Petition to the House of Commons: End Sales Tax on Basic Necessities in Canada

To the House of Commons in Parliament Assembled:

We, the undersigned residents of Canada, draw the attention of the House to the following:

Whereas:

The rising cost of living has placed immense financial strain on individuals and families across Canada, making it increasingly difficult for many to afford basic necessities.

Sales taxes on essential goods and services disproportionately impact low- and middle-income Canadians, further exacerbating poverty and inequality.

The government should not be profiting from the essential needs of its citizens, as access to necessities is a fundamental right, not a privilege.

Section 7 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms guarantees the right to life, liberty, and security of the person, which is infringed upon when the cost of living is prohibitively high due to government-imposed taxation on basic necessities.

Certain basic necessities, including but not limited to utilities (electricity, heating, water, telecommunications for essential communication), clothing, and all food items (including prepackaged and prepared foods), continue to be subject to sales tax in various provinces, despite their essential nature.

Provincial sales tax (PST) on basic necessities varies across Canada, creating an unfair and inconsistent burden on residents depending on their location.

Therefore, we, the undersigned, call upon the Government of Canada to:

Immediately remove all federal sales taxes (GST/HST) on essential goods and services, including but not limited to:

All food items, including prepackaged and prepared foods.

Essential utilities such as electricity, heating, water, and telecommunications required for basic living.

Basic clothing and footwear.

Personal hygiene products, including menstrual products, soap, shampoo, toothpaste, and other hygiene essentials.

Prescription and non-prescription medications required for health and well-being.

Public transportation fares, as access to affordable transportation is essential for work, education, and healthcare.

Work with provincial governments to eliminate all provincial sales taxes (PST) on these same basic necessities across all provinces and territories.

Recognize that taxation on essential goods and services directly contradicts the principles of fairness, human dignity, and economic justice, and should not be used as a means of government revenue generation.

People must come before profit. The government has a duty to ensure that taxation policies do not contribute to financial hardship, and it is unjust for the government to profit off the basic needs of its people. We urge Parliament to act now to provide immediate relief to Canadians struggling with the cost of living by eliminating sales tax on all basic necessities.

Signed,

 (The undersigned citizens of Canada)