This is what many consider the start of the holiday shopping season. And in Prince Edward Island, it may be less taxing than in other centres.
In the U.S., yesterday was Black Friday – the Friday after Thanksgiving when New York City has its famous parade and the shops start advertising their specials in loud, colourful ads. In P.E.I., this would have been the weekend when Sunday shopping began for the four weekends leading up to Christmas (back when Sundays were a day of rest for the other 48 weeks of the year). And tonight is the Charlottetown Santa Claus parade – another reminder to start making your Christmas list and check it twice.
This is also maybe a good weekend to remind retailers that there’s more to luring shoppers than door-crasher specials and holiday music piped through the sound systems.
The Summerside and Area Chamber of Commerce president recently made mention of how online shopping is changing the retail world. Island retailers might want to consider what they offer that online stores don’t. P.E.I. has only a five per cent tax on books, shoes and clothes.
Ottawa is seeking to pass a bill Monday that will make Prince Edward Island and Saskatchewan the last holdouts on the blended sales tax. Ontario and British Columbia are gearing up to bring in a harmonized sales tax in the new year, with a little help from the feds.
The P.E.I. government has said all along they’re not looking to blend the sales taxes. Summerside chamber members haven’t been as public about what they’d like to see.
The chamber surveyed its members on the topic recently and is presenting its findings to the provincial treasurer on Monday. The survey results won’t be released until after that meeting. But one assumes that if they need to talk to the treasurer about it, members aren’t completely satisfied with the status quo.
A harmonized sales tax might bring down the price of many upscale Christmas gifts – like music, electronics and even vehicles. But for most Islanders, the bulk of the presents under the tree are clothes and books, which are only subject to the GST now.
And decking the halls with boughs of holly may benefit from HST, but paying the power bills for all those Christmas lights – not to mention the oil bill for keeping holiday guests warm – is a lot easier with only a five per cent tax on top.