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e-5138 (Taxation)

E-petition
Initiated by Abigail Murphy from Waterloo, Ontario

Original language of petition: English

Petition to the Minister of Finance

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.
We, the undersigned, Citizens of Canada, 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.
Open for signature
October 21, 2024, at 2:03 p.m. (EDT)
Closed for signature
February 18, 2025, at 2:03 p.m. (EDT)
Photo - Mike Morrice
Kitchener Centre
Green Party Caucus
Ontario