April 19, 2012, Charlottetown – The government of Prince Edward Island
took a major step in yesterday’s budget to increase the province’s
competitiveness and reduce the tax burden on restaurant customers.
April 19, 2012, Charlottetown – The government of Prince Edward Island
took a major step in yesterday’s budget to increase the province’s
competitiveness and reduce the tax burden on restaurant customers.
Combining the provincial sales tax (PST) with the GST at a rate of 14
per cent beginning April 1, 2013 and introducing full input tax credits
for operators will help grow jobs and investment in the Island’s
restaurant industry.
“Merging the two taxes will lower prices for restaurant customers and
increase investment in the restaurant industry,” says Luc Erjavec,
Atlantic Canada vice-president for the Canadian Restaurant and
Foodservices Association (CRFA). “Island operators have been at a
competitive disadvantage with both neighbouring jurisdictions and the
grocery industry for far too long. Our experience in other Atlantic
Canadian provinces shows this first step will help grow sales,
investment and jobs.”
Currently, PEI operators must charge customers a combined sales tax of
15.5 per cent on restaurant purchases. Operators also do not receive
input tax credits for the PST portion of their taxes.
As PEI’s third-largest private-sector employer, the restaurant industry
directly employs nearly 5,100 Islanders at more than 320 establishments.
Twenty-two per cent of Canadians were first employed by the restaurant
industry, making it the number one source of first jobs.
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