An Act to amend the Excise Tax Act (psychotherapy services)
Bill C-218 was a Private Member's Bill amending the Excise Tax Act (R.S.C. 1985, c. E-15) to remove the goods and services tax (GST) on services provided by psychotherapists and counselling therapists. Currently the GST applies to psychotherapy and counselling services, which the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association estimated added approximately 5 to 13 percent (depending on provincial harmonized rates) to the cost of mental-health services for self-paying Canadians. The 2024 federal budget adopted the substance of the bill, exempting psychotherapy and counselling-therapy services from GST/HST effective June 20, 2024 (S.C. 2024, c. 14 amendment to the ETA).
Status
Quick learn
Would remove the GST/HST on psychotherapy and counselling-therapy fees, which added 5 to 13 percent to mental-health costs for people paying out of pocket. The government adopted the same change, exempting these services effective June 20, 2024. A private member's bill overtaken by that measure.
Issues this bill touches
- Healthcare
Removes GST/HST from psychotherapy. Eventually implemented via Budget 2023.
Legislative history
- First reading
First reading in the House of Commons.
View source
Official source
Read full text on Parliament of Canada