OTTAWA — Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has written to provincial premiers asking them to eliminate their sales taxes on new homes under $1 million.

This follows Poilievre’s pledge last week that if he becomes prime minister, he will eliminate the federal sales tax on new homes sold for less than $1 million.

The Conservatives estimated that this measure would reduce the cost of an $800,000 house by $40,000 and stimulate the construction of 30,000 additional houses per year.

Poilievre said last week he would pay for the federal tax cut by abandoning Liberal housing policies, and in his letter to premiers he said provincial sales taxes also significantly increased the cost of homes .

He tells the premiers that he understands that all provinces are different, but that by matching his promise of tax cuts on new homes, they will save their residents tens of thousands of dollars.

Poilievre has relentlessly attacked the Liberal government over housing affordability, blaming Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for the rapid rise in housing prices and rents since 2015.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published November 4, 2024.

The Canadian Press