Getting a refund at the end of year is considered as a gift from Canada Revenue Agency. Taxpayers need to understand that this was your money that government kept and gave it back to you in the form of tax refund.

So let us take an example that you the taxpayer gets back $1,000 each year for 30 years. This means you the taxpayer gave $1,000 each year in the hands of government for 30 years. Let us assume that you had this extra $1,000 in your hands instead of giving it to the government each year and let us also assume that you were investing this $1,000 each year in a tax sheltered program that paid you 8% return each year and interest was compounded each year.