Can Canada afford to tax reading?

The GST is the first federal tax ever applied to reading material in Canada. Books, magazines and newspapers were free of all federal taxes from Confederation until 1991. The tax on reading has reduced reading in Canada and harmed students, libraries, writers and publishers.

The facts:

Education is the key to Canada’s future

When the Prime Minister unveiled his education and prosperity policy last year, he Stressed the importance of learning and literacy to Canada’s future. Yet it was his government that introduced the first federal tax in Canadian history to apply to reading material.

Other countries don’t tax reading

Our international competitors — the U.S., Britain, Japan, Ireland, Mexico, Australia, and many other countries — know the importance of literacy. That's why they refuse to tax reading. The European Parliament recently voted to remove all taxes from reading materials — as an investment in their countries’ future.

The GST is taking books, magazines and newspapers out of

the hands of Canadians and out of Canadian libraries.

- Book sales dropped 10% in the first year of GST. Magazine sales dropped 10-15% last year,

The GST has caused the largest drop in Canadian newspaper circulation in fifty years. During the last recession, sales increased. Libraries and schools are supposed to receive GST rebates, but the rebate system doesn’t work. The result: a 7% cut in library budgets.

The GST is a tax on literacy.

The federal government collected more from the tax on reading material last year than federal spending on adult literacy and publishing combined. Most Canadians think their government should support literature and literacy; this government is doing the opposite.

We can get this tax removed — :

Here’s what you can do. ero Canada can’tafforda tax that’s reducing reading and harming the quality of education. The Prime Minister promised in October, 1990 to carefully review the reading tax after a year, and to remove itif it had reduced reading. It’s time for that review. Pleasesenda card, letter or fax to the Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance, and to your local MP. (No postage is required on mail to these individuals),

Pre-addressed postcards to the Prime Minister and Minister of Finance are available from the Canadian Federation of Students or from the Coalition.

Ask your student association what they’re doing to fight the reading tax, and how you can help. Ask your Board of Governors, faculty association or union to write to the Prime Minister.

Hon. Don Mazankowski Minister of Finance

140 O’Connor Street, Ottawa K1A 0A6_ Fax: (613) 957-5652

Rt. Hon. Brian Mulroney Office of the Prime Minister

80 Wellington Street, Ottawa KIA 0A2_ Fax: (613) 941-6900

The Don't Tax Reading Coalition has a variety of materials available — many are free. Please call or write the Coalition for information.

Don't Tax Reading Coalition, 260 King St. E., Toronto, Ontario, M5A 1K3 (416) 361-1408/Fax (416) 361-0643

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