The so-called ‘Tampon Tax’ ends as a gift to Canadian women on the national holiday, Canada Day, July 1st, 2015.
The tax applies to most feminine hygiene products including sanitary napkins, sanitary belts and menstrual cups.
This is the end of a campaign that has been going on since the 1980’s
NDP MP Irene Mathyssen, who sponsored a private member’s bill on the issue, was glowing yesterday following the announcement.
“This is a victory for all women. It shows what a group of determined women and citizens can do,” said Mathyssen.
“The women who made this an issue, their voices have finally been heard.”
Jill Piebiak, whose petition on Change.org for “No Tax on Tampons” received 73,000 signatures, says women’s menstruation is often just not a priority.
The feminist activist and organizer said, “People are just generally fed up with the thought that the government can make money off of the biology of 50 per cent of the population.”
Plebiak says feminine hygiene products bring in $36.4 million a year in federal tax revenue — which is raised by charging 18 million Canadian women for menstruating.
Supporters argued these products are not luxuries. And when compared to the tax-free status of some other products, the tax was ludicrous.
In Canada there’s no sales tax charged on cocktail cherries, wedding cakes, incontinence products or Viagra. How does Viagra, not quite a necessity, avoid sales tax. but all Canadian women must pay taxes on products they use every month for close to 40 years?
It should be an interesting Canada Day!
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