Quebec Liberals propose abolishing welcome taxes for first homes

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The party proposes to compensate municipalities for the loss of revenue.

Publishing date:

Apr 03, 2022 • 23 minutes ago • 1 minute read • Join the conversation

Abolish land transfer duties should
Abolish land transfer duties should “help those who dream of becoming owners do so,” says Liberal Leader Dominique Anglade, seen in a file photo. Photo by Jacques Boissinot /The Canadian Pressfiles

The Quebec Liberal Party have proposed to abolish land transfer duties — commonly called welcome taxes — for the purchase of a first home.

This should “help those who dream of becoming owners do so,” said Liberal Leader Dominique Anglade in a statement Sunday.

The welcome tax normally goes to municipalities where properties are purchased. The party proposes to compensate them for the loss of revenue.

The Fédération québécoise des municipalités did not dismiss Anglade’s idea, but asked for specifics, saying how such rules are implemented could cause problems, and giving the aid directly to citizens would avoid administrative complexity.

The Liberals also proposed increasing the limit of the Home Buyers’ Plan from $35,000 to $50,000. The HBP is a federal plan that allows withdrawing from RRSPs tax-free to purchase a first home.

The party also wants to create a policy on house flipping.


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