Budget 2022 offers good start for ZEVs, no change to luxury tax
April 18, 2022
With the release of the federal budget, CADA continues to strongly oppose the luxury tax on vehicles and considers it an unfair, arbitrary tax that will cost more to collect than it will offer the government.
“Budget 2022 proposes additional measures that will make the tax system more fair, and new steps to ensure that the federal government is delivering the effective programs and services that Canadians deserve,” reads the report.
CADA Director of Public Affairs Huw Williams said the tax on luxury vehicles, which is expected to be applied to the marginal rate over $100,000, will be a “job killer” and is “completely out-of-step with the well-designed HST that already collects more tax for the government as consumer purchases increase in value.”
The tax may lead to high taxation levels, which could severely impact retailers of new luxury vehicles in both British Columbia and Quebec—two provinces that already have a type of luxury tax in place. It could also impact progress on the adoption of zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs), for models over $100,000.
“CADA predicts this tax will cause trade problems for Canada, and will actually reduce federal tax revenues on vehicles over $100,000,” said Williams, adding that “it is inconceivable that there is no solution to the double luxury tax on vehicles that now exist in provinces such as BC and Quebec.”
A good start for ZEVs
Luxury tax aside, CADA said the ZEV measures in the budget represent a good start, but that without significant investment and action from governments of various levels, the plan will inevitably fail. For Canada to achieve its target of having 100 per cent of all new light-duty car and passenger truck sales be zero-emission by 2035, Williams said more ambitious government action is required.
“CADA has mapped out a full plan for government action on the website Roadto2035.ca, and will shortly be publishing a report card on how this budget stacks up against the proposals made by the entire industry,” said Williams.
More information is available at roadto2035.ca/.