Boxing Day shoppers take advantage of tax holiday amid cost-of-living woes
Global News
Shoppers flocked to malls on Thursday to take advantage of Boxing Day deals made more enticing by the federal government’s GST holiday.
Shoppers flocked to malls on Thursday to take advantage of Boxing Day deals made more enticing by the federal government’s GST holiday, but some say the lower prices aren’t enough to keep up with the country’s cost of living.
For two months, a slew of items including children’s toys, video games and consoles, snacks, wine and restaurant food are GST- or HST-free, depending on the province. The tax break has incentivized some consumers to take advantage of Boxing Day sales at their local retailers.
Nakul Singal said he came to Fairview Mall in Toronto on Thursday morning with his partner to hunt for deals.
“Every year, we generally get good deals,” said Singal, who added he’d been waiting for Boxing Day to get new earphones. “It’s good to shop around during this time.”
He added that while the tax break has helped his family with food prices, he would like the government to do more to help Canadians with the high costs of living, especially housing.
“I hope that they could stop inflation,” he said. “We are struggling right now.”
The vice-president of federal government relations for the Retail Council of Canada, Matt Poirier, told The Canadian Press last week that Boxing Day in particular is expected to get a boost amid the temporary break.
However, he said businesses, including ones with older payment systems, have faced hurdles trying to implement the tax break on short notice and even figuring out which items qualify.
Around 4:15 a.m. Monday a stolen flatbed truck smashed into Players Choice Sports Cards and Collectibles, completely smashing the storefront.
The union representing thousands of health care professionals across Saskatchewan is calling out the decision to hire a private company to provide mobile detox services.
The New Brunswick government says it has asked for an audit of NB Power’s billing process after receiving "hundreds" of complaints.
General Motors, Nissan and Hyundai are among the companies that say they will match the $5,000 rebate on new electric vehicles sold during January.
The Retail Council of Canada has warned that tit-for-tat tariffs between Canada and the United States could raise prices for consumers on both sides of the border.
Winnipeg has a name in mind for its first-ever chief construction officer, Mayor Scott Gillingham announced Tuesday.
Kingston city council declared food insecurity an emergency last week, becoming the third Ontario city to do so over the past few months.
An injured suspect was taken into custody after the violence on Interstate 91 in Coventry, about 32 kilometres from the Canadian border, the FBI said in a statement.
Canada’s population will grow over the years regardless of the federal government’s recent decision to slash immigration rates, a new report shows.
On Friday, Mayor Malcolm Brodie refused to answer questions about his total compensation package of at least $362,000 in 2023. He earns $198,000 as mayor.
Blue Monday is often referred to as the saddest day of the year. CMHA Waterloo Wellington says there are a variety of activities that boost mental wellness during the winter.
The league suspended Purifoy on Friday.
After years of renting two propane tanks for $99 plus tax, Joe Eagles received a $600 increase from Superior Propane. The company says the increased fee is for minimal propane use.
In June 2022, the city announced it would be widening Robie Street to add bus lanes — a project that requires space. That will also mean the end to a woman's home of 26 years.
The Toronto International Film Festival says Rogers Communications has signed a three-year deal to return as its official “presenting partner” through 2027.
A boil water advisory has been issued for parts of the Halifax region after a power failure at a water treatment facility.
The TTC unveiled its capital plan for 2025 on Monday, complete with details of how often the spine of the city's transit network would be closed for days at a time.
A passenger on a recent rough-landing flight to Halifax says not only was the incident frightening, but the aftermath was poorly managed as people were left out in the cold.