February 25, 2025
Nova Scotia Liberal Finance critic Iain Rankin will table a bill today to remove the provincial portion of the HST on car seats and strollers, providing relief for young families and supporting local retailers.
“The federal government’s tax holiday, which ended earlier this month, showed families just how much of a difference these savings can make,” said Rankin. “Other provinces, like Ontario, have already taken steps to make these essential products more affordable. With efforts underway to align our economies across provincial lines, this is a small but meaningful change we can make to ease financial pressure on young families in Nova Scotia.”
By making car seats tax-exempt, families may be less likely to turn to second-hand or counterfeit options, improving child safety across the province.
The proposed tax exemption would also support small businesses like Nurtured, a well-known Halifax-based retailer specializing in child and baby products.
“This kind of policy makes a real difference for independent retailers like ours,” said Nurtured Owner and Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPSAC), Jolyn Swain. “By making essential safety products more accessible, families are more likely to shop local instead of looking for unsafe alternatives.”
Provincial HST is already exempt on children’s clothing and diapers in Nova Scotia. This bill builds on that by making essential safety products more affordable, ensuring families can keep their children safe without added financial strain.