SASKATOON — Horrifying and gruesome were the two words that Saskatoon Southeast MLA Brittney Senger used to describe the government’s provincial tax on Halloween items, such as kids’ costumes and treats given out to trick-or-treaters.
Senger, in a media availability on Friday, Oct. 31, at one of the Saskatchewan NDP’s offices in the city, dubbed it the "Halloween tax" making it harder for working families to enjoy the annual event.
“The Halloween tax is not just parents taking some candy off the top of the pile, not in Saskatchewan. Here, the [government] is taxing Halloween treats and kids’ costumes. It all adds up, and it shouldn't be so expensive for hard-working Saskatchewan families to spend quality time together,” said Senger.
She added that the Saskatchewan Party-led government’s decision to increase the provincial sales tax from five per cent to six per cent in 2017, including kids’ clothing, cost parents, grandparents and caregivers an additional $20 million annually.
Families also shell out approximately $25M annually on groceries due to the PST, on food items like rotisserie chicken, hot and ready-to-eat meals, packed salads, mixed and salted nuts, muffins, granola, protein and energy bars, some fruit juice and yogurt drinks, sandwiches, cheese, meat, fruit and vegetables packaged as platters.
“The government shouldn't be taxing family fun for kids’ clothes or grocery store items. After 18 years, people in Saskatchewan report higher financial anxiety than anywhere else. This Halloween, I'm calling on the [government] to scrap its scary, horrifying, gruesome grocery tax,” said Senger.
The government, in a statement sent to SaskToday, however, said that the province remains one of the most affordable places in the country to live, work, and raise a family.
"PST revenues help fund essential services in health care, education and social services, as well as infrastructure investments that communities rely on. There is no PST on essential grocery items such as meat, fish, eggs, milk and vegetables. However, PST is applied to treats like chocolate bars and candy, regardless of holidays or celebrations," said the government.
Senger added that the PST has affected families who are already tight on their budgets and have to scale back on certain items, resulting in a 40 per cent increase in people going to food banks, as every dollar counts as the holiday season approaches.
“Right now, when it comes to holidays, they want to make magical memories, and they may have to pull back in other areas, or they might have to cut corners when it comes to holidays. This tax [PST] was introduced in 2017 and applies to a wide range of pre-packaged foods, and families are working more right now. There's more financial anxiety than anywhere else in the country, here in Saskatchewan. They want to be able to spend that quality time with their loved ones, and they are having to rely often on these hot and ready meals or rotisserie chickens, so that they can spend that time with their loved ones,” Senger said, who also accused the government of financial mismanagement.
“We're seeing much financial mismanagement when it comes to the Sask. Party [government], and at the end of the day, there needs to be more priorities when it comes to fiscal management, and ensuring that money is being well spent, and taxpayer dollars are being well used,” she added.
