House of Commons set to approve two-month GST holiday legislation

OTTAWA - A bill to implement a two-month GST holiday is expected to pass in the House of Commons today. The legislation was introduced by Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, with support from the NDP to counter a Conservative filibuster. The GST holiday will apply to many holiday items, potentially saving consumers between $100 and $260 on $2,000 in purchases, depending on the province. The federal cost of the initiative is estimated at $1.6 billion. The NDP agreed to support the bill after separating it from a proposed $250 payment to working Canadians. They seek to expand benefits to non-working seniors and people with disabilities.