Canada kicks off holiday shopping with tax break

It’s the first of December, and the holiday shopping season has officially begun.

This year, Canadians are getting a two-month break on the general sales tax. The tax relief covers a range of goods, from food to childcare essentials and toys.

For a family that spends around $2,000 a month on qualifying goods, this move will roughly translate to $100 in savings.

In Ontario, where the HST (Harmonized Sales Tax) will also be removed, those savings are a bit higher—government estimates suggest an average saving of $260 over the two-month period.

Canadians are celebrating a “tax holiday,” a measure passed by the government last week that suspends some taxes on holiday goods.