Major retailers call for tax refund for international tourists
A group of major Canadian retailers is asking the federal government to re-implement a Visitor Tax Refund in an effort to boost tourism and invigorate the Canadian economy.
The group, which includes Hudson’s Bay Company, Cadillac Fairview, Birks Group Inc., and Harry Rosen, says bringing back the refund could be a major incentive to the country’s tourism industry.
“We estimate, thanks to independent analysis, that this would bring up to $1 billion dollars, fresh revenue to Canada, tax revenue for the government, but also approximately 32,000 new jobs in Canada,” Jean-Christophe Bedos, president and CEO of Birks Group Inc. said.
The proposal is also supported by the Retail Council of Canada, who note that according to Statistics Canada data, the spend-per-tourist is down five per cent over the last seven years, while in countries like Japan and the Bahamas—who both recently implemented a visitor tax refund—tourist spending is up considerably.
“Every reasonable and cost-effective level should be used to renew the tourism sector’s important contribution to the Canadian economy, since many businesses rely on tourist spending,” Michelle Wasylyshen, national spokeswoman for the Retail Council of Canada, said.
Some Ottawa businesses say they support the move.
“I think it’s something that should be done and we should just keep something like that happening,” Ian Wright, owner of Snow Goose Gallery on Sparks Street, said.
Wright says tourism is a major part of his business and although this summer has been better, the store is still not seeing the amount of customers they were accustomed to prior to the pandemic. Among those who do come, Wright adds there are still tourists inquiring about Canada’s former visitor tax refund; a program cancelled by the federal government in 2007.
“It worked great and everybody said don’t stop it, don’t stop it,” Wright said.
In a statement to CTV News, Gabriel Felcarek, a spokesperson for the federal tourism minister, Randy Boissonneault, wrote, “A former rebate program was discontinued in 2007 because it was found not to be a cost-effective way for the federal government to help attract tourists to Canada.
“The Minister of Tourism is working with the tourism industry, provincial and territorial counterparts, and Indigenous tourism operators to develop a new post-pandemic Federal Tourism Growth Strategy,” Felcarek added.
But Ottawa retailers say tools like these are critical to helping the industry rebound.
“We want the economy back on track and tourism back on track, these things are really important,” Wright said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'They needed people inside Air Canada:' Police announce arrests in Pearson gold heist
Police say one former and one current employee of Air Canada are among the nine suspects that are facing charges in connection with the gold heist at Pearson International Airport last year.
Why drivers in Eastern Canada could see big gas price spikes, and other Canadians won't
Drivers in Eastern Canada face a big increase in gas prices because of various factors, especially the higher cost of the summer blend, industry analysts say.
Trump lawyers say Stormy Daniels refused subpoena outside a Brooklyn bar, papers left 'at her feet'
Donald Trump's legal team says it tried serving Stormy Daniels a subpoena as she arrived for an event at a bar in Brooklyn last month, but the porn actor, who is expected to be a witness at the former president's criminal trial, refused to take it and walked away.
Woman who pressured boyfriend to kill his ex in 2000s granted absences from prison
A woman who pressured her boyfriend into killing his teenage ex more than a decade ago will be allowed to leave prison for weeks at a time.
Customers disappointed after email listing $60K Tim Hortons prize sent in error
Several Tim Horton’s customers are feeling great disappointment after being told by the company that an email stating they won a boat worth nearly $60,000 was sent in error.
Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter banned from NBA
Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter has been handed a lifetime ban from The National Basketball Association (NBA) following an investigation which found he disclosed confidential information to sports bettors, the league says.
House admonishes ArriveCan contractor in rare parliamentary show of power
MPs enacted an extraordinary, rarely used parliamentary power on Wednesday, summonsing an ArriveCan contractor to appear before the House of Commons where he was admonished publicly and forced to provide answers to the questions MPs said he'd previously evaded.
Attempt to have murder charge quashed against alleged serial killer dismissed by judge
A motion filed by the man accused of killing four Indigenous women in Winnipeg to have one of those murder charges quashed has been dismissed by the judge – weeks before the start of his trial.
'A living nightmare': Winnipeg woman sentenced following campaign of harassment against man after online date
A Winnipeg woman was sentenced to house arrest after a single date with a man she met online culminated in her harassing him for years, and spurred false allegations which resulted in the innocent man being arrested three times.