Originally Posted by trilinearmipmap

You're absolutely right to be outraged at having to pay taxes on your purchases in Canada.

Of course you didn't make use of any public facilities or infrastructure during your visit, such as roads or airports. I imagine you didn't eat any food or breathe any air, or go out in public anywhere, so you shouldn't have to pay for the costs involved in making sure our food, water, and air are clean and safe, or pay the cost of policing to make your visit a secure one.

I am sure if you suffered a medical emergency in Canada you would never have shown up at a (publicly funded) hospital ER requesting treatment. And if you did I am sure you would have paid your bill in full promptly.

When I go to the USA I play by their rules, like it or not. Our rules in Canada include a reasonable level of taxation to provide a reasonable level of public services. If you don't like it, stay home.