BMO CEO White Urges Canada to Cut Taxes Even If Deficit Widens

Canada is “absolutely not” competitive on tax policy, said Bank of Montreal Chief Executive Officer Darryl White, who called on the federal government to cut taxes even if it means running a larger deficit.

With trade issues dominating the national debate, tax incentives for investment aren’t getting enough attention, White said Wednesday at the Toronto Global Forum.

Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government canceledan unpopular increase to the capital-gains inclusion rate, but it needs to go further, White said, such as by letting businesses write off capital assets sooner and lowering corporate and personal taxes.

“We have ...