Government supports our Veterans and local Legion with ‘Poppy tax’ relief

November 04, 2010

Barrie, Ontario - Patrick Brown, Member of Parliament for Barrie today showed his support for our Veterans and the local Legion in advance of Remembrance Day by announcing the Conservative Government will provide a 100% rebate of any sales tax the Royal Canadian Legion pays when they buy their poppies and wreaths from private sector suppliers. 

“Our Government is pleased to provide this tax relief to support the Remembrance Day Poppy Campaign” said MP Brown. “Our action recognizes the special status of poppies and wreaths as symbols of the contribution, courage and sacrifices of those brave men and women who serve and have served in Canada’s armed forces.”

This change restores the tax relief that essentially existed for poppies and wreaths until the previous government removed it in 1996. With the proposed rebate, Remembrance Day poppies and wreaths will be fully free of any sales tax. 

“The ‘poppy tax’ meant a portion of the donations that Canadians made every year on Remembrance Day did not benefit the Legion and our Veterans” said MP Brown, “That was wrong, and I am glad our Government is restoring this tax relief and helping our Veterans in this small way.”

The proposed rebate would be retroactive to January 1, 2010 to cover any sales tax on the current year’s poppies and wreaths acquired by the Royal Canadian Legion.