Fredericton, NB: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is calling on all of New Brunswick’s political parties to commit to cutting the HST ahead of this fall’s provincial election.

“Premier Blaine Higgs is doing the right thing by committing to cut the HST by two percentage points, which will save taxpayers money virtually everywhere they shop,” said CTF Interim Atlantic Director Jay Goldberg. “The Progressive Conservatives have laid out a plan to save taxpayers hundreds of dollars a year and it’s time for the other parties to do the same.”

The Progressive Conservatives have committed to cutting the HST by two percentage points if re-elected. This would lower the HST to 13 per cent, which is where the HST stood six eight years ago. The Gallant government increased the HST by two percentage points on July 1, 2016. 

“New Brunswickers now pay the highest sales tax in the country, along with taxpayers in the other Atlantic provinces,” said Goldberg. “Cutting the HST will make New Brunswick more competitive and deliver a tax cut that will benefit every taxpayer in the province, including seniors on fixed incomes. This is the right tax cut at the right time and politicians of all stripes should step up to the plate and commit to cutting the HST.”

The Canadian Taxpayers Federation has been calling on the New Brunswick government to cut the HST for the past two years, including in its prebudget proposal submitted to the government late last year.