been more twisted:

The wealthy really are different from everyone else: They're more likely to cheat, lie, and break the law.

Stockwell! It's been a while since I've seen your face and I was wondering how life outside of politics was treating you. So, imagine my great pleasure when I came across your column on the CBC website: "Avoid the trap of the income 'gap'."

Noting the deliberate use of quotation marks, I had to continue reading -- if only to find out your "thoughts" on the subject of income inequality in Canada. After all, the CCPA and others have spent a fair amount of time documenting how the gap between the rich and rest of us is growing at a rate that outpaces what we're seeing in the U.S.

It's often said that there aren't enough rich people in Canada to make a real difference to fiscal policy and, in consequence, the rest of us.

Yesterday Canadian Business's annual special edition devoted to Canada's richest 100 people hit the stands, where it will stay until Christmas. As a regular contributor I was invited to submit a column. I chose to drop the T-bomb and show how just a few people can make a huge difference in the lives of millions of Canadians through their contribution to public policy. You can read the article here.

Over at the Globe and Mail Economy Lab our friend Stephen Gordon argues that there are only limited revenues to be gained by taxing the rich.