FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
OCTOBER 20, 2004

VANCOUVER–The Canadian Bar Association, British Columbia Branch welcomed today’s announcement that the BC Government intends to reduce the Social Services Tax by .5 per cent.

“Lowering the Social Services Tax provides some small relief to the many thousands of businesses, individuals and public sector entities that are subject to an unfair tax burden as a result of the Social Services Tax being applied to legal services,” said Michael Woodward, President, Canadian Bar Association, BC Branch. BC is the only province to tax only legal services among the professional services. Alberta and Ontario – BC’s main legal services competitors – don’t charge it at all. Woodward called on the BC Government to “finish the job and end this discriminatory tax.”

BC’s Social Services Tax on legal services extracts in excess of $100 million annually from clients, which goes directly into the province’s general revenues.

Meg Shaw, Social Services Tax Task Force Chair, said: “The Social Services Tax is a discriminatory tax on the people and businesses of BC. And for those with limited financial resources, it is yet another barrier to accessing justice. Legal services aren’t a luxury item – they are used because people need professional help to conduct their business, prevent or resolve disputes, or defend against civil or criminal charges.”

The Canadian Bar Association, BC Branch has been a vocal proponent of removing the Social Services Tax as an unfair burden on the consumers of legal services in BC.

Click here to view the October 14th Canadian Bar Association, BC Branch budget consultation submission to the BC Government.

For more information, please contact:
Caroline Nevin, Associate Executive Director
Tel: 604.687.3404
Toll free: 1.888.687.3404 x320
cnevin@bccba.org