12.43°C Vancouver

Sep 21, 2023 5:57 PM - The Canadian Press

Freeland introduces bill to remove GST off rental developments

Share On
freeland-introduces-bill-to-remove-gst-off-rental-developments
The bill is also supposed to strengthen the Competition Bureau by giving it the power to compel information from companies to conduct studies, tighten up merger laws and go after collaborations that stifle competition.

Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland introduced legislation this morning that would remove GST charges from new rental developments and update the country's competition law.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau promised the new legislation earlier this month to address the housing crisis and affordability crunch.

Experts have called on the federal government to remove GST charges off new purpose-built rentals to help spur construction of these kinds of homes.

The bill is also supposed to strengthen the Competition Bureau by giving it the power to compel information from companies to conduct studies, tighten up merger laws and go after collaborations that stifle competition.

The changes to the Competition Act follow a promise from the Liberals to review the law.

Freeland, along with several other cabinet ministers, are to hold a news conference this afternoon about the new legislation.

Latest news

carney-to-visit-saudi-arabia-next-week-as-rights-concerns-draw-renewed-attention
CanadaJul 03, 2026

Carney to visit Saudi Arabia next week as rights concerns draw renewed attention

Prime Minister Mark Carney will travel to Saudi Arabia from July 8 to 10 for a bilateral visit, where he is scheduled to meet Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The trip will mark the first official visit to Saudi Arabia by a Canadian prime minister in 26 years. According to federal officials, the visit is aimed at strengthening diplomatic and economic ties between Canada and Saudi Arabia. However, officials have not confirmed whether Carney will raise concerns about human rights during his meetings with Saudi leaders. Relations between the two countries deteriorated in 2018 after the Trudeau g
b-c-nurses-begin-targeted-job-action-refuse-non-nursing-duties-and-non-essential-overtime
BCJul 03, 2026

B.C. nurses begin targeted job action, refuse non-nursing duties and non-essential overtime

Nurses across British Columbia began targeted job action on Thursday by refusing to perform non-nursing duties and non-essential overtime as contract negotiations with the provincial government continue. According to the BC Nurses' Union, the action is intended to bring the province back to the bargaining table with what the union describes as a meaningful offer that addresses nurses' long-standing concerns. The union said members are continuing to provide patient care while focusing on the clinical responsibilities for which they are trained. The union said nurses have stopped performing duti
langley-rcmp-investigating-suspected-assault-that-left-75-year-old-man-critically-injured
BCJul 03, 2026

Langley RCMP investigating suspected assault that left 75-year-old man critically injured

A 75-year-old Langley man remains in critical condition after he was found seriously injured Tuesday night, and investigators now believe his injuries may have resulted from an assault. According to the Langley RCMP, officers were called at about 9:48 p.m. on July 1 to the area of Park Avenue and Douglas Crescent following reports of a man in distress. Frontline officers, along with paramedics from the British Columbia Ambulance Service and firefighters with Langley Fire Rescue Service, located the injured man and he was taken to hospital. Police said investigators have reviewed surveillance v
bus-crash-in-southwestern-pakistan-kills-40-officials-say
WorldJul 03, 2026

Bus crash in southwestern Pakistan kills 40, officials say

At least 40 people were killed and eight others were injured after an overcrowded passenger bus plunged into a rocky ravine in southwestern Pakistan early Friday, according to Balochistan provincial officials. Shahid Rind, spokesperson for the Balochistan government, said the bus was travelling through Dana Sar, a remote area near the border of Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces, when it reportedly lost control and veered off the highway before falling into the ravine. Authorities said the bus was carrying more passengers than its intended capacity. Emergency responders transported i
WorldJul 03, 2026

Rescue efforts continue in Kyiv after deadly Russian missile and drone attack

Rescue crews continued searching through rubble in Ukraine's capital on Friday, a day after a large-scale Russian missile and drone attack that killed dozens of people, according to Kyiv city officials. Friday was observed as a day of mourning in Kyiv, with flags flown at half-mast on government buildings to honour those killed in the attack. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said the death toll has risen to about 30 people, while 92 others were injured. He described it as the deadliest Russian attack on the capital so far this year. According to Klitschko, emergency crews remained at the scene for

Related News