Government supports our Veterans and local Legion with ‘Poppy tax’ relief

October 28, 2010

Ottawa, Ontario – Ted Menzies, Member of Parliament for Macleod and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance is proud to announce the Government of Canada’s support for our Veterans and local Legions in advance of Remembrance Day by announcing that the Government will provide a 100% rebate of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) the Royal Canadian Legion pays when they buy their poppies and wreaths from private sector suppliers. 

“Poppies and wreathes are symbols of the contribution, courage and sacrifices of the brave men and women who serve and have served in Canada’s armed forces.” said Menzies. “I am pleased that our Government is providing this tax relief to support the Remembrance Day Poppy Campaign.”
 
This change restores the tax relief that existed for poppies and wreaths until it was removed by the previous government in 1996. With the proposed rebate, Remembrance Day poppies and wreaths will be fully free of any sales tax. 

The ‘poppy tax’ meant a portion of the donations that Canadians made every year on Remembrance Day did not benefit the Legion and our Veterans . That was wrong, and the Government is restoring this tax relief and helping our Veterans.
  
The proposed rebate would be retroactive to January 1, 2010 to cover any sales tax on the current year’s poppies and wreaths acquired by the Royal Canadian Legion.