Mr. Peter Julian (Burnaby—New Westminster, NDP): Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to present a petition signed by hundreds of southern Ontario residents who add their voices to the campaign involving millions of Canadian women and their families.
The petitioners' message to the Government of Canada is very simple: take the GST off menstrual hygiene products. That is the message. Let us have the government do it.
Tax Fairness for Women http://irenemathyssen.ndp.ca/tax-fairness-for-women Bill C-282 calls for the government to exempt feminine hygiene products from the GST/HST. Feminine hygiene products are not optional purchases for women in Canada and should be exempt from taxation.
Products and services that the Government has deemed a basic necessity are exempt from the GST/HST. Some products that are listed as basic necessities and are not taxed include edible cake decorations, cocktail cherries, and wedding cakes.
For a full list of tax exempt products please visit: http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/E/pub/gm/4-3/4-3-e.html#_Toc155586118
You can find a link to bill C-282 here: http://www.parl.gc.ca/HousePublications/Publication.aspx?Language=E&Mode=1&DocId=6257490
You can show your support for this bill by signing on to the campaign at http://chn.ge/15xv6pe . There you will also find a petition which you can download and print. Printed petitions can be tabled in the House of Commons and will receive a response from the Government.