Amend HST rebate eligibility
Petitioners ask the Government of Canada to amend HST rebate rules so eligibility is set by closing/delivery date, not contract signing, and to extend the 13% rebate to all pre-construction closings between 2024–2028.
Why we would sign this petition
- Equalizes tax treatment for buyers who close at the same time by using closing/delivery date for eligibility, preventing discrimination based on contract signing date.
- Alleviates financial hardship for purchasers who signed earlier but close between 2024 and 2028 by allowing them the same 13% rebate as later buyers.
- Improves tax neutrality and restores confidence in housing policy by applying rebate rules consistently to all qualifying closings.
Why we wouldn’t sign this petition
- Extending the 13% rebate to all closings 2024–2028 regardless of signing date could substantially increase federal expenditures and affect budget priorities.
- Changing eligibility based on closing date may be seen as retroactive rule‑making and could create legal or policy uncertainty for future taxpayers.
- Implementing the change and administering additional claims could be complex and costly, and may be seen as unfair to other taxpayers or 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 House of Commons The Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) on new housing is levied at the time of closing or delivery, not at the time a purchase agreement is signed; The Government of Canada has introduced new full 13% HST rebate measures for newly purchased pre-construction homes, while excluding earlier purchasers solely based on contract signing date; Many Canadians purchased pre-construction homes years ago for primary residence or family use, relying on the laws and policies in force at that time; Buyers closing in the same year are now subject to unequal tax treatment despite paying HST at the same point in time; and This distinction creates financial hardship, violates principles of tax neutrality and fairness, and undermines confidence in public policy. We, the undersigned, citizens and residents of Canada, call upon the Government of Canada to 1. Amend the HST rebate framework so that eligibility is determined by the closing or delivery date, not the contract signing date; and 2. Apply the HST rebate equally to all pre-construction homebuyers whose units close between 2024 and 2028, regardless of when their purchase agreements were signed. 1. Amend the HST rebate framework so that eligibility is determined by the closing or delivery date, not the contract signing date; and 2. Apply the HST rebate equally to all pre-construction homebuyers whose units close between 2024 and 2028, regardless of when their purchase agreements were signed.
Government response
No government response is available yet.