BC Craft Farmers Co-Op want cannabis included in proposed Federal GST break
-
Share on Facebook
-
Share on Twitter
- Copy Link
PRINCE GEORGE — The BC Craft Farmers Co-Op (BCCFC) wants the federal government to reconsider its new GST policy that does not include cannabis among the list of exempt items.
It says its disappointed that the “more harmful alcohol products” were included in Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s so-called GST holiday, which also covers groceries, restaurant meals, children’s clothing and toys, print newspapers and Christmas trees.
“Alcohol contributes to tens of thousands of Canadian deaths each year. The annual societal costs of sales and consumption are estimated at $20 billion. The associated health-care costs exceed $6 billion each year,” BCCFC President Tara Kirkpatrick said, in a statement. “You can’t say the same about cannabis.”
Kirkpatrick says since legalization in 2018, the BCCFC – which represents BC craft cannabis farmers, processors, independent retailers and medical licence holders – has been “concerned” by government policies that are “perpetuating stigmatization of cannabis, particularly compared to alcohol.”
