Greg Wilson: Ottawa should reintroduce a modernized visitor sales tax rebate program

Introduced in the 1990s, the Visitor Rebate Program allowed visitors in Canada to receive a sales tax rebate on items purchased during their travels, including goods bought to take home and money spent on short-term accommodation. The federal government phased out the program in 2007, citing excessive costs and underutilization.
However, a recent report from the Retail Council of Canada shows that the program’s cancellation has resulted in a GDP loss of nearly $60 billion. The council has