QUESTION PERIOD — Finance
GST/HST Credit
May 6, 2026
Senator Moreau, when Finance Minister Champagne appeared before the Senate during the Committee of the Whole meeting on June 17, 2025, I asked the minister about permitting young Canadians who are buying their first home to assign the GST rebate as part of their down payment. This would help with overcoming a difficult hurdle in home ownership. The minister’s response was, “. . . yes, we will look into that.”
Almost a year has passed since I received that answer. Has the government actually looked into this proposal? Does it intend to change the rules to allow first-time homebuyers to apply the GST rebate toward their down payment?
Thank you for the question. I can tell you, Senator Tannas, that the minister is committed to looking into this proposal, and this work is ongoing presently.
The government remains committed to increasing housing supply and making housing more affordable for Canadians. That’s why the government has made eliminating the GST on new home purchases for first-time homebuyers one of our first orders of business. As soon as Build Canada Homes is up and ready to operate, notably after Bill C-20 is studied by us, more measures will be evaluated for their effectiveness in helping Canadians achieve home ownership.
Thank you for that answer. After a year, I’m not sure what is left to look into. It’s a pretty simple item. Is there anything you could suggest we might do to maybe encourage the minister and his people to hustle up? This is something that will actually build houses and will encourage people to create new houses rather than buy existing stock.
I must say that the government is probably in accordance with your declaration, and given what you are doing today by asking this question, you have given me the opportunity to raise this with the minister and perhaps help him bring a more precise answer.
