Whitby council is urging the federal and provincial governments to remove the 13 per cent HST from the cost of newly built or substantially renovated homes across Ontario, citing housing affordability and stalled construction.
Council unanimously supported the motion at its Jan. 12 committee-of-the-whole meeting. The proposal argues that the HST can add tens of thousands of dollars to the price of a new home, placing ownership out of reach for many buyers.
Regional Councillor Rhonda Mulcahy said the tax burden is limiting demand and discouraging developers from building new housing. While existing rebate programs focus on first-time buyers, Whitby’s motion calls for the Whitby HST cut on new homes to apply to all purchasers.
Councillors also emphasized potential economic benefits, including increased construction activity and job creation. While some raised concerns about lost tax revenue for senior governments, supporters noted that income tax generated by construction employment could offset those losses.
The motion will return to council for a final vote on Feb. 2.
