Bev Shipley, Member of Parliament for Lambton—Kent—Middlesex, today showed his support for our veterans and local Legions in advance of Remembrance Day by announcing that the Conservative Government will provide a 100% rebate of any sales tax that 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 Bev Shipley.  “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 all 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 Shipley.  “That was wrong, and I am glad that 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.