Exempt virtual disability supports
Petitioners ask the Minister of Finance to revise tax-exemption criteria to recognize and exempt virtual support services and programs for Canadians with disabilities.
Why we would sign this petition
- Recognizes that virtual supports are often more affordable, flexible and accessible than in-person alternatives, increasing access for people with disabilities.
- Makes peer connections, learning and independence easier to obtain by removing tax costs that can deter participation in virtual programs.
- Closes a tax code gap that treats similar services differently based on delivery method, reducing avoidable financial burdens on disabled Canadians.
Why we wouldn’t sign this petition
- Exempting virtual services could reduce tax revenue or require offsets, creating budgetary trade-offs with other programs.
- Defining which virtual services qualify may be administratively complex and costly to implement and enforce.
- Targeted subsidies or direct support might more precisely help those in need than a broad tax exemption for virtual programs.
The summary and both sets of reasons are AI-generated from the petition and given equal weight. Claims are the petitioners’ own; consult the official record for the full text.
Official petition
Petition to the Minister of Finance We, the undersigned Citizens of Canada, draw the attention of the Minister of Finance to the following: WHEREAS: Since the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been an emergence of live virtual support services and programs available to Canadians with disabilities; These online services are financially more affordable, flexible, and accessible to Canadians with disabilities compared to similar in-person services and programs; Disabled Canadians benefit from these virtual programs that connect them with peers, foster meaningful connections, and access various opportunities for learning, skill development, inclusion and independence; Despite this positive shift to accessible options, the Canadian Tax Code has not yet caught up with these new online support services for disabled Canadians; The current tax code provides tax exemptions to Canadians with disabilities for "services rendered principally at the location of an establishment" but not for similar services provided online; Consequently, disabled Canadians who access virtual support services and programs are still subjected to taxes on these essential and life enhancing services; and As a result, disabled Canadians accessing vital virtual support services and programs face increased financial burdens that could be alleviated if these online supports were recognized and exempted from taxation. THEREFORE, your petitioners call upon the Minister of Finance to: 1. Revise the existing criteria for tax exemptions on support services for disabled Canadians to encompass support services and programs provided virtually; and 2. Establish a new standard for tax exemptions that would enable organizations to offer tax-free virtual support services and programs to disabled Canadians, facilitating increased accessibility and support for these Canadians in their daily lives.
Government response
No government response is available yet.