What is the Canadian Tax Observatory: 

The Canadian Tax Observatory (the “Observatory”) is a newly established non-partisan, non-profit organization committed to confronting wealth inequality through transformative tax policy. Our mission is to support a more equitable tax system that advances shared prosperity and economic growth through rigorous research, collaboration, advocacy and public education.

Why are we launching the Canadian Tax Observatory? 

Highly unequal societies are not compatible with democratic governance. They are too unstable and vulnerable to the erosion of democratic norms. Democratic capitalism requires well-regulated markets, real opportunities for people to build economic security, and fair taxation. Today’s tax debate is shaped by wealthy interests and the organizations and lobbyists they support. Tax policy is increasingly structured to benefit the wealthy. Misleading stories about the tax system abound and are pushing Canada to accept rising inequality and wealth concentration as the price of economic growth. We want to correct this. 

What we aim to achieve: 

The Canadian Tax Observatory will be a catalyst to confront wealth inequality in Canada. We aim to reshape Canada’s tax landscape by delivering evidence-based analysis and workable options that will promote a more equitable and growth-oriented tax system.  Confronting growing wealth concentration requires a full range of policy and legislative solutions, including tax reform. 

Our journey thus far: 

We are in the foundational stages of building this organization: we have incorporated as a nonprofit and are in the process of registering as a charity. The Observatory is currently incubated by Social Capital Partners, a nonprofit organization that provides robust governance, administrative and operational backing during this transitional period. We have secured initial seed funding of roughly $500,000 per year for the first three years and are actively developing partnerships with other organizations. We are ready for a leader who can shape and grow the Observatory into a permanent, nationally recognized Canadian institution.  

The leader we’re seeking: 

We are searching for a visionary—a Founding CEO who sees beyond conventional boundaries. This person is innovative, strategic, deeply committed to social justice, and capable of engaging diverse stakeholders, ranging from civil society, academic experts, industry stakeholders and government leaders. The ideal candidate will possess: 

  • Exceptional strategic vision with the ability to translate ideas into actionable policy solutions. 
  • A proven track record in organizational leadership, fundraising, and building influential partnerships. 
  • Credibility and expertise in economic and tax policy, preferably with a focus on Canadian public policy. 
  • Powerful communication skills to inspire, educate, and advocate across varied audiences, along with comfort engaging with the public, decision-makers, and expert policy networks. 
  • An ambitious, entrepreneurial spirit eager to build and sustain an impactful, lasting institution that will have a transformative impact in Canada on the sustainability of democratic capitalism. 

Your application – an invitation to dream big: 

We invite you to craft and submit a letter of no more than three (3) pages outlining how you would build and lead the Canadian Tax Observatory. Your letter should clearly state your vision for the Observatory and how you plan to bring this vision to life.  

We are committed to adapting the Observatory’s operating structure to support the leadership model best suited to the chosen Founding CEO. All candidates should feel comfortable reaching out to us for a preliminary conversation to help determine their suitability for the role or to ask any clarifying questions.  

Please submit your letter of no more than three (3) pages, along with your CV (including a list of your relevant publications), to careers@socialcapitalpartners.ca by May 21, 2025. As applications will be reviewed as they are submitted, we encourage all interested individuals to submit their application package as soon as possible.  

Next steps: 

Selected candidates will be invited to present their vision to our founding board and key stakeholders and will be compensated for their time. Our goal is to appoint our Founding CEO as soon as possible to promptly begin laying the groundwork for the Observatory’s next steps. 

We are excited to learn about your bold vision for building this new Canadian institution—a beacon for economic fairness, sustainable economic growth and a thriving democracy.

Together, let’s redefine what’s possible for Canada.

Tax policy