Canadian Chamber Statement on the Implementation of the Digital Services Tax

Regrettably, the Government has moved one step closer to implementing this discriminatory and damaging digital services tax (DST) via Bill C-59, in contravention of prevailing international tax principles.

At a time when Canadians are struggling with affordability, this tax will increase costs for consumers on a variety of everyday products and services that rely on digital platforms including digital subscriptions, a rural getaway booked online, takeout after a long work week, or the handmade products purchased from Canadian artisans.

Carrying through on the service tax risks damaging our beneficial and lucrative trade relationship with the United States, with the very real threat of retaliatory tariffs looming at such a sensitive economic time.

The government needs to continue negotiating with the United States and halt the imposition of a unilateral DST, or at the very least, ensure that regulations do not include inflammatory retroactivity to 2022.

Jessica Brandon-Jepp, Senior Director, Fiscal and Financial Services Policy

About the Canadian Chamber of Commerce — The Future of Business Success

The Canadian Chamber of Commerce is Canada’s largest and most activated business network — representing over 400 chambers of commerce and boards of trade and more than 200,000 business of all sizes, from all sectors of the economy and from every part of the country — to create the conditions for our collective success. The Canadian Chamber of Commerce is the undisputed champion and catalyst for the future of business success. From working with government on economy-friendly policy to providing services that inform commerce and enable trade, we give each of our members more of what they need to succeed: insight into markets, competitors and trends, influence over the decisions and policies that drive business success and impact on business and economic performance.

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Contact
Rewa Mourad
Public Relations Specialist Canadian Chamber of Commerce
rmourad@chamber.ca