The cost of repairing clothes and purchasing materials for clothing repairs or creation has increased in British Columbia. Effective October 1, provincial sales tax (PST) is now applicable to textiles and tailoring services, eliminating their previous exemption. This change has significant implications for small businesses and sustainability efforts.
Ariss Grutter, the co-owner of AWL Together Leather in East Vancouver, expressed concern over the impact of the seven percent PST increase on their business and customers. Textile materials such as yarn, natural fibers, synthetic thread, most fabrics, and clothing patterns, as well as repair and alteration services like tailoring and cobbling, are now subject to PST.
Previously considered essential, these services and materials are now categorized as less commonly used, according to the province’s 2026 budget. Grutter emphasized the crucial role played by tailors and cobblers in extending the lifespan of clothing and reducing landfill waste.
The challenge of recycling shoes due to their diverse materials was highlighted by Grutter, who emphasized the importance of repairing items to prevent them from ending up in landfills. Encouraging customers to opt for repairs over buying new items is seen as a key strategy to promote sustainability.
The expansion of PST to professional services, including accounting, engineering, and architecture, was initially announced in the 2026 budget but was later paused by Premier David Eby, just before the announcement of a snap election. However, the tax imposition on textiles was not addressed in this announcement.
Paula Lindner, the owner of Baaad Anna’s Yarn Store in East Vancouver, expressed frustration over the lack of consideration for small businesses like hers in the PST changes. Yarn, exempt from PST for a significant period, now faces taxation, contrary to expectations of government support for sustainable practices in clothing production.
Lindner believes that while the additional revenue from PST on textiles may have minimal impact on the provincial budget, it will significantly affect fiber artists and small businesses. She anticipates a shift towards more mindful and smaller-scale shopping, potentially reducing sales for local businesses.
During the election campaign period, the Ministry of Finance did not provide responses to CBC News inquiries, citing limited communications on non-critical matters.
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