Trudeau to announce temporary GST relief on select items heading into holidays

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will announce a two-month GST relief on select items heading into holidays to address affordability issues, sources confirm to CTV News.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will announce a two-month GST relief on select items heading into the holidays to address affordability issues, sources have confirmed to CTV News.

Trudeau is expected to unveil the tax break on Thursday, along with Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland. CTVNews.ca will stream the announcement LIVE at 11 a.m. EST.

The policy announcement was first reported by The Globe and Mail.

The temporary GST relief will apply to children’s items such as clothing and diapers, as well as pre-prepared hot meals. It will not apply to monthly bills.

Last week, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh pledged his party would eliminate the GST on daily essentials and monthly bills, if elected.

Late Wednesday, after being briefed on the upcoming announcement, the NDP issued a statement, taking credit for the policy.

“The NDP is delivering a winter tax holiday to Canadians. The prime minister’s office just informed us that he’s caving to our Tax-Free-Essentials campaign — partly,” Singh said.