Thousands of Canadians have signed a petition started by Ikea calling for an end to sales tax on second-hand items.
The Swedish furniture company launched a campaign in Canada on March 22 urging the provincial and federal governments to drop the 13 per cent tax applicable to resold goods.
“Every time a second-hand item is sold, it’s taxed… one more time. Every new owner must pay the tax that has already been paid the first time around,” Ikea Canada told Now Toronto in a statement.
Ikea is calling for an end to the overtaxation, claiming the rising cost of living warrants its abolition, “especially at a time when Canadians simply can’t afford it [to pay the tax], and when shopping circular is more important than ever,” Ikea’s petition says.
As of publication, the petition has over 24,500 signatures and plenty of comments commending Ikea for its activism.
“The tax has already been paid on an item, why the need to pay it again. All used items should not have taxes including cars,” one signee wrote.
“Tax should only be paid once and for new items. Pure money grab,” another person commented.
The initiative runs in tandem with Ikea’s As-is marketplace which allows Canadians to buy second-hand furniture at competitive prices while contributing to the circular economy.
“Our intention is to spark a public conversation on this environmental and consumer fairness issue,” Ikea told Now Toronto.
“Our long-term goal is for the Canadian government to rethink the application of double tax on second-hand goods to help make shopping circular more affordable for all,” the statement continued.
HST in Ontario is set at 13 per cent while New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island pay 15 per cent.
