EN FR

Empty retail spaces: CTF asks Montréal to lower commercial taxes

Author: 2020/01/16
  • Montréal applies the highest commercial taxes in the country.

MONTRÉAL, QC:  The Canadian Taxpayers Federation presented its submission calling on city hall to lower taxes to reverse the issue of empty retail spaces on Montréal’s commercial streets.

“One can’t have vibrant commercial streets and the highest commercial taxes in the land: those two concepts are incompatible,” said CTF Quebec Director Renaud Brossard. “The solution to the problem of empty retail spaces has to go through tax relief.”

Based on data from Altus Group, the CTF notes that not only are Montréal’s commercial tax rates the highest in Canada, but they are over 50 per cent higher than the national average. CTF recommends that Montréal lowers commercial taxes to the national average.

CTF also advises the city against creating a new tax on empty retail spaces, which wouldn’t do anything to solve the situation.

“All the incentives are already pointing landlords towards leasing their space,” said Brossard. “This tax is nothing more than another attempt from a tax-hungry government to get even more money to satiate its fiscal appetite.”

The CTF’s full submission is available (in French) via the following link: http://www.taxpayer.com/media/M%c3%a9moire-FCC-Redonner-vie-%c3%a0-nos-grandes-art%c3%a8res-commerciales.pdf

-30-

Media contact :
Renaud Brossard
Quebec Director
Canadian Taxpayers Federation

t : 514-743-2883
e : [email protected]
Twitter : @renaudbrossard

 


A Note for our Readers:

Is Canada Off Track?

Canada has problems. You see them at gas station. You see them at the grocery store. You see them on your taxes.

Is anyone listening to you to find out where you think Canada’s off track and what you think we could do to make things better?

You can tell us what you think by filling out the survey


Join now to get the Taxpayer newsletter


You deserve to know the real story about what happens to your tax dollars. We expose funny and infuriating stories about governments wasting money on stupid things. And we hold politicians accountable because taxpayers deserve transparency.

You can get the inside scoop right from my notebook each week so you can hold politicians accountable for hilarious and infuriating stories the media usually misses. You can sign up for the Taxpayer Update Newsletter now.
— Franco Terrazzano, Federal Director

Looks good!
Please enter a valid email address

We take data security and privacy seriously. Your information will be kept safe.

<