No PST: Every Albertan saves $80 on holiday shopping, says taxpayers group

The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) estimates Albertans save about $80 when shopping during the holidays, because there’s no Provincial Sales Tax (PST).

“As we braved the cold to buy our toys, candy and decorations this Christmas, we can be happy we don’t have a PST in Alberta, or it would’ve cost us a lot more … because we aren’t paying seven per cent PST,” said Kris Sims, the Alberta director of CTF.

Sims adds no PST in Alberta is important for most people, especially amid the rising cost of living.

“Most people are really noticing the cost of inflation right now … because inflation is at a nearly 40-year-high,” Sims added.

The CTF estimates people spend an average of $1,137 on shopping during the holidays.

“The four Atlantic provinces charge a 15 per cent harmonized sales tax on items such as toys, decorations, electronics and candy,” read a CTF statement. “There’s a 10 per cent provincial portion and a five per cent federal portion of the HST.”

“There’s even HST charged on Christmas Trees, resulting in Grinchy higher costs, with each shopper shelling-out about $113 in the provincial sales tax over the holiday season. Even if only half the population of Atlantic Canada participates, they are paying about $144 million in PST.”

Meanwhile, the statement reads PST is eight per cent in Ontario, which makes each shopper pay about $90 over the holiday season.

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“If just half the population of Ontario participates in the holiday shopping season, the government will rake in about $675 million in its provincial sales tax,” read the statement.

On the other hand, PST in Quebec is 9.9 percent, which means each shopper pays about $112, while the government makes around $479 million.

Shoppers in Manitoba pay seven per cent PST.

“Manitoba reindeer riders will pay about $80 each … shoveling about $55 million into government coffers,” read the statement.

However, people in Saskatchewan pay six per cent PST, meaning each shopper pays about $68 during the shopping season. In total taxpayers pay about $40 million.

Finally, British Columbia has a seven per cent PST.

“If half of the population of B.C. participates in holiday shopping for other gift and party items, they will pay about $71 each in PST, collecting about $188 million for the government,” explained the statement.