Shoppers and businesses across Canada are expressing mixed feeling and showing little enthusiasm as a two-month break from the federal GST took effect Saturday.

Lori Parker, the owner of an independent toy store in Toronto, said the sales tax holiday could be good for business because it makes shopping cheaper for customers, but the measure meant more work for her staff over the holiday season.

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The owner of Treasure Island Toys Ltd. said her shop sells thousands of items and it was not easy to figure out what香蕉视频直播檚 covered with the GST break

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香蕉视频直播淭he rules seem, were quite ambiguous, so they were subject to interpretation. We spent a lot of time talking to other retailers and suppliers about how they were interpreting the rules.香蕉视频直播�

The federal government announced the plan to temporarily waive the five per cent goods and services tax in a bid to help ease affordability concerns during the holiday season.

Provinces with a harmonized provincial and federal sales tax will see the full HST waived.

At Eaton Centre in downtown Toronto, Kishore Basu said he was shopping Christmas gift for his family members and he is not going to change his shopping list due to the GST holiday.

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Basu said he doesn香蕉视频直播檛 this the GST break will be helpful for most people.

香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檓 sure it will help some Canadians, but I think the marginal benefit versus what香蕉视频直播檚 added to the deficit isn香蕉视频直播檛 worth it,香蕉视频直播� he said.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 only for two months and it香蕉视频直播檚 going to come back. It seems to me more like an election ploy than anything else. I think most people see that.香蕉视频直播�

In Montreal, Patrick Neault, general manager of Raffin Bookstore, said the chain had to shift some staff during the holiday season to make sure the store was compliant.

香蕉视频直播淲e worked kind of hard the last three weeks so that it goes fluidly today and it香蕉视频直播檚 working fine so far,香蕉视频直播� he said, adding Ottawa香蕉视频直播檚 announcement wasn香蕉视频直播檛 welcoming news when first announced.

But Nault isn香蕉视频直播檛 certain that the benefits for retailers and shoppers will ultimately outweigh the extra work staff had to put in.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 not that much of a deal. It香蕉视频直播檚 like a few per cent (discount) on a transaction. I香蕉视频直播檓 not sure that香蕉视频直播檚 a very strong incentive,香蕉视频直播� he said.

At a bustling mall in Halifax, Katrina Rose set out early in the day to buy her young daughter香蕉视频直播檚 holiday outfit. She said she waited until the tax break took effect to make some holiday purchases to take advantage of savings.

香蕉视频直播淢y daughter is a huge book lover, so things like books and board games and those regular toys we香蕉视频直播檇 like to get for the holidays I saved until now,香蕉视频直播� she said in an interview Saturday.

Meanwhile, Jennifer Matthew said she forgot the tax break was starting on Saturday and didn香蕉视频直播檛 factor that into her holiday shopping. She says the tax break on food, alcohol and clothing will help with some savings for her and her two daughters, but won香蕉视频直播檛 bring about a significant amount of savings in the grand scheme of things.

香蕉视频直播淚 don香蕉视频直播檛 think it香蕉视频直播檚 going to put a big dent in my wallet by any means. I don香蕉视频直播檛 think we香蕉视频直播檒l be able to book that holiday, but like anything every penny helps,香蕉视频直播� she said.

Her 10-year-old daughter Ruby said she香蕉视频直播檚 excited about the potential savings the break will bring for some hoodies she香蕉视频直播檚 had her eye on.

The tax break is set to run until Feb. 15, 2025, and it applies to dozens of items including restaurant meals, children香蕉视频直播檚 clothing, wine and beer, children香蕉视频直播檚 toys and Christmas trees.

However, product categories eligible for GST relief have plenty of exemptions, with items like food and drinks from vending machines, magazines, clothing for sports activities, and some collectibles and toys not making the cut.

In a press release Saturday, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada said Ottawa is doing what it can to help Canadians struggling with their budgets.

Kamal Khera, Minister of Diversity, Inclusion and Persons with Disabilities said in the release that the cuts should help with the added expenses the holiday season often brings.

香蕉视频直播淲ith new tax cuts on essentials and holiday expenses, we are helping to reduce costs for families when they need relief the most,香蕉视频直播� she said in a statement.

Kelly Higginson, CEO of Restaurants Canada, said in the release that she was pleased with the decision to temporarily waive the tax, which should give a boost to sales in the restaurant industry.