Table:
| FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31 | 2019 | 2018 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Net earnings | 3,253 | 2,973 |
| Add back income taxes | 1,133 | 995 |
| Earnings before income taxes | 4,386 | 3,968 |
| Applicable statutory tax rate | 27.0% | 27.0% |
| Income taxes computed at applicable statutory rates | (1,184) | (1,071) |
| Non-taxable portion of gains (losses) on investments | 4 | (9) |
| Uncertain tax positions | 15 | 68 |
| Effect of change in provincial corporate tax rate | 27 | – |
| Change in estimate relating to prior periods | 14 | 20 |
| Non-taxable portion of equity losses | (20) | (10) |
| Previously unrecognized tax benefits | 9 | – |
| Other | 2 | 7 |
| Total income taxes | (1,133) | (995) |
| Average effective tax rate | 25.8% | 25.1% |
Paragraphs:
4.11 Income Taxes
The following table reconciles the amount of reported income taxes in the income statements with income taxes calculated at a statutory income tax rate of 27.0% for both 2019 and 2018.
Income taxes in 2019 increased by $138 million, compared to 2018, mainly due to higher taxable income and a lower value of uncertain tax positions favourably resolved in 2019 compared to 2018, partly offset by a favourable change in the corporate income tax rate in Alberta in Q2 2019.
Question:
What was the main factor that led to the increase in income taxes in 2019?
Answer: higher taxable income and a lower value of uncertain tax positions favourably resolved in 2019 compared to 2018, partly offset by a favourable change in the corporate income tax rate in Alberta in Q2 2019