Bill Detail
An Act to amend the Excise Tax Act and the Department of Employment and Social Development Act
This enactment amends the Excise Tax Act to add funeral services to the list of zero-rated supplies. It also amends the Department of Employment and Social Development Act to provide for the establishment of a one-stop service that would allow for the reporting of a death to the Minister of Employment and Social Development and the subsequent communication of relevant information to partner entities.
This bill makes two main changes to federal law. First, it removes the Goods and Services Tax (GST) from funeral services, including related items like coffins and headstones. This means Canadians will no longer pay GST when purchasing funeral arrangements. Second, the bill proposes creating a single point of contact within the Department of Employment and Social Development to report a death. This "one-stop service" aims to simplify the process of notifying various government bodies and agencies about a person's passing, reducing the administrative burden on families during a difficult time.